Inspiron 9400 RAM upgrade?

Ninsei · 18th September 2006, 1:00 PM

Got my new 9400 late last week, and I ordered it with 512MB of DDR2-533, with the intent of upgrading after I purchased it.

I need to end up with at least 1GB total. What I'm not sure about is whether I should just get a 1GB stick of DDR2-667 and either keep or remove the existing 512MB stick, or two sticks of DDR2-667, or just save my cash and get a single 512MB stick of any DDR2-533?

If I mix and match speeds/sizes are there any problems, and are there any specific requirements for RAM in these things, or will they take any standard DDR2 SODIMMs? Most likely I'll get Kingston sticks like the KVR533D2S4-512 or KVR667D2S5/1G.

trotsky · 18th September 2006, 1:04 PM

If your processor is running at 667, then yes use 667 memory (dual) if your budget allows. If not, then get a 1gig stick of DDR667 (use the 512, but it will run at 533 speed since it will run at slowest speed) and then save to get another stick later on of 1gig DDR667.

Means the cpu and ram are running in sync, hence there are no wait times when reading/writing memory.

Ninsei · 18th September 2006, 1:25 PM

Should have been clear, it's a new Core 2 Duo Merom 2Ghz, so the CPU FSB is definately 667Mhz. So at the moment it's 5:8 FSB/RAM. (667Mhz FSB, 533Mhz RAM).

Wouldn't I get more benefit with 2 sticks the same (so dual-channel works) as opposed to a single faster stick (1GB 667) or two mismatched sticks? Even if the two sticks are just 512MB 533Mhz?

buddyholly · 18th September 2006, 8:30 PM

from what I've read at http://www.notebookforums.com the value ram range isn't a sure thing. I looked around for ages before deciding on a 2 x 1Gb sticks of 667DDR2 Mushkin from AUSPCMarket. was around $330 inc delivery. not the cheapest, but at least I knew it was going to work finee in my 9400
cheers

18th September 2006, 1:00 PM	#1
Ninsei Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,546	Inspiron 9400 RAM upgrade? Got my new 9400 late last week, and I ordered it with 512MB of DDR2-533, with the intent of upgrading after I purchased it. I need to end up with at least 1GB total. What I'm not sure about is whether I should just get a 1GB stick of DDR2-667 and either keep or remove the existing 512MB stick, or two sticks of DDR2-667, or just save my cash and get a single 512MB stick of any DDR2-533? If I mix and match speeds/sizes are there any problems, and are there any specific requirements for RAM in these things, or will they take any standard DDR2 SODIMMs? Most likely I'll get Kingston sticks like the KVR533D2S4-512 or KVR667D2S5/1G. __________________ I didn't come this far for you to make this hard for me. \| And now you want to ask me "how"? \| It's like - how does your heart beat, and why do you breathe? \| How does your heart beat, and why do you breathe? \| Why did you come here?\| You weren't invited. \| You were on the outside - Stay on the outside. I want to feel sunlight on my face, See that dust cloud disappear without a trace, I want to take shelter from the poison rain, Where the streets have no name.

18th September 2006, 1:25 PM	#3
Ninsei Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,546	Should have been clear, it's a new Core 2 Duo Merom 2Ghz, so the CPU FSB is definately 667Mhz. So at the moment it's 5:8 FSB/RAM. (667Mhz FSB, 533Mhz RAM). Wouldn't I get more benefit with 2 sticks the same (so dual-channel works) as opposed to a single faster stick (1GB 667) or two mismatched sticks? Even if the two sticks are just 512MB 533Mhz? __________________ I didn't come this far for you to make this hard for me. \| And now you want to ask me "how"? \| It's like - how does your heart beat, and why do you breathe? \| How does your heart beat, and why do you breathe? \| Why did you come here?\| You weren't invited. \| You were on the outside - Stay on the outside. I want to feel sunlight on my face, See that dust cloud disappear without a trace, I want to take shelter from the poison rain, Where the streets have no name.

18th September 2006, 1:04 PM	#2
trotsky Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Brisbane Posts: 107	If your processor is running at 667, then yes use 667 memory (dual) if your budget allows. If not, then get a 1gig stick of DDR667 (use the 512, but it will run at 533 speed since it will run at slowest speed) and then save to get another stick later on of 1gig DDR667. Means the cpu and ram are running in sync, hence there are no wait times when reading/writing memory.

18th September 2006, 8:30 PM	#4
buddyholly Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nowra Posts: 64	from what I've read at http://www.notebookforums.com the value ram range isn't a sure thing. I looked around for ages before deciding on a 2 x 1Gb sticks of 667DDR2 Mushkin from AUSPCMarket. was around $330 inc delivery. not the cheapest, but at least I knew it was going to work finee in my 9400 cheers