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Rinkerwolf

296 Posts

37359

August 13th, 2007 21:00

Memory Question

Hi, I have ordered an Dell Inspiron 531 with Vista Home Premium. It will be here in a day or two. I ordered 1GB of memory with the system. Is that enough to run Vista smoothly? Can I upgrade in the feature? I have an AMD Dual Core 4400 processor if that makes anything better.
 
     I am going to be using it for my schooling, storing my music on Windows Media Player, view and edit my photos and videos, internet and little gaming (nothing big). Does anyone think I will have any problems doing what I'm doing with the system with 1GB with Vista Home Premium? Thanks
 
 
                         Rinkerwolf


Message Edited by Rinkerwolf on 08-13-2007 05:39 PM

mombodog

2 Intern

 • 

12.7K Posts

August 13th, 2007 21:00

2gb is recommended for Vista to run well.

mombodog

2 Intern

 • 

12.7K Posts

August 13th, 2007 21:00

No problems, it may not perform as well as you expect. Yes memory is a fairly easy upgrade task.

Rinkerwolf

296 Posts

August 13th, 2007 21:00

Do you think I will have problems now? Is it easy to upgrade to 2GB for the 531? If I can upgrade I will do it but not anytime soon.
 
                         Rinkerwolf

Rinkerwolf

296 Posts

August 13th, 2007 22:00

Thanks, I am going to upgrade if the system is not performing as well as I want it to. I know the 531 has 4 memory slots. If I ordered an 1GB did Dell put 1 stick of 1GB or two sticks of 512MB? If Dell put 1GB stick its $60 dollars to upgrade for 1 stick of 1GB. Thats an easy upgrade.
 
     If I upgrade and get a memory stick would I just stick it into a slot? Would that be it? Would the computer detect it? Would it show that I have 2GB of memory or would I have to install or download some utitlity, program or driver? Never did an upgrade before. Just purchased an Netgear wireless PCI card for the computer and am hoping I can do that with out a problem. Looking at manual for it and for Vista I have to download a driver. Hope I can preform that task with out a problem.
 
                          Rinkerwolf
 
              

bumwithshoes

138 Posts

August 13th, 2007 23:00

largest stick ( 1GB ) in first slot then you can follow with two 512's.....2GB is the sweet spot

bumwithshoes

138 Posts

August 13th, 2007 23:00

no utility needed windows will recognize the added ram if your pc came with one stick just add the other or if she came with two be sure the largest stick in first slot but be sure you have matching sticks

Rinkerwolf

296 Posts

August 14th, 2007 00:00

bumwithshoes, Are you saying out of the four slots on the 531 Dell put only one stick in the system (which would be 1GB)? On my E1505 notebook their are two slots. Dell put two 512MB to make a 1GB.
                         On Dells site 512MB sticks are $25 and 1GB sticks are $60. Would'nt one stick of 1GB be faster then two 512MB?
 
                         Also, what do you mean by "make sure I have matching sticks"?
 
             Thanks,  Rinkerwolf

doodude

63 Posts

August 16th, 2007 21:00

Rinker wolf

I just bought an I531 too with 2 GB memory to start. Then I went to www.crucial.com & ran their memory finder.

It located me a 2GB kit = 2x1GB sticks for $97.00 which will give me a total of 4 GB & even tho' the 32bit Vista will only see 3 to 3.5 GB out of the 4 GB, Id rather have a bit more than I can use than a bit less than I would want.

Ive gotten memory from crucial over the years & its always worked perfectly as advertised & they promise every stick will work.

Ive found they have the most reasonable prices ( IMO ) too.

Rinkerwolf

296 Posts

August 17th, 2007 01:00

Hi doodude, Do you know if Dell puts 1 stick of a 1GB or 2 stickes of 512MB? I orderd an 1GB. I was looking at the memory upgrades on Dell and if a 1GB is not enough for me I am planning on upgrading to 2GB. If Dell puts 1 stick of a 1GB I am going to buy another stick. If they put to 512MB sticks I will buy to more. Would that be right?
 
              Thanks, Rinkerwolf
 
    Also, doodude when did you order your 531? I ordered mine 4 weeks ago and still has not arrived. Its been delayed 3 times already. Thanks


Message Edited by Rinkerwolf on 08-16-2007 09:51 PM

doodude

63 Posts

August 17th, 2007 10:00

Hey Rinkerwolf.

Youd have to check but I believe the common wisdom is to install memory in pairs.

Thus, if you have 1GB they will install 2x512MB sticks. 2 GB = 2x1GB & so on.

I have a new HP Pavilion that I bought from Wally World a week ago that Im returning. ( It turned turned out not to be the great deal I thunk @ 1st so I called DELL. )
Anyway, it boast 3GB of memory. It is installed with 2x1GB & 2x512MB sticks.

My suggestion to you is: if you have 2x512mb sticks in now, dont waste them. Just go to Crucial.com & use their Memory Tool Advisor to find memory for your I531 system. Then, if it were me, Id purchase the 2x1gb kit ( CT700773 ) for $97.99 w/free shipping. 1x1GB stick is going to cost well over 50% ( almost 70% )of the total cost of a 2x1GB kit, so its more cost efficient & they supposedly just work better in pairs, to buy the kit of 2x1GB.

Then youll have 3GB of memory & your Vista & other goodies will scream!. With the dual-core all that memory will make multi-tasking, running several programs at the same time, a breeze. But as stated elsewhere, that 3GB will only produce around 2.5 to 2.8 gb of useful memory. Just like a 1GB will only produce about 800 to 900MB & 2GB 1.5 to 1.8 GB.

I ordered my 531 8/14 with a ship date of 8/17. 3 days!? But then I upgraded my 20" monitor to a 22" & the new ship date ( They claim ) is 8/30 to 9/04.
I couldnt help myself though. It was only $50 more for the 22" monitor. Once I take back the HP on Sunday Ill still have my laptops so Im ok with the delay.
But hopefully I wont experience the delays you have. Whats the reason!?
I was reading your past post last night & the last I saw you had gotten your PC & they were going to exchange your internal WIFI for an external unit.

Wha' hoppund!?

Message Edited by doodude on 08-17-2007 07:03 AM

Rinkerwolf

296 Posts

August 17th, 2007 11:00

Hi doodude, In mid July I ordered an Dell Inspiron 530. This one took anly a week before it shipped. The minute I start it up the Dell logo appears.... stays on the screen forever. This continued to happean every start up. Then Vista boots up. The system (once at the windows welcome screen) was fast! I had purchased the wireless card. The wireless would not detect my router. I have a Dell Insprion E1505 that will find it in the same room. Called Dell could not get it fixed. They said my router was to far. Is less then 15 feet away! My notebooks finds it. Called Next day and they said I have to return it and they will send me an exernal. They even wated me to pay for it again! Problem never solved.
 
                    Also I had connected the DVI cable to the system. Some auto meassage kept moving the image all over the screen before finding where it belonged. It was just to upsetting.
 
                    So, I returned the system. I then ordered an Inspiron 531 to give it another try. I have to laptops from Dell an Inspiron 1000 and an E1505 and been so happy with them. My whole family owns one and everyone of them has no problems.
 
                    I oreded the 531. The week of the 20th of July. Got delayed a week for the upgraded graphics card. Okay, the 7th of August is the est. ship date. Then gets delayed the 14th. No monitor. Now the 21 of August. Called Dell to ask why, No processor or CPU. Called Dell next day, they said they have toe processor. Still going to ship the 21. Why I asked no monitor. What ever. I will have to wait another week. Hope it ships.
 
                     What I did as far as the wireless I went to my local electronics store and purchased an Netgear wireless PCI card. I will install that and see how it goes.
 
                Also, Do you think getting two more 512MB sticks is an bas idea to get 2GB? I should not have 4 sticks? Thanks,
 
                                 Rinkerwolf


Message Edited by Rinkerwolf on 08-17-2007 07:45 AM

doodude

63 Posts

August 17th, 2007 13:00

Man, what a pain for you! I hope the I531 is a happier time!

Im considering emailing DELL & ask if they will ship the PC without the monitor & then obviously ship the monitor when they get it. I have a 17" flat panel that I can connect now.

I dont see why you couldnt put in 2 more 512GB sticks. That should be fine.

However, if you go to Crucial, and its just my opinion that Crucial has the best memory for the price, you will sort of waste your money buying 2 512GB sticks. Im looking at the site now & 1x512GB is $36.99 X 2 = 73.98. And youll only get 1GB of memory thats 75% of the cost of a 2GB kit. The way I see this is youre spending more money & getting less for it.

When for $25.99 more you can have a 2GB kit of 2x1GB for a total of $99.97 & end up with 3GB that should handle anything you throw at it for the next few years at a minimum.

In the short term I understand its $25 that you may not have. If thats the case, then I would hold off until you get the money together. I think it would be worth the wait.

But in the long term, if in a year you want to upgrade to more memory, say 3GB, then youre going to have to take out 1 or 2 of those 512GB sticks to make room for it. What will you do with those 512 sticks that you paid for then? Thats a waste of $73.98 unless you can sell them to someone somehow.

Im just big on trying to plan ahead so that I can get the most for less.

Let me know how youre shipping dates hold up...

Rob

doodude

63 Posts

August 17th, 2007 20:00

Shoot, youll have yours next week. SWEET!!!

The web site is www.crucial.com

There on the memory upgrade page youll see the "memory advisor tool" or something like that.

Use the drop downs to find your system & it will show you several options for memory that will fit our system.

As long as you have ( IMO ) at least 2GB of RAM you & your new toy should be fine.

Im just a Rodeo Clown that likes the idea of having all the RAM I can get for all the possible uses that might come up. Im surprised DELL has any memory that cheap. I find DELL to be at least 35% higher on everything I compare from memory to software to hardware to... Go figure!?

BTW, I see where you can get a DELL soundbar for your WFP on ebay for about $17 including shipping. Im going to get one after my baby arrives.

I havent recieved any word from DELL about shipping the PC alone. I would think that a 22" monitor would ship seperate anyway, wouldnt you. Seems like a very big box would have to be used to ship both together. But, maybe they get some discount in shipping when they ship certain quantities etc...

Anyway, yeah. It would be nice to at least get the PC now.

Rinkerwolf

296 Posts

August 17th, 2007 20:00

Hi, Thats a great idea. Wish I thought of that. Tell Dell to send the system and send the monitor latter. To late now. It should ship 8/21. Was 8/7 then 8/14 now 8/21.
 
            Also, Dell charges $25 for 1 stick of a 512MB and $60 for a 1GB. I was thinking of just picking up two 512MB for 50 dollars.
 
            Hope your Inspiron goes well through shipping. Don't get upset if it gets delayed.
 
                      Rinkerwolf
 
   Also, Whats the website address you go to for memory? And whats the warrenty campared to Dells? Is the memory for the Dell 530/531 model?
 
 

Rinkerwolf

296 Posts

August 17th, 2007 21:00

Hi, I don't need an sound bar for my monitor. I have surrond sound speakers for my computer. And the two compoents will be shipped in two boxes. The pc in one and the monitor in the other. Another question, is four 512MB sticks the same speed as two 1GB sticks of ram?
 
            Thanks, Rinkerwolf

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