DDR2-667 vs DDR2-800

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@hfhlt004 wrote:
I'm still not clear on this. Dell uses DDR2-667 instead of DDR2-800 chips. Why??? Dell has recently been knocked because of its use of "cheap" memory chips. I can't find any clear articles on different brands of memory.

Please help me understand, as I am about to order a system.

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Interesting.

I have a late model XPS 600 and was hoping to change out my 2GB DDR2 SDRAM 667 MHZ for

3 or 4GB  speedier ram.

You are saying I can NOT?????

Hi,

Have a Pentium D processor 930 / 65nm  LGA775 / 2x2MB L2 / 800MHz

what ever in heck all the above means

drybones

Then old dumb brain here, is really confused.

Could you please info me just which brand and type of memory to purchase

Many thanks,

drybones

All,

The XPS 700 Service Manual <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> appeared on the website in May, 2006. The Service Manual clearly states that the only memory acceptable in the XPS 700 is the 533MHz and 667MHz DDR2 unbuffered SDRAM. So I am confused as to why people have ever thought that they could use 800MHz memory?

Chris,

Okay, so I only have a XPS 600 but it appears to me that the RAM is the same as XPS 700.

DDR 2 SDSRAM 667 MHz Dual Interleaved

Is this correct?

And,  #2 that I should stay with the Ram that DELL sells and not try a different mfg.

when adding two more 1GB sticks?

Thanks for your assist, in advance.

drybones

To answer several questions posed in this thread:

The benefit of using better quality RAM in the XPS 700 is that it potentially provides more room for overclocking by increasing the RAM bus speed.  Performance close to 800Mhz should be possible in the XPS 700 but only by using overclocked 667Mhz RAM.  High quality RAM (Corsair, OCZ) typically has more headroom for overclocking.  However you should not try to use factory 800Mhz RAM in the XPS 700, user experiences reported so far indicate the machine will not post with that RAM.

There is no reason to invest in higher quality RAM for the XPS 600 since the XPS 600 provides no ability to overclock or change the stock settings of the RAM.  Whatever brand of 667Mhz RAM you stick into the XPS 600 will be downclocked to the same bus speed and same latencies as Dell's stock RAM so you are just wasting money there.

People assumed the 590 motherboard in the XPS 700 would support 800Mhz RAM because the Enhanced Performance Profile feature highlighted on Nvidia's website when the 590 chipset was first announced touted the use of 800Mhz RAM; early review copies of 590-based motherboards provided to tech websites so far such as guru3d.com, anandtech, MaximumPC, etc. all successfully used 800Mhz RAM; retail motherboards being developed from the 590 chipset all appear to be spec'd to support 800Mhz RAM; and so purchasers who failed carefully to study the XPS 700 technical manual but instead simply relied on Dell's marketing gloss wrongly assumed the XPS 700 would be a cutting-edge system supporting current state-of-the-art specifications.

Message Edited by Aivas47a on 09-08-200606:03 PM

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@Anonymous-ChrisM wrote:
Aivas47a,

I understand this about the non-Dell websites. But even on our Sales site , the Tech Specs only list:
Up to 4GB2 Dual-Channel DDR21 SDRAM (667MHz, 2 or 4 DIMMs)
Up to 4GB2 Dual-Channel DDR21 SDRAM (533MHz, 2 or 4 DIMMs)

So it is not like Dell hid this from the consumer.

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The problem isn't whether or not the RAM specs were clearly disclosed, the problem is that people heard SLI 590 chipset and bought on spec because even though Dell was shipping with 667MHz, one could reasonable assume that if the chipset was a true 590, that a customer could in fact buy 800MHz RAM and drop it in. 

Beyond that it's just plain disappointing because Dell actually had to downgrade the MBO BIOs specs by design to cap at 667MHz.  It's just plain silly in my opinion. 

Message Edited by MrAce on 09-08-200607:56 PM

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@Anonymous-ChrisM wrote:
Aivas47a,

I understand this about the non-Dell websites. But even on our Sales site ,

the Tech Specs only list:

Up to 4GB2 Dual-Channel DDR21 SDRAM (667MHz, 2 or 4 DIMMs)
Up to 4GB2 Dual-Channel DDR21 SDRAM (533MHz, 2 or 4 DIMMs)

So it is not like Dell hid this from the consumer.

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Sorry ChrisM,

But that was probably a bad way to justify it!  The 590 Chipset FULLY supports 800MHz memory and Dell 'chose' not to implement that feature for whatever reason.

So YES, Dell did HIDE, LIE, DECEIVE, MISREPRESENT the XPS 700 in that regards.

Bub