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Can I add 16GB RAM to 4GB?
I bought my Inspiron 3470 from PC World just before covid arrived and it's always been slow switching between Firefox / Excel / iTunes / Thunderbird. Task Manager / Performance shows I have 4.0GB RAM, and in Command Prompt, "wmic MemoryChip get" shows Speed is 2666 (although ConfiguredClockSpeed is 2400).
I've just bought a single 16GB RAM (Crucial CT16G4DFRA266 DDR4, 2666 MT/s, PC4-21300, DIMM, 288-Pin). Should I add it alongside the existing 4GB, replace the existing 4GB, or put the 16GB where the 4GB is and the 4GB in the other slot?
fireberd
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November 23rd, 2022 09:00
You can try it in the second memory slot and see if it works. We see a lot of memory problems mixing memory, so its 50/50 on whether it will work. Best to have two of the same brand and model. If both do not work, install the new 16GB in the 4GB slot and consider adding another same 16GB Cruical memory.
Having two memory modules allows dual channel operation (which probably helps speed).
There are many options for this model, entry level Intel Celeron CPU up to a 9th Gen i7. CPU can be a source of slow operation. Another potential is the system drive that can vary between (slow) mechanical hard drives to a (fast) M.2 2280 NVME SSD. If you have mechanical hard drive, consider upgrading to SSD as it will speed up everything from startup to operations.
Perrund
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November 23rd, 2022 10:00
Thanks fireberd, so it sounds like it is worth me trying it in the second slot because if it does work it will be better than the 16MB alone. But, if it doesn't work (permanently or intermittently) I will open it up again and try it with the 16MB alone where the 4MB is currently.
I wish I had looked into this a year or two ago, but never mind, I've kept it going until now as it is, so hopefully the extra RAM will be sufficient for me.
Perrund
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November 25th, 2022 07:00
It's working well, PC boots up quicker but best of all I can switch between programs without it locking up for ten or twenty seconds. This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU6QTQhJx5o was a big helped, although I was a bit alarmed half way through after I slid the disk drive out of the way and then he said something like 'make sure you're not standing on carpet". Video says 3471 but to me it looks identical to my 3470.
fireberd
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November 25th, 2022 09:00
You are lucky. It was a 50/50 chance.
toby keller
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November 29th, 2022 23:00
Just before Covid came, I purchased my Inspiron 3470 from PC World, and ever since then, navigating between Firefox, Excel, iTunes, and Thunderbird has been sluggish. I have 4.0GB of RAM, according to Task Manager's Performance, and the command prompt's "wmic MemoryChip get" displays that my speed is 2666. (although ConfiguredClockSpeed is 2400).
A single 16GB RAM module (Crucial CT16G4DFRA266 DDR4, 2666 MT/s, PC4-21300, DIMM, 288-Pin) was just purchased by me. Should I add it in addition to the current 4GB, swap out the current 4GB for it, or put the 16GB in its place and the 4GB in the other slot?
fireberd
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November 30th, 2022 03:00
Identical post to this solved post. What is going on?
Solved: Re: Can I add 16GB RAM to 4GB? - Dell Community