*Real* Dimension 4300 RAM Capacity?

Question

Hello all --

I got this Dimension 4300 roughly 4 1/2 years ago; it has a P4 1.6 GHZ with 256 megs of RAM, as well as upgraded video/network cards and new hard drives.

I'm now interested in purchasing RAM, as I feel it will give me the most noticeable performance gain, especially until I can afford a new computer (which, as I know more about them now, I will probably build when I can afford to).

However, I have been seeing conflicting reports regarding the maximum amount of RAM that this chipset will recognize. Some people say the maximum is 512 MB (Dell included), while others say the maximum is 1 GB. I do remember seeing a discussion about this several years ago, and I don't think the answer was very clear.

I would like to buy an additional stick of 512, to make my total 768 megs. But I just remembered that there was some maximum recognizable amount of RAM, and I don't want to pay extra and then only have half of it recognized.

Could somebody give me a real answer as to how much RAM this chipset will recognize?

Thanks a lot in advance.

-- Robert

Message Edited by pro22031 on 02-26-2005 07:53 PM

msgale · Answer

What OS are you running, that is also part of yhe puzzle

pro22031 · Answer

@msgale wrote:

What OS are you running, that is also part of yhe puzzle

I'm running Debian Linux, which has no problems supporting gigs and gigs and MORE gigs of RAM. I also occasionally boot into Windows XP.

msgale · Answer

Yes

msgale · Answer

According to Kingstom Memory the memory limit is 512 MB

pro22031 · Answer

The memory limit for what, the Dimension 4300?

pro22031 · Answer

Thanks, msgale. Do you or anyone else have experience with upgrading RAM in a 4300?

msgale · Answer

No, but most packagers of RAM include instructions with the memory.  I have replaced/upgraded memory on many machines, and it is not hard.

pro22031 · Answer

Yeah, it wasn't that I was worried about; for clarification, I was just wondering if anyone had tried installing MORE than 512 megs of RAM in a 4300. Sorry for being unclear.

saw2cut · Answer

Crucial is CORRECT, I am having no problems with this computer after doing the up grade. The BIOS recognize the1024 MB and so does the hardware in properties in MY COMPUTER. I back read several months of info in this forum on the subject, and talked to others have been building and swapping parts in computers for years before I tried it. All agreed as long as the computer meets the above mention specs you should have no problems. saw2cut

saw2cut · Answer

I just got done doing the exact same thing you want to do this week. Hears what I can tell you. If you have a 4300S this will not work with your computer. If it is a true 4300 (Get out your Solutions Guide Book ) if you still have it. Open to page 90. Now if it shows you have -

1. 4 PCI connectors

2. Memory type PC133 non - ECC or ECC

3. Case size is (17.7 x 7.1 x 17.6 inches )

4. Weight ( 12.7 or 28. LB )

5. 250 watt power supply ( you will have to open the case and remove the power supply. If it is not labeled so you can read it, or find the the model number of the power supply. If it is the original it should have 250 in the numbers HP-P2507F3P ).

Confirm the above. Now check the BIOS of your computer. If it is AO1 OR AO2, you can up grade to, two 512 MB memory sticks A TOTAL OF 1024 MB OR 1. GB OF RAM. It is my understanding that if you have BIOS above AO2 then you can not up grade past 512 MB because your computer will not recognize the memory. Use a good brand memory (Corsair or Crucial) I have been told cheap sticks have caused computers to crash. Good luck. saw2cut

msgale · Answer

Interestingly Kingston says 512 MBytes but Crucial says 1024 MBytes.

pro22031 · Answer

@saw2cut wrote:

I just got done doing the exact same thing you want to do this week. Hears what I can tell you. If you have a 4300S this will not work with your computer. If it is a true 4300 (Get out your Solutions Guide Book ) if you still have it. Open to page 90. Now if it shows you have -

1. 4 PCI connectors

2. Memory type PC133 non - ECC or ECC

3. Case size is (17.7 x 7.1 x 17.6 inches )

4. Weight ( 12.7 or 28. LB )

5. 250 watt power supply ( you will have to open the case and remove the power supply. If it is not labeled so you can read it, or find the the model number of the power supply. If it is the original it should have 250 in the numbers HP-P2507F3P ).

Confirm the above. Now check the BIOS of your computer. If it is AO1 OR AO2, you can up grade to, two 512 MB memory sticks A TOTAL OF 1024 MB OR 1. GB OF RAM. It is my understanding that if you have BIOS above AO2 then you can not up grade past 512 MB because your computer will not recognize the memory. Use a good brand memory (Corsair or Crucial) I have been told cheap sticks have caused computers to crash. Good luck. saw2cut

Thanks a lot for that saw2cut. I do have BIOS revision A02, and the other specs are right, and I do know that this is a 4300. So I assume I can get a gig of RAM now? That's good to know! Thanks a lot!

Windows General

Real Dimension 4300 RAM Capacity?

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