XPS 710 Memory Upgrade Question

Question

UPDATE:  I just had the Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C5 memory package overnighted to my house and when I plug them in, my computer will not make it past the BIOS screen.  I can plug back in the OEM memory and it boots fine (other than giving me a warning that it did not make it last time.) I am EXTREMELY disappointed in this whole experience with what is supposed to be a premiere DELL computer... So consider this fair warning, if you are going to try the TWIN2X4096-6400C5 memory, use free shipping because there is a fair chance you'll eat the shipping when you send it back... ------------------------------------------------------ Hi,  I have an XPS 710 with 2 Gb of RAM.  Going to Crucial Memory's page, they say that I have 2 DDR PC2-5300's installed on my computer now and that I can install 2 more. They also say that my computer can use DDR PC2-6400 memory. Here's my question.  Would I be better off trashing the two 5300 sticks I have now and ordering 4 GB of 6400 memory, or can my computer take advantage of the 6400's? Or should I just order 2 more 5300's and take it up to 4Gb and call it done? Thanks for any tips you can provide...  -Tom Steele UPDATE: For anyone doing a search of xps 710 memory upgrade / upgrades - here is what I have found so far.  Dell shows that you CAN use 2 x 2Gb ram in this machine.  According to both my chat session with Dell tech AND the online Dell memory selector, the xps 710 can handle 2 x 2Gb.  It cannot take more than 4Gb total but you can do it via 4 x 1Gb or 2 x 2Gb.  Furthermore, the Dell memory selector shows the Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C5 as being compatible with this computer.  It is not ultra fast memory, but it is 800mhz memory with latencies of 5-5-5-18 as opposed to faster (but requiring more voltage than the XPS is artificially limited to by DELL) 4-4-4-12 gaming memory.  I will report back when the memory arrives (from Amazon because Dell did not have it in stock) and let you know if it worked.  One other thing, in the XPS group section another member has reported using this RAM successfully.  So while I spent several days trying to figure this out - HOPEFULLY this post will help others find what appears to be the best ram possible for an XPS 710.  Since it is handicapped by DELL, this is a harder task than you might first realize.

RobinBredin · Answer

Hi tsteele93, If you mix your memory in pairs, then the system will run at the slowest. I would recommend that all four sticks are the same, but, it will be up to you what size memory you want, as your the one who will have to pay for it.

Darrell WV · Answer

Hello tsteele93,

The Crucial web page is wonderful for information regarding RAM and upgrading. Glad to hear that you have been there and understand what they advised.

From what I have gathered, your system, like my XPS 730, recognizes memory up to the slowest memory stick, which would mean that if you add the 6400's to the 5300's, you will essentially have 4 GB of 5300 as far as your system recognizes. The real question is what sort of gain you are looking for and what are you personally willing to pay for that upgrade, does not really matter what anyone else thinks.

If it were my system, and seeing as how RAM has lowered in price, I would opt for four sticks of the 6400 at this time, but that is me. If you are satisified with the performance of the 5300's then just buy two more of them and call it done, get another couple of years out of your unit and then upgrade to a newer system. But right now Crucial memory is a great buy as well as Corsair in the DDR2 line.

Best wishes on your upgrade,

Darrell WV

tsteele93 · Answer

Robin, thanks for writing. My situation is that I have 2 Gb of 5300 memory.

I can buy two more 5300 memory sticks and take my total to 4Gb.

Or I can buy four of the 6400 memory sticks, toss (or put in another computer) the original memory sticks and have 4Gb of 6400 memory.

So my question is, will the Dell XPS 710 take advantage of the 6400 memory and run faster, or am I better off saving my money and throwing two more sticks of 5300 memory in it and calling it done.

I have no problem with spending the extra money if it will make my memory ~20% faster, but if I am just buying 6400 memory that my computer is going to run at 5300 then there is no sense in that. Does that make sense?

Thanks

-Tom Steele

tsteele93 · Answer

Darrell,

Thanks, that is exactly what I wanted to know. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't wasting money going after the higher speed memory if it wouldn't be recognized.

Do you think there is any real difference in the Crucial memory and the Corsair or Crucial's performance line? I don't mind paying more to get more, but if the Crucial 6400 sticks are going to work just as well as the more expensive memory then that seems to be the way to go...

Thank you again for the helpful response.

-Tom Steele

Darrell WV · Answer

Rehi Tom,

Personally, I use Corsair Dominator 1800, 8 GB, in my system, but with the 6400 I do not think you will see any significant gain between Corsair and Crucial or OCZ. They all are good and all have great track records.

On another note, do not really trash your 5400, first environmentally and second if you ever have memory issues you can always have a fall back save on hand. I just recycled my Pentium Overdrive processor from my old HP 286 system, you just never know when the Pentium processor is going to come back : )

Darrell WV

G1ZM0 · Answer

Hi TSTEELE93 i know its a bit late in the day but i just got to finish this off... i was talking to a friend last week and we got on about the good old days of gaming and some of the games we liked that wont run on our current machines following  this i got an itch to play them again lol just for a laugh i decided to setup my old 710 just for a beer and game weekend 'i know its sad' then i remembered the ram issue and decided to have another go and sure enough the *** thing locked up, after a bit and with my old memory reinstalled i downloaded ntune just to check the timings and then it hit me it wasnt the memory or the board or even dell it was the memory controller... the nvidia MCP memory controller was setting the memory voltage wrong as in 1,95v instead of 1.85v 'you cant see or set this in the bios' and guess what it worked i could have kicked my self ive spent the entire weekend running games and stress testing just to see if i was right... i feel like ive let the side down and not checked this at a time when it mattered sorry to all 700 and 710 owners as its too late in the day

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XPS 710 Memory Upgrade Question

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