Memory modules for older computer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Colleyville Alan
  • Start date Start date
C

Colleyville Alan

I have a Dell Dimension XPS purchased in July of 2000. It came with 256mb
of ram and a couple of years later I upgraded one of the two memory slots to
a 256mb module for a total of 384. Memory was expensive then or I would
have gone to 512mb

Now that memory is cheaper, I want to upgrade. I only have two slots on the
MB and want to put 256mb memory in each one. But back when I bought the
system, the memory was at 100 or 133mhz and what I see on the Dell website
now is 300 or 400 mhz. Question: will this memory work with my older
motherboard or is the higher rated speed likely to cause a compatibility
issue?

Thanks.
Alan
 
Colleyville Alan said:
I have a Dell Dimension XPS purchased in July of 2000. It came with 256mb
of ram and a couple of years later I upgraded one of the two memory slots
to a 256mb module for a total of 384. Memory was expensive then or I would
have gone to 512mb

Now that memory is cheaper, I want to upgrade. I only have two slots on
the MB and want to put 256mb memory in each one. But back when I bought
the system, the memory was at 100 or 133mhz and what I see on the Dell
website now is 300 or 400 mhz. Question: will this memory work with my
older motherboard or is the higher rated speed likely to cause a
compatibility issue?

Thanks.
Alan
Click to expand...
Sounds like you need pc100 or 133 mhz SDram memory.
Either look in your manual or go to Dell's site and look up
your model and see how much memory the board will take in each slot.and what
type.
Pc133 mhz is backwards compatable.
DDR memory will not work.
Now that memory is cheaper, I want to upgrade.
Click to expand...

Sdram will get more expensive in time as it's old technology and harder to
find.

C.
 
Colleyville Alan said:
I have a Dell Dimension XPS purchased in July of 2000. It came with 256mb
of ram and a couple of years later I upgraded one of the two memory slots
to a 256mb module for a total of 384. Memory was expensive then or I would
have gone to 512mb

Now that memory is cheaper, I want to upgrade. I only have two slots on
the MB and want to put 256mb memory in each one. But back when I bought
the system, the memory was at 100 or 133mhz and what I see on the Dell
website now is 300 or 400 mhz. Question: will this memory work with my
older motherboard or is the higher rated speed likely to cause a
compatibility issue?
Click to expand...


you need to look specifically for SDRAM...

you must be looking at DDR
 
I have a Dell Dimension XPS purchased in July of 2000. It came with 256mb
of ram and a couple of years later I upgraded one of the two memory slots
to a 256mb module for a total of 384. Memory was expensive then or I
would have gone to 512mb

Now that memory is cheaper, I want to upgrade. I only have two slots on
the MB and want to put 256mb memory in each one. But back when I bought
the system, the memory was at 100 or 133mhz and what I see on the Dell
website now is 300 or 400 mhz. Question: will this memory work with my
older motherboard or is the higher rated speed likely to cause a
compatibility issue?

Thanks.
Alan
Click to expand...


You might still get the memory from Dell ($$) if you look for
components for your model no. Otherwise try the Kingston and PNY sites
for PC100/133 compatible with your system and motherboard. Another 256mb
should be around $50-60 for your Dell. You could also try cairo.com for
PC100/133 memory on sale in your zipcode like Best Buy, Office Depot.
Makes it easier to return if the memory doesn't work as expected.
 
C. said:
Sounds like you need pc100 or 133 mhz SDram memory.
Either look in your manual or go to Dell's site and look up
your model and see how much memory the board will take in each slot.and
what type.
Pc133 mhz is backwards compatable.
DDR memory will not work.


Sdram will get more expensive in time as it's old technology and harder to
find.

C.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.
However I am not sure 100% sure that the information you gave me is enough
to go on in that I do not know if RDRAM and SDRAM are the same. This is the
info extracted from SiSoftware Sandra:

< System Memory Controller >
Location: Mainboard
Error Correction Capability: None
Number of Memory Slots: 2
BANK0 - J6J1: RIMM RAMBUS 128MB/16 @ 356Mt/s
BANK1 - J6J2: RIMM RAMBUS 256MB/16 @ 356Mt/s

< Memory Module 1 >
Model: THMR1N8-7
Serial Number: 02133C00
Type: 128MB RDRAM RIMM
Technology: 8x(128Mx16)
Speed: PC714-50 2-2
Version: 1.0
Date of Manufacture: Saturday, May 20, 2000
Set Timing @ 372MHz: 2-2
Set Timing @ 300MHz: 2-2

< Memory Module 2 >
Serial Number: 04181800
Type: 256MB RDRAM RIMM
Technology: 16x(128Mx16)
Speed: PC714-45 2-2
Version: 1.0
Date of Manufacture: Monday, March 19, 2001
Set Timing @ 372MHz: 2-2
 
Rambus RIMMs were a special variety of memory that performed like
dual-channel SDRAM in a single package. Intel promoted it for a while, but
it never got a large market share and was more or less abandoned with the
coming of the Pentium III. According to _PC Hardware In A Nutshell_,
"...RDRAM-based Pentium 4 systems provide better performance than those that
use single-channel DDR-SDRAM, but worse perfomrance than those that use dual
channel DDR-SDRAM. That leaves RDRAM as an expensive technology with no
remaining market niche, and we expect it (as of early 2004) to fade
quickly."

The good news is it's good fast memory. The bad news is that it is NOT
interchangeable with SDRAM and may be difficult to find. It's definitely
not going to be hanging in the case in the photo-electronics section of your
local variety store. It may still be manufactured but is a specialty item
for people like yourself with a certain vintage of systems to upgrade. You
cannot replace it with either SDRAM or DDR-SDRAM.

Systems set up for RIMMs must have a module in every available slot, so
special dummy modules called CRIMMs are available to fill unoccupied slots.
In your case, of course, you are trying to put in all you can get.

I suggest you look for a store that specializes in computer memory, search
for them online, or contact Dell for recommendations. The first option will
be least expensive and probably most helpful.
 
Colleyville Alan said:
snip


In my earlier post I mentioned that I have this info from SiSoftware
Sandra. However, I was able to find the information at the bottom of this
post in a Dell documents directory which had a help file.


I found this information in a Dell help file. With this info, what RAM do
I need to buy? I see some Rambus Memory Modules listed at Compusa and
they say 184pin. I cannot tell from this how many pins are on the sockets
on my motherboard. Is it a standard configuration?
Memory
Architecture
Rambus PC600, PC700 and PC800

RIMM sockets
two; gold contacts

RIMM capacities
128 and 256 MB

Minimum RAM
128 MB

Maximum RAM
512 MB

Clock cycle


PC800
2.5 ns

PC700
2.8 ns

PC600
3.5 ns

SPD revision
Rambus 1.1

Buffering
unbuffered

Voltage
2.5 V

Data bus width
16 bits

BIOS address
F0000h

Read pelysma replies as he is correct.
Click to expand...

According to sisoft, The most ram is 512mb = 2 modules at 256mb.
Unbuffered RIMM.Rambus Pc 800 will be the fastest, but will
only be as fast as your other existing 256 module. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Good Luck,

C.
 
Pelysma said:
Here's some good reading for you. Memorysuppliers.com also sells RDRAM,
but
might not be the best price.

And repeating, but in answer to your concern, 184-pin RIMMs and 184-pin
DIMMs are NOT interchangeable. They contain different technology and have
slots in different places on the stick to prevent accidentally installing
them in the wrong board.
Click to expand...

Thanks
 
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