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89917
January 15th, 2010 19:00
Maximum memory installable in an Optiplex SX280
I recently bought a used SX280 USFF desktop with XP Pro installed, and it works beautifully. It had only 512MB in it, and I wanted to top it out to 4 GB. A memory vendor sold me a pair of 2 GB memory modules, saying they would work in an SX280. They fit the sockets on the mobo, but when I power up with the new DIMMs installed, I get the 1-3-2 beep message indicating a memory problem. I took a closer look at the Dell doc, which does say that the SX280 can only accept memory sticks up to 1 GB. However, the memory vendor insists that there is a fix for the machine that will allow it to accept 2 GB modules. (She doesn't appear to know what the fix is.) I'm good with hardware and if it's only a matter of jumpers on the mobo I can handle it. (I don't see any BIOS options relating to maximum memory size.) Lights A and C are green; lights B and D are amber.
Any suggestions here?
rdunnill
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January 16th, 2010 09:00
These are guaranteed to be compatible with your SX280.
rdunnill
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January 16th, 2010 09:00
It's possible the memory you were sold will is not compatible with the SX280.
Dells can be finicky in this regard. Have you tried the Crucial Dell memory advisor?
Jeff Duntemann
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January 17th, 2010 15:00
Many thanks! I just ordered two. I'll post a reply here verifying that they work after I receive them.
--73--
--Jeff Duntemann
Jeff Duntemann
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January 23rd, 2010 15:00
I just received the Crucial memory sticks recommended by RDunnill above, popped them into my SX280, and they worked without a whimper, first time.
Also, the guy I talked to at Best Buy says he has no idea what the other memory vendor was talking about, in terms of a "fix" for the SX280. I guess the fix is buying the right sticks to begin with.
Many thanks for the help.
enok71
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September 8th, 2011 15:00
Is fast memory not accepted in the SX280? I bought a KTD-DM8400B/2G stick and the SX280 just gave me the 1-3-2 beep code when started, while a KTD-DM8400A/1G stick works fine. The former is 667MHz and the latter 533MHz.
I never heard of a computer that will reject faster DDR2 memory sticks. DDR2 is supposed to be backward compatible so that faster sticks will always work in computers (but of course they will operate at the speed that the motherboard supports).
If there is a work-around I would like to know.
enok71
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September 15th, 2011 05:00
Update: I bought a second memory stick with the same label KTD-DM8400B/2G and it worked in ths SX280 (!) The chips on the working stick are Nanya chips and on the non-working stick it's Hynix. Either the Hynix stick is broken, or there is some subtle compatibility difference (even though they are both labelled KTD-DM8400B/2G).
speedstep
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September 15th, 2011 05:00
SX280 is an INTEL Chipset based board. You must use LOW DENSITY INTEL Compatible ram.
OptiPlex SX280 Memory Specifications
Computer memory upgrades for Dell OptiPlex SX280 Desktop/PC ...
candixxxooo
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April 20th, 2013 00:00
I have 1.50 ram in my optiplex sx280 and with all the updates my computer runs so fast and great you would think u were on a brand new pc