Max memory on the 9400/E1705?

Max RAM is 4 GB. Always consult with the Dell documentation first. You will have only 3+ GB with 2-2GB modules. The amount will depend on the system configuration. Best to stick with 2 GB. If you really need more, you could use a 1GB and 2GB combination; it will save money, but you will lose some perfromance by defeating Dual Channel support.

 

Dimension 9100, Win XP, 3.0 GHz P4, 2 GB DDR2 533 MHz RAM, 160 GB SATA II Samsung, 300 GB SATA II Seagate, 250 GB SimpleTech USB (WD Drive), Nvidia Go 6800 (425/825 MHz), Dell 1901 FP UltraSharp

Inspiron E1705, Win Vista Premium, T7200 Core 2 Duo (4MB, 2.0 GHz 667MHz), 2 GB DDR2 677 MHz RAM, 2 GB Transcend 150X SD ReadyBoost, 120 GB Samsung HD, Nvidia Go 7900 GS, 17” Sharp UltraSharp TrueLife Wide-Screen WUXGA

I actually have to disagree. I put 4Gb of RAM in my 1705 (Crucial 2 x 2GB). True, you only utilize 3.36GB, but the common misconception is that the OS doesn't see the full 4GB. It's actually the hardware that limits it when paired with a 32-bit OS. Anyway, you still get 3.3GB and because of the dual channel you keep the speed, as opposed to using a 2GB and 1GB stick, which will kill performance. BTW, the manual clearly states that the laptop holds 4GB of RAM. Dealers like Crucial don't show more than 2GB because they probably don't want to explain why the customer will end up only seeing 3.3GB.

 

Why did I upgrade if I only get 3.3GB? Simple... Vista Ultimate uses 1.1GB just sitting there idle. I have all the bells and whistles turned on... Aero, Flip3D, all of it. So with 2.2GB left over, my apps run smooth, especially Photoshop CS2 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 which are RAM hogs.

 

What about the cost? Over a year ago, one Crucial 2GB 667mHz stick was over $1000, so the upgrade would cost well over $2000, just for RAM. That'd be ridiculous. But two weeks ago I checked Crucial's site and the price was down to $187 each. (Note: don't use the model finder at Crucial's site... they don't show the 1705 as capable of 4GB of RAM. Just drill into the memory list and select 200-pin DDR2 SODIMMS). ANYWAY, that price seemed better. But a quick Internet search showed dealers with the sticks even CHEAPER. I purchased two 2GB sticks of Crucial 667mHz (Crucial Part# CT25664AC667) for $129.99 each, from BeachAudio.com. I've used them before and am quite pleased with their fast turnaround. They're an Amazon affiliate, not some weird dotcom out in la la land.

 

You want to run Vista or even XP Pro, 3.3GB of RAM is way better than 2GB, and now it's a price you can afford. Plus, our 1705's are powerhouses that can handle 64-bit OS's (I have the T7200 chip), so when the day comes that all drivers and upgrades are available, we can switch to 64-bit and utilize all 4gb, which'll be already installed.