Ram Must be installed in Pairs AND CRIMM must be installed in the empty slots.

The Cost of the ram will be more than a Brand New Dell that is much Faster.

Actually the cost of the RDRAM PC800-45 ECC was not costly compared to buying a new computer, one that I would want to buy.   If you can find a new, state of the art, extremely fast computer for $95 let me know.  

When you boot to Windows, is the correct amount of RAM recognized?

Actually the cost of the RDRAM PC800-45 ECC was not costly compared to buying a new computer, one that I would want to buy.   If you can find a new, state of the art, extremely fast computer for $95 let me know.

While I cannot find NEW state of the art computer I can find

GX280 Tower systems for a bit over $99 that have PCI-E video slots and use much cheaper DDR-2 ram and support

other newer faster features.  DDR 2 ram of the correct speed can be migrated to a newer dell Like an Inspiron 530.

Same goes for upgraded PCI-E video card.

Used DELL Optiplex PENTIUM 4 2.8GHZ With COMBO | PCRetro.com ...

Hello  Osprey,

  yes,  I definitely need more help/advice.   How to get initial boot to register 2GB of Rambus instead of 128MB.    Although I know for sure that my system is registering and using the full 2GB of rambus I'd like to see the full 2GB counting up on the boot screen.    I have a new tube of the Arctic Alumina to use for installing the cpu and heatsink/fan.   But It would definitely be cool to be able to get the fastest cpu that will run with this upgrade and computer/Mobo before I install the 2.8GHz which I received for free.   But first I'd like to verify that the fastest 478 cpu....the 3.4GHz 1MB cache 800 MHz (400 FSB Bus) will work with this upgrade combo before I buy a used 3.4 GHz cpu and install the upgrade and cpu with heatsink/fan.     

SWWP

Hello,

  No.   First I went to setup program and changed boot to fast and only 128 is registering.  Then I changed to normal boot and same thing...only 128MB is registering.  I was thinking maybe since the max is 2GB the bios (XP2) was purposely setup to initially register only 128MB rambus to save boot time.   I then get a white thick stripe across the lower part of my screen which quickly passes away like a car running down the freeway and the system immediately boots up win xp window.  I have Everest software and Sisoft sandra and both show that I have  4 x 512 rambus modules, totaling 2GB of Rambus memory.   The @GB of memory seems to be working just fine.   I've yet to install the powerleap PL-P4/N and cpu but I've installed the PSU 410w upgrade  and it works fine.  I've also installed the 2GB of samsung PC800-45ns ECC Rambus and it seems to work fine as well even though initial computer system boot only registers 128MB.   This was also the case when I had  4 x  64B samsung rambus modules installed .    I've been searching ebay and it looks as if there are faster Intel 478 400FSB (800MHz) 512cache cpu's available that might work with this powerleap and 8100 computer (Intel Tehama i850E Chipset).   I'd like to run this powerleap upgrade with the fastest cpu I can get and  will work with the powerleap adapter.  I can use all the help I can get.    Thank you so much for asking.    Do you happen to have any experience with this powerleap upgrade for the dell dimension 8100 and know which is the fastest cpu that will work with this powerleap adapter/computer (Intel Tehama i850E chipset).   I've seen several 3.0GHz up to 3.4GHz socket 478 1MB cache  400FSB (800MHz) intel cpu's and some 512cache cpu's at 3.0GHz or higher..  I can send you my personal email if you wish to converse away from dell forums where criticism of upgrade will not be issue. 

   All I have left is to remove the green shroud and go through the process of installing the powerleap upgrade and 2.8GHz Northwood CPU.   It would be great to verify that this powerleap upgrade will definitely work with my dell dimension 8100 Mobo but I'd also like to verify, if possible, the fastest cpu that anyone has been able to get to work with this adapter and computer/Mobo.   This way I can buy the fastest CPU available for this adapter and computer/Mobo and I'll know for sure it will work well.   And I'll know that I've got this computer running as fast as possible.   I don't do any power/cpu hungry stuff with my computer so I really don't need a new much faster computer.  I really enjoy doing these upgrades and given the computer and most of the upgrade hardware was free, it's a good deal for me.  I'm an environmental scientist and I hate the idea of throwing away all the extra hardware I have and I certainly hate the idea of a throwaway society so it makes me feel good to upgrade an older computer with used parts.  Cheap and enjoyable and satisfying from an environmental recycling standpoint.

   I've been wondering if this upgrade will work with the 3.4GHz 1MB cache 400FSB Intel 478 CPU?   I think this is the fastest cpu available for 478 socket motherboards.

Sincerely,

SWWP

I made a mistake and confused PC800 for 400FSB computer with dual channel rambus 800MHz FSB.  I can only use a P4 that is 400FSB but I believe that the Intel Tehama i850E chipset can use both 533 and 400FSB rambus modules so maybe I can use the 3.06 P4 533FSB cpu with the powerleap adapter?

I sent Powerleap an email and received a response that the fastest P4  I can use with the powerleap 478 adapter is the Northwood  Pentium 4    2.8GHz 400FSB/512KB..stepping SL7EY  socket 478  CPU.     I'm still wondering if the DP/N  MX-09D307 Dell Motherboard, which has the i850E chipset and can handle both 400FSB (PC800) and 533FSB  (PC1066)  Rambus modules from what I've read, might be able to handle and be compatible with a faster 533FSB P4  478 socket CPU.  

Straight and to the point; thanks.

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I found this:

http://www.buy.com/prod/pcchips-pentium-4-423-to-478-socket-adapter-similar-to-powerleap-pl-p4/q/loc/101/208132106.html

PCChips Pentium 4 423 to 478 Socket Adapter (Similar to Powerleap PL-P4/N) - conv-423-to-478

$28 including shipping (microprocessor not included)

"Used" 2.8 GHz Northwoods selling on eBay for $15 to $20.  God knows if they're handled with "Static Safety" in mind.

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My preference is to put the Dell Dimension 8100 in the recycling bin.  The 1.5 GHz P4 uses 58 watts, the 2.8 GHz P4 uses 68 watts.  Both of them top out with instruction sets of SSE2, so they don't have SSE3 or SSSE3 (or SSSE4), and don't even offer hyperthreading.

Conversely, an i3 processor has L3 cache.  It's a dual core that uses 73 watts with instruction sets going into the SSSE4's, so it's good for video editing.  (The old pentiums faint at the idea of just displaying video.

I guess the wife finds the 8100 unpretentious.

Best thing to do is build her a i3 machine, and slowly noodge her towards getting rid of the 8100.

My preference is to put the Dell Dimension 8100 in the recycling bin.

Sounds like an inevitability.