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Vostro 200 mini tower maximum RAM
Hi everyone
My Dell Vostro 200 minitower is now almost an antique but still going strong.
I'm running latest BIOS, Windows 7 64 bit with an Intel E5700 Pentium Dual-Core Processor 3.00GHz, 2MB Cache,
Socket 775 which is great.
The question is how much RAM has anyone succeeded in running?
It says 4gb max, but perhaps it can handle 8gb or even 16gb.
Has anyone tried 8gb or 16gb?
shesagordie
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November 8th, 2012 12:00
Nipx
Happy to have helped.
Bev.
Nipx
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November 8th, 2012 12:00
Thanks Bev, I'll make sure that I check the MOBO details before installing more RAM
shesagordie
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November 8th, 2012 12:00
Nipx
It depends on which version of the motherboard was factory installed.
There were actually two versions of the Inspiron 530 and Vostro 200 Mini Towers in production, which are not differentiated in their specifications.
When ordered with an Intel Q6600 Core 2 Quad processor, the 530/200 is equipped with a FoxConn G33m03 motherboard and a LiteOn 350W power supply and this system will support 8gb of DDR2 RAM [4 x 2gb modules].
When ordered in any other configuration, the 530/200 is typically equipped with a FoxConn G33m02 motherboard and a 300W Bestec power supply and suports a maximum of 4gb of DDR2 RAM, [either 2 x 2gb, or 4 x 1gb modules].
Essentially, the G33m02 is a depopulated [cheaper] version of the board which only has 6 voltage regulator IC's as opposed to the 11 voltage regulators on the DG33m03.
The FoxConn/Dell G33m02 motherboard does not support Core 2 Quad processors, only Core 2 Duo, Pentium Dual-Core and Celeron processors.
Bev.
zspaldin
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November 9th, 2012 19:00
I have a Vostro 400 with a E6750 and the G33m02 motherboard that has been running 8GB of ram for a while now (maybe 1.5-2 years).
I had the sticks of ram for another machine, but I decided to try it out. It booted up and recognized all 8GB and I never took them out.
Nipx
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November 9th, 2012 23:00
Many thanks, that is interesting.
So you are suggesting that the G33m02 MOBO can run 8gb. I will try it too.
Are you sure it is capable of using the RAM rather than just acknowledging that it is installed on the MOBO?
zspaldin
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November 10th, 2012 06:00
Yes the OS will see it (if it is 64 bit) and use it. I have seen my machine with over 6GB used when I have Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Solidworks2012, and Chrome (lots of tabs) all open at the same time.
Here is my CPU-Z link: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=2577315
Nipx
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November 10th, 2012 07:00
That's great! Thanks, I'll try it. I think the chipset should be the same for the 400 as rthe 200 as they are both G33m02 MOBOs.
I know the Dell E520 is limited to 8gb RAM because the chipset cannot handle anymore.
But, many thanks, I'll buy some 2gb DDR2 sticks on ebay.
CBPetrovic
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June 23rd, 2013 17:00
Ok, I've got 4Gb (4 X 1Gb) memory installed in my Vostro 200 mini-tower with a GEforce GT630 graphics card.
Why can't I see more than 2.75Gb of that 4Gb of memory?
Is the on-board graphics subsystem somehow hogging a bunch of it?
When I upgraded the graphics card, nothing was said about having to disable the on-board graphics.
Have I simply forgotten to do something??
The Owners' manual does not say anything about how to enable or disable the onboard graphics, only that there are some defaults.
These are the only items that address video
Advanced Chipset Features
Init Display First PCI Slot, Onboard, PCIEx (PCI Slot by default)
Video Memory Size 1 MB, 8 MB (8 MB by default)
DVMT Mode FIXED, DVMT (DVMT by default)
DVMT/FIXED Memory Size 128 MB, 256 MB, MAX (128 MB by default)
Any ideas would be welcome.
shesagordie
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June 23rd, 2013 18:00
CBPetrovic
Do you have a 32-bit, or a 64-bit operating system?
When you have a 32-bit system, this does not recognize 4gb of memory, 3±gb is all a 32-bit system can address.
Basically what it means is, while you can install 4gb of memory in the system, the reason it’s not recognized is mainly due to 32-bit processors and/or 32-bit applications on memory address limitations.
64-bit processors & operating systems will recognize beyond the 32-bit limitation.
Bev.
glenn-ho
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January 25th, 2014 15:00
Just giving an answer in case anyone is thinking of upgrading memory with a 64 bit system in a 200 Vostro MT. I am running 8GB pc2-6400u 4 x 2GB. Running 64 bit windows 7 home premium.
robbiek
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May 23rd, 2014 01:00
Can you please confirm whether your Vostro 200 MT is running FoxConn G33m02 motherboard? Bev has suggested above that this board has 4GB max limit. Thanks.
shesagordie
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May 23rd, 2014 09:00
If your Vostro 200 was purchased with either a Core 2 Duo, Pentium Dual-Core or Celeron processor and a 300w power supply, this system usually has a FoxConn G33M02 motherboard, that only supports Core 2 Duo, Pentium Dual-Core and Celeron processors.
If you have a Core 2 Quad processor and a 350w power supply, you have the FoxConn DG33M03 motherboard.
This motherboard can be used for both Quad 4 & Core 2 Duo processors.
Dell 530s systems have a Foxconn G33m02 motherboard, that only supports a maximum of 4gb [either4 x 1gb modules, or 2 x 2gb modules].
zspaldin
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May 23rd, 2014 10:00
Link to full size picture: i.imgur.com/teoXDUM.jpg
robbeik,
4 x 2 GB (8GB total) of ram WILL work in both G33M02 and G33M03 motherboards regardless of what the Dell documentation states.
Above is a picture of my Vostro 400 with a G33M02 mother board and 4 x 2GB. I posted a screen shot earlier in this thread (2 years ago) showing 8GB of ram and I have seen >6 GB used many times on this system.
I also own a system with a G33M03 motherboard (Inspiron 530) that has had 8GB of ram in the past and been able to utilize it.
Both motherboards are using the most up to date BIOS.
robbiek
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May 27th, 2014 04:00
Thank you very much for that post zspaldin. I will try 8GB RAM in my G33M02 Vostro 200 then. I am running latest BIOS 1.0.16 so as you have got 8GB on the same board albeit in a Vostro 400, it should work for me too. I recently upgraded the processor using a 2nd hand E8600 3.33GHz Core 2 Duo and this is working fine and more than enough for my needs but I could do with a bit more RAM, currently stuck on 4GB. I am running Windows 7 64 Bit. So after the RAM upgrade I hope this PC to last me a couple more years yet - still going strong!
zspaldin
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May 27th, 2014 07:00
I upgraded my Vostro 400 from a E6750 to the E8600 as well. The CPU made a noticeable difference for some tasks, but upgrading to a SSD was by far the best thing I ever did for the machine. It currently serves as my HTPC, but I have occasionally had to switch back to it when my main PC is taken apart or down and it works great for a light duty workstation.