? about adding to dell computers

---

@PhattyB wrote:
I support expired service contracts every day.  It's rare, but not too rare (once a month), I support a system that has windows 95 on it.  Believe me, we support systems for life. 

That may be the case, but my D333 purchased 5 years ago DID have lifetime phone support.  My I8100 purchased 18 months ago clearly stated that phone support was 3 years just like the contract.  It was a conscious change.

---

@chandlertigger wrote:

Phatty,

I have a HP cd burner 9700 series.  It's only about a year old.   I could add that too with no problems?  The people who told me about not being able to add to dells, don't even have one.  They build their own.  Which is what I got now.  Just ironic isn't it.  I just wanted to make sure before I bought one.  you guys have been very helpful. :)

Dudette, your getting a dell. :-)

---

Phatty,

I have a HP cd burner 9700 series.  It's only about a year old.   I could add that too with no problems?  The people who told me about not being able to add to dells, don't even have one.  They build their own.  Which is what I got now.  Just ironic isn't it.  I just wanted to make sure before I bought one.  you guys have been very helpful. :)

Dudette, your getting a dell. :-)

Hi,

I was going to get the basic ram in a dell if I got one.  I can get new ram pretty cheap around here.  So, even if I couldn't use the ram in my computer now, then I could buy the same speed ram that the new dell would use and it would work?

I'm sorry if my questions are silly.  I don't know a whole lot about computers and i'm learning as I go. :)

---

The lifetime phone support went away a few years ago.  Currently phone support exists during the contract period only I believe.

---

---

@chandlertigger wrote:

Hello,

I'm thinking about getting a dell computer.  I have heard from different people that you can't add to dell computers.  If I got one, I would like to take out the ram and hard drive from my other computer and put it in the new dell.  Is this possible?  I've heard different people say different that it isn't.  I just need to know before I buy one cause I won't if I can't add to it.  Thanks, :) 

Anyone who told you that you cannot add to Dell computers doesn't know what they are talking about.  While some models of Dell computers have limited modification ability (i.e. Dimension 2350), you can always play with the hard drive and memory.

While it's highly likely that the hard drive from your old computer can be added to your new Dell as a secondary drive, some Dell's don't have room for two drives unless you put the second drive in the top of the tower.  Again, the 2350 is an example of this.  The 4550 and 8250 can both take 2 drives, or more.

Memory from your old computer is most likely not going to work in your new Dell.  The 8250 uses 1066 RDRAM.  The 4550 uses PC2700 DDR SDRAM.  The 2350 uses PC2100 DDR SDRAM.  Most likely your computer uses none of these, and therefore the memory won't work.  Even if it did have the same memory, Dell's are finicky creatures and the memory may not have worked.

When buying your Dell, remember that Windows XP really needs 256mb of RAM to run adequately, and runs great with 512.  Many people take the minimum that Dell offers, then add new RAM on their own.  To configure memory for a 2350, 4550, or other non-RDRAM computers, click here for Crucial's memory configurator. Crucial is a division of Micron, one of the largest manufacturers of memory and a supplier of Dell's. Memory selected via their configurator is guaranteed to fit, and all memory has a lifetime warranty - plus they provide priority shipping at no additional cost. There is NO impact to your Dell warranty by adding Crucial memory (or other hardware or software for that matter).

To buy RDRAM for an 8250, I've gone to Googlegear.com and selected Samsung memory for specific Dell systems and provided the links. Googlegear has great prices. Remember to buy two matching sticks. If you don't want to buy them from Googlegear, you can use the part numbers to find them elsewhere. To find the proper RDRAM for your computer, click here.

---

@chandlertigger wrote:

Thanks Rick for that info.

I was just going with the basic dell.  I think it had 128 ram and 30gb hard drive.  I have a new 20gb hard drive in my computer now, but it wouldn't matter if I added it or not.  I don't play games or anything on my computer.  That's what my PS2 is for. LOL.  I sell on ebay full time for a living and use word processing and burn cds and listen to music on my pc.  So,  I don't need a whole lot.  30gb hard drive would be more than enough for me since the only things I store are pics and a few songs that I download.  I would like to add to the ram though.  So, if I bought the dell and wanted to add more ram, I could go to ex: office depot and buy it as long as it's the same speed that is already in the dell. :)

Maybe.  If the memory is the same specifications, it may work.  For RDRAM, I don't believe that you will beat Googlegear's prices anywhere - and you have to add matched pairs of memory.

For the PC2700 and PC2100 memory, if you find the exact same specs it may work.  Just make sure you can return it for a full refund if it does not.

---

@PhattyB wrote:

Non dell parts?

You mean:
The Dell "Sony" DVD+RW
The Dell "Kensington" RDRAM
The Dell "Maxtor" HDD
The Dell "Mitsubishi" DVD/CDRW
The Dell "ATI" 9700 pro Video Card
The Dell "Soundblaster Live" Sound Care
The Dell "Can't remember the manufactor but its not Dell" 56k modem

ok...i'll stop that now.  All those parts came on my Dim8250.  When you buy a Dell, you get the same parts availible to the general public.  You just pay to have them put it together and to have insurance to fix hardware problems for at least one year (max of 4?).  Oh, don't forget lifetime phone tech support.

The lifetime phone support went away a few years ago.  Currently phone support exists during the contract period only I believe.

I think if you check, the little sticker on the side of the computer with the Service Tag number is manufactured by Dell.

---

@chandlertigger wrote:

Hi,

I was going to get the basic ram in a dell if I got one.  I can get new ram pretty cheap around here.  So, even if I couldn't use the ram in my computer now, then I could buy the same speed ram that the new dell would use and it would work?

I'm sorry if my questions are silly.  I don't know a whole lot about computers and i'm learning as I go. :)

---

Exactly!  With a new dimension, you will either get DDR ram of RDRAM

Of course you can add and upgrade.  All hardware has to be compatible (no sticking 8" floppy or old memory in )

The old RAM may not be able to go in but the HDD should (as long as it is nothing extraordinarly old)

Message Edited by PhattyB on 02-12-2003 04:09 PM

Non dell parts?

You mean:
The Dell "Sony" DVD+RW
The Dell "Kensington" RDRAM
The Dell "Maxtor" HDD
The Dell "Mitsubishi" DVD/CDRW
The Dell "ATI" 9700 pro Video Card
The Dell "Soundblaster Live" Sound Care
The Dell "Can't remember the manufactor but its not Dell" 56k modem

ok...i'll stop that now.  All those parts came on my Dim8250.  When you buy a Dell, you get the same parts availible to the general public.  You just pay to have them put it together and to have insurance to fix hardware problems for at least one year (max of 4?).  Oh, don't forget lifetime phone tech support.

Thanks Rick for that info.

I was just going with the basic dell.  I think it had 128 ram and 30gb hard drive.  I have a new 20gb hard drive in my computer now, but it wouldn't matter if I added it or not.  I don't play games or anything on my computer.  That's what my PS2 is for. LOL.  I sell on ebay full time for a living and use word processing and burn cds and listen to music on my pc.  So,  I don't need a whole lot.  30gb hard drive would be more than enough for me since the only things I store are pics and a few songs that I download.  I would like to add to the ram though.  So, if I bought the dell and wanted to add more ram, I could go to ex: office depot and buy it as long as it's the same speed that is already in the dell. :)

Wow, a whole gang responded!

You can add almost anything to a Dell computer.  Of  course what you add has to be compatible with the motherboard and chipset on the computer, but that is true with any brand computer.  It is likely that you can easily put your old hard drive in the new Dell, but memory is a different matter altogether because there are different types and speeds of memory (SDRAM, DDRAM, RDRAM, etc.)  A computer that uses RDRAM cannot use the other types of RAM because there are no slots for it on the motherboard.  Even with the same RAM type, Dell computers are rather picky about RAM and therefore, unless the old computer is nearly identical to the new one, the chances that RAM will work are pretty small.  This can probably be said about nearly any brand of computer.

Steve