Laptop Memory (Dell) upgrade advice please

Hi all!

I'm trying to upgrade my laptop memory in my Dell Inspiron E1505 from 2*512
to 2*1024. I have Everest but I can't seem to figure out how many pin the
memory I need to buy should be. I've seen 200 and 280 pin modules. Is
there any way to tell which ones are compatible?

I have seen the sites where you can enter your model and it tells you what
is compatible. Then there are others that just have modules out in the
open. The real problem is that these SKU / Part numbers don't seem to be
matching the manufacturer's website part numbers. And there are some cool
deals on these sites.

Secondly- I'm trying a self upgrade for this Dell laptop (my 1st time :-).
Is there anything I need to know beyond the videos posted online showing you
how to do it?
Thirdly- Will this void any warranty on the system (i.e. if I don't buy the
modules from dell)?
Fourthly- Is there good reason to spend on PC5300 (667MHz) rather than
PC4200 (533) modules? I'm looking to prepare my system for Vista Premium.
I do have an Nvidia Go 7300 graphics card so the 1GB was the only bottleneck
to Vista, really.

Any response will be appreciated. Thanks a lot and take care guys!

PowerUser wrote:
> Hi all!
>
> I'm trying to upgrade my laptop memory in my Dell Inspiron E1505 from 2*512
> to 2*1024. I have Everest but I can't seem to figure out how many pin the
> memory I need to buy should be. I've seen 200 and 280 pin modules. Is
> there any way to tell which ones are compatible?
>
> I have seen the sites where you can enter your model and it tells you what
> is compatible. Then there are others that just have modules out in the
> open. The real problem is that these SKU / Part numbers don't seem to be
> matching the manufacturer's website part numbers. And there are some cool
> deals on these sites.
>
> Secondly- I'm trying a self upgrade for this Dell laptop (my 1st time :-).
> Is there anything I need to know beyond the videos posted online showing you
> how to do it?
> Thirdly- Will this void any warranty on the system (i.e. if I don't buy the
> modules from dell)?
> Fourthly- Is there good reason to spend on PC5300 (667MHz) rather than
> PC4200 (533) modules? I'm looking to prepare my system for Vista Premium.
> I do have an Nvidia Go 7300 graphics card so the 1GB was the only bottleneck
> to Vista, really.

Go to www.crucial.com and use the Memory Advisor Tool. You will see that
the E1505 can take a maximum of 2048MB of RAM. The E1505 has two memory
slots so you will need to remove the RAM you have. Put it in a
static-free bag and keep it for emergencies. I believe in buying the
best memory you can afford, but read the FAQs listed on Crucial's site
to get details. Memory should match and must be the correct kind for
your motherboard. Personally, I only buy name-brand memory from sites I
trust, like Crucial. Memory is one component where you shouldn't be
getting bargain-brands.

It will not void your warranty if you upgrade the RAM. Dell has
instructions how to upgrade the RAM on their website. Print out the
instructions and follow them carefully so you don't damage your
motherboard when doing this.

Make sure that Dell has drivers for Vista for the E1505. The only place
you will be getting drivers for your laptop is Dell and if they don't
have them, you won't be able to upgrade to Vista.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

The question was really about purchasing the same brand name memory, from
the sites other than the brand's site itself. For instance I saw the same
Crucial model on another site, which did not have a memory configurator. I
need to know a way to tell how many pin the memory I have installed is, and
what would be compatible.

Thanks for the tip regarding warranty.
I've tested the RCs of Vista so I'm pretty sure my Dell has no problems.
And Dell has drivers too. I also successfully ran the Vista compatibility
test MS software.

"Malke" <> wrote in message
news:...
> PowerUser wrote:
>> Hi all!
>>
>> I'm trying to upgrade my laptop memory in my Dell Inspiron E1505 from
>> 2*512 to 2*1024. I have Everest but I can't seem to figure out how many
>> pin the memory I need to buy should be. I've seen 200 and 280 pin
>> modules. Is there any way to tell which ones are compatible?
>>
>> I have seen the sites where you can enter your model and it tells you
>> what is compatible. Then there are others that just have modules out in
>> the open. The real problem is that these SKU / Part numbers don't seem
>> to be matching the manufacturer's website part numbers. And there are
>> some cool deals on these sites.
>>
>> Secondly- I'm trying a self upgrade for this Dell laptop (my 1st time
>> :-). Is there anything I need to know beyond the videos posted online
>> showing you how to do it?
>> Thirdly- Will this void any warranty on the system (i.e. if I don't buy
>> the modules from dell)?
>> Fourthly- Is there good reason to spend on PC5300 (667MHz) rather than
>> PC4200 (533) modules? I'm looking to prepare my system for Vista
>> Premium. I do have an Nvidia Go 7300 graphics card so the 1GB was the
>> only bottleneck to Vista, really.
>
> Go to www.crucial.com and use the Memory Advisor Tool. You will see that
> the E1505 can take a maximum of 2048MB of RAM. The E1505 has two memory
> slots so you will need to remove the RAM you have. Put it in a static-free
> bag and keep it for emergencies. I believe in buying the best memory you
> can afford, but read the FAQs listed on Crucial's site to get details.
> Memory should match and must be the correct kind for your motherboard.
> Personally, I only buy name-brand memory from sites I trust, like Crucial.
> Memory is one component where you shouldn't be getting bargain-brands.
>
> It will not void your warranty if you upgrade the RAM. Dell has
> instructions how to upgrade the RAM on their website. Print out the
> instructions and follow them carefully so you don't damage your
> motherboard when doing this.
>
> Make sure that Dell has drivers for Vista for the E1505. The only place
> you will be getting drivers for your laptop is Dell and if they don't have
> them, you won't be able to upgrade to Vista.
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

PowerUser wrote:
> The question was really about purchasing the same brand name memory, from
> the sites other than the brand's site itself. For instance I saw the same
> Crucial model on another site, which did not have a memory configurator. I
> need to know a way to tell how many pin the memory I have installed is, and
> what would be compatible.
>
> Thanks for the tip regarding warranty.
> I've tested the RCs of Vista so I'm pretty sure my Dell has no problems.
> And Dell has drivers too. I also successfully ran the Vista compatibility
> test MS software.

The question about pins doesn't really make sense. If you will look at -
and read - the information on Crucial's website (and no, I don't work
for them and no, I don't care from whom you buy the memory) you will see
that you need 200-pin SODIMMs and your computer will accept "DDRII
memory with support for DDR2 PC2-5300,DDR2 PC2-4200 speeds". You don't
have a choice about using 200-pin SODIMMs; you do have a choice about
going with PC2-5300 or PC2-4200. On Crucial's site, 2GB (in 2 sticks,
which is what you want) of PC2-4200 costs $105.99. The same
configuration only with PC2-5300 costs $109.99. For the extra $4.00,
personally I'd buy the PC2-5300 but this is a choice *you* need to make
for yourself.

Again, read the answers to the questions that appear after you've gone
through the Memory Tool. Then buy your memory wherever you want.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

PowerUser wrote:
> The question was really about purchasing the same brand name memory, from
> the sites other than the brand's site itself. For instance I saw the same
> Crucial model on another site, which did not have a memory configurator. I
> need to know a way to tell how many pin the memory I have installed is, and
> what would be compatible.
>

If you saw Crucial brand memory for sale on any site other than
Crucial's own, it was either counterfeit or stolen. Crucial is the
direct market outlet for Micron Technologies, and they don't sell to
other retailers. If you want Crucial memory (and it's the only brand I
ever buy), buy from Crucial.





--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

Not true. New Egg, for one, resells Crucial RAM.
>
> If you saw Crucial brand memory for sale on any site other than Crucial's
> own, it was either counterfeit or stolen. Crucial is the direct market
> outlet for Micron Technologies, and they don't sell to other retailers.
> If you want Crucial memory (and it's the only brand I ever buy), buy from
> Crucial.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand
> Russell