upgrading RAM and CPU on a Inspiron 1525

will it work if i replace my 2Gb 667mhz with 4GB 800MHz ???

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=110293642813

 

It will work, but it is a waste of money. The RAM will automatically downclock because of a chipset limitation, so you are paying a premium for higher clocked RAM, that won't make even a .1% difference in performance. Look for some DDR2 667mhz RAM, you can find it for cheaper.

 

You will get a difference. Cas Latency. DDR2 667 and 800 are almost the same price anyways, so I have to disagree with you here. However, that ebay auction isn't a good deal at all. You can get it for cheaper

 

What's your stand on the question?!? Are you saying DDR2 800mhz is faster than DDR2 667 mhz? Or vice versa?

People have posted numerous threads on this forum, comparing DDR2 553mhz and DDR2 667mhz. They thought that they'd get an increase from the higher clocked RAM, but instead they lost performance because of the higher CAS latencies.

It won't matter either way because Santa Rosa Chipsets are limited to DDR2 667mhz. So getting DDR2 800mhz is a waste of the extra $$.

 

Usually, DDR2 800 and 667 have the same cas latency (5). When you put DDR2 800 into a DDR2 667 comp and let it downclock, the cas latency becomes 4. That equals those Kingston HyperX memory cards, which cost a ton more.

 

But, the performance increase is not worth the extra $$, let alone, there will be no performance increase.

 

Thanks for the insight guys. as far as the CPU goes I'm going for either a T7500, a T8100 or T7250. any suggestions?

 

Are you saying that 1 cas latency, however worthless it may be, is no performance increase? The $$ is almost nil, . In Canada, I actually found the 800 to be cheaper than 667 (NCIX, don't know if its still like that now).
On newegg, DDR2 800 is only $1 more expensive, so IMO despite the worthlessness of the cas latency, it's still worth the $1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211258 is a better deal than the Ebay auction, and theres probably cheaper sites than Newegg around in the States as well (IDK, I don't live in USA or shop there)

 

thanks again you guys are very helpful

 

Go for at least a T8100, to get the smaller 45nm die size and associated heat and power savings.

 

Agreed
Best bang for buck: T8300
Best performance bang for the buck: T9300

 

the Canadian price to this is a much better deal IMO

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=110293642813

 

will those both fit on the dell 1525's mobo?

 

I would still buy it from a Canadian retailer such as NCIX. If something goes wrong, it'll be easier to contact / fix / return.

Yes, I am saying that the extra 1 less CAS latency is worthless. But, I didn't know the prices were so close to each other. That way it wouldn't matter which you choose. Nice find.

 

Get the T8100. But if its in your budget, i would get the T9300. Or inbetween, the T8300 Yes, the T8300 and T9300 are compatable.

 

I cannot agree with that... Most DDR2-800 CAS5 RAMs run at CAS5 @667MHz too.

In fact, my old laptop was using DDR2-533 @ CAS4 and I did an upgrade to DDR2-800 hoping that the CAS would drop down. I have tried two different brands (OCZ and PQI) and their SPD values were:

CAS5 @800MHz, CAS5@667Mhz and CAS4@533Mhz.

 

This has been an issue on old GMCH controllers, but the new ones are more forgiving and timings downclock symetrically, unless 2 modules with different timings are installed.

 

My A-Data DDR2-800 also do this. So i have to reset Timings and flash the rom again....