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dell 8400 and memory type
I have a dell 8400 supplied with two sticks of pc4300 512mb memory! (might be pc4200- forget)
I purchased two sticks of dell memory: Dell SNPD6502C/1G! The memory is used and:
This memory is 667mhz, unbuffered, ECC!
I did not catch the error checking qualification!
I know original memory is non checking! I know non ecc is recommended, not sure just why (probably unnecessary and is slower)!
QUESTIONS:
1. I assume the 8400 system will recognize the ECC version and the current non-ecc version and the system will work without a problem? Would be good if someone can answer this definitely!!!!!!!
2. I understand from internet searches, the ECC memory will slow my computer! However, that slowdown looks to be insignificant, I think- less than 2%!
3. I plan to use the pc4300 (or pc4200-which ever was supplied ) so I have a total of 3gb!
4. Normally, I think you put the larger memory capacity sticks in dimms 1 &2! In my case, I assume the original sticks are matched and I believe the new (used) sticks to be matched!
5. In my case I think it might be smarter to leave the non-ecc pc4300's in dimm slots 1 &2 and install the two new memory sticks in dimms 3&4! COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE!
6. I would think the additional memory capacity far outweighs the slow down due to error checking, which I understand becomes non functional due to mixed memory anyway!
7. I think I understand that the 8400 will use less than about 3.5gb of memory (cannot utilize full 4gb memory) so looks like getting additional larger memory would only gain less than effective 512mb anyway! I also know, think I know, the speed of the pc5300 or larger is mute as there are other limiting capacities on the motherboard! Memory will clock at 533 mhz!
8. Why would I want to eventually replace the two sticks of ECC memory with Non-ECC memory? (I hope answer is leave it alone and accept minor system slowdown!) Be happy with 3gb memory!
9. Probably, some of this is answerable by just installing the memory, but thought I would ask first!
All comments and suggestions are appreciated!
Thanks
john
Mary G
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June 26th, 2010 12:00
Get answers at Crucial. They are the best for memory and info about memory. Read THIS to start. Your online manual will guide you in installing the memory. I would not put the ECC type in the 8400. It's always best to match memory and avoid problems. Your idea about 3GB is good. That's what I have in my old 8400 and it works fine and runs 32 bit Windows 7.
john-allen
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June 26th, 2010 14:00
Hi Mary:
Thanks for the response! I
I read the two links you offered as well as several others!
I decided to see what would happen!
1. A dell 8400 does not support mixed parity memory! The BIOS in setup recognized all the memory, all 4 sticks and it recognized it for what it was, size, ecc, non-ecc, and in my case all non buffered!
That was where it quit liking the installation! On boot, it halted boot telling me that the platform would not support mixed memory!
So, I removed my non-ecc memory and left the ECC memory as it was 2gb vs 1gb; system booted fine! It seems to reboot fine!
Probably will leave it that way for a while and see if I get any crashes! My daughter has a 8400 with 2gb of non-ecc memory so I can put the non-ecc memory in her computer and raise her memory to 3gb or.......
I assume since the 8400 booted fine with non ecc and dell uses ecc in work station equivalents, that I will be fine using the ECC memory indefinitely!
If you know any long term reasons not to leave the ecc memory installed, would love to hear them! Do not want to purchase more memory but will if I have too!
thanks
john