Help with installing new RAM

By mancode20
in Hardware Hangout

 Share

Recommended Posts

Experienced

mancode20

Posted
Posted

I just had a 1gb stick of ram go bad in my Dell XPS 410. I had only 2gb total before one of my sticks went bad. I am pretty sure that is the case, cause I've researched it online extensively. It would sometimes randomly crash, then make a beeping noise and show the numbers 3 and 4 on the front of my tower and it wouldn't boot at first, but if I kept trying it would eventually boot. It would even stay on for awhile sometimes, but then it would eventually crash. I'm just using one stick and all seems to be well for the time being. Of course I am thinking about buying ram, but the question is which type and how much? I looked at the old chip, and it says Samsung on it. I have read that Dell uses cheap ram. I believe it is the 533mhz PC5300 kind, but I have read that my motherboard supports the 800mhz PC6400. I'm thinking 4gb should be enough, but I want to know which type of ram I should buy? Also, is it better to go with two 2gb's, or 4 1gb sticks? I have 4 slots, and like I said my motherboard supposedly supports ram up to 800mhz PC6400. Is it worth it to go to the faster ram? I have never updated my BIOS. That's not going to be a problem, is it? I read online that my board can actually support 8gb of ram as long as it's under 64 bit Windows 7, which it is. I thought I read that I would need to update my BIOS for the 8gb of ram to show up. I have been hesitant to do so, cause I heard if things go wrong it can brick your motherboard. I'm pretty sure I don't need to update my BIOS if all I'm doing is using 4gb of ram, but I am not 100% sure. Does anyone know for sure? I am probably going to pick it up at Walmart or Staples, so can anyone point me in the direction of the ram I should buy from their sites? I don't play games, I just use it for surfing the net with Firefox and many tabs open, playing music, watching movies and TV shows. I'm assuming 4gb of ram, or maybe even 6gb should be enough for just standard Windows stuff like that. I got by on 2gb of ram pretty decently, but there are times Firefox would freeze for a couple of seconds here and there. I was thinking maybe Kingston. I will probably upgrade to Win8 in the near future, so will 4gb be enough? Let me know! Thanks!

I just had a 1gb stick of ram go bad in my Dell XPS 410. I had only 2gb total before one of my sticks went bad. I am pretty sure that is the case, cause I've researched it online extensively. It would sometimes randomly crash, then make a beeping noise and show the numbers 3 and 4 on the front of my tower and it wouldn't boot at first, but if I kept trying it would eventually boot. It would even stay on for awhile sometimes, but then it would eventually crash. I'm just using one stick and all seems to be well for the time being. Of course I am thinking about buying ram, but the question is which type and how much? I looked at the old chip, and it says Samsung on it. I have read that Dell uses cheap ram. I believe it is the 533mhz PC5300 kind, but I have read that my motherboard supports the 800mhz PC6400. I'm thinking 4gb should be enough, but I want to know which type of ram I should buy? Also, is it better to go with two 2gb's, or 4 1gb sticks? I have 4 slots, and like I said my motherboard supposedly supports ram up to 800mhz PC6400. Is it worth it to go to the faster ram? I have never updated my BIOS. That's not going to be a problem, is it? I read online that my board can actually support 8gb of ram as long as it's under 64 bit Windows 7, which it is. I thought I read that I would need to update my BIOS for the 8gb of ram to show up. I have been hesitant to do so, cause I heard if things go wrong it can brick your motherboard. I'm pretty sure I don't need to update my BIOS if all I'm doing is using 4gb of ram, but I am not 100% sure. Does anyone know for sure? I am probably going to pick it up at Walmart or Staples, so can anyone point me in the direction of the ram I should buy from their sites? I don't play games, I just use it for surfing the net with Firefox and many tabs open, playing music, watching movies and TV shows. I'm assuming 4gb of ram, or maybe even 6gb should be enough for just standard Windows stuff like that. I got by on 2gb of ram pretty decently, but there are times Firefox would freeze for a couple of seconds here and there. I was thinking maybe Kingston. I will probably upgrade to Win8 in the near future, so will 4gb be enough? Let me know! Thanks!

One of the problems is, there is a lot of conflicting information about how much ram my board supports total and how much per slot. The manual says 4gb total and 1gb per slot, but people online say it can support up to 8gb as long as it's under 64 bit Windows. I think you might have to update the BIOS in order for it to display properly. I figure 4gb of ram should be good enough. The main questions I need answered are: Which type of ram should I buy? 533mhz PC5300, or 800mhz PC6400? Also, two 2gb sticks, or 4 1gb sticks? Will I need to update my BIOS in order for the 4gb to show up, or is that just for the 8gb? Please someone let me know, so I can buy the correct RAM as soon as possible! Running Windows 7 with Firefox open and several tabs is not fun on only 1gb of RAM.
Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1108087-help-with-installing-new-ram/
Share on other sites
Grand Master

farmeunit

Posted
Posted

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xps410/en/SM_EN/specs.htm

4GB

PC6400 is better, but you won't see much difference between that and PC5300. If price is about the same, get the faster RAM.

There might be a BIOS update for that, but I don't know if they ever upgrade the maximum memory with an update. I would get 2 sticks or 4, whichever is cheaper. They'll perform about the same. As long as you have pairs, you'll get dual-channel. 2 sticks is better if you plan on using in another system or adding more later.

Experienced

mancode20

Posted
  • Author
Posted

http://support.dell....SM_EN/specs.htm

4GB

PC6400 is better, but you won't see much difference between that and PC5300. If price is about the same, get the faster RAM.

There might be a BIOS update for that, but I don't know if they ever upgrade the maximum memory with an update. I would get 2 sticks or 4, whichever is cheaper. They'll perform about the same. As long as you have pairs, you'll get dual-channel. 2 sticks is better if you plan on using in another system or adding more later.

Thanks for replying. So I shouldn't need to do a BIOS update if I only upgrade to 4gb? What about 6gb or 8gb? As I said, there is conflicting information out there. I have to find the link, but there is a guy out there that showed pictures to prove that he upgraded to 8gb of RAM. They say the manual says 4gb, because at the time 64 bit operating systems weren't really widely used. I'm probably just going to go with 4gb of ram, though. Is Kingston a good brand? I've read that it is. I just hope I don't have to update my BIOS in order for Win7 to see the RAM. I don't think I will have to, but I'm not certain. Has anyone ever heard of that happening?
Grand Master

neoadorable

Posted
Posted

don't start messing with your BIOS, this is an older board so it's not worth it. stay with what the manual says in terms of max memory and memory speed. i'm sorry, maybe i missed it, but how many slots do you have there? anyway, if it keeps acting up you need to consider the fact that it might be the connectors going back - if indeed this is an older board.

Experienced

mancode20

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for your reply! 4 slots. Like I said, the manual says 4gb total and 1gb per slot, but there are many websites that claim you can get it all the way up to 8gb total by using 2gb per slot. I might just do 4gb total, but I'm really torn on whether I should go with two 2gb sticks, or 4 1gb sticks? I might just buy one 2gb and try it out in one slot. It won't destroy my board if it doesn't work, right? It should just beep and not allow me to boot, right? I'm pretty sure the one 2gb chip will work in one slot, but the question is if I need a new BIOS update in order for it to recognize it. I don't think I do, but who knows?

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Posts

    • Waymo recalls self-driving software after cars enter closed freeway work zones

      By garwin · Posted

      Read this in Humor Simpson 's voice, "Out of my way Moe".
    • The Microsoft Office feature that time forgot

      By Circaflex · Posted

      You still can, its just under the Transform flyout for WordArt now
    • Waymo recalls self-driving software after cars enter closed freeway work zones

      By MrElectrifyer · Posted

      Likely nothing will be done in corporate America, there have been countless Tesla self-driving incidents. Then again, there have also been countless human operated incidents. It's literally daily news here in Canada, to the extent that it's now odd if we get a day where a collision doesn't get announced on the radio throughout the day...
    • SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on

      By Steven P. · Posted

      SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk, mousing around. Apologies for the knife cut across the top of the box; that was my doing, being a bit too heavy-handed with opening up the outer packaging. First up, what's in the box: SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 1x Type-C charging cable User Manual 1-Year Warranty (card) In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official Amazon listing, here are the key features: Full-Hand Air Compression: OS500 wraps your fingers, palm, and wrist with multi-chamber air compression for a complete hand relaxation experience. The extended massage chamber helps cover more of the hand and wrist area than standard palm-only hand massagers Palm Kneading with 6 Modes & 6 Intensities: Built-in palm kneading rollers add a hands-on massage feel, while 6 preset modes and 6 pressure levels let you choose the comfort level that fits your day—from gentle relaxation to a firmer full-hand massage 3 Heat Levels with Cooling Fan: Choose from 104°F, 113°F or 122°F warmth to suit different seasons and comfort preferences. The built-in cooling fan helps reduce stuffiness during heated sessions, keeping your hand feeling fresh and comfortable Easy Visual Display & Smart Timer: The digital image display clearly shows massage area, mode, intensity, heat level, and remaining time at a glance. Select 10, 15, or 20-minute sessions for quick office breaks, evening relaxation, or everyday hand care Rechargeable, Cordless & Comfortable: A 3000mAh battery supports over 90 minutes of full-function use on a full charge, with convenient USB-C charging. The soft inner lining, smooth ABS/PU finish, and premium black-gold design make OS500 ideal for home, office, or gifting With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. I gave it a try on both left and right hands, and as you can maybe see from the above YouTube Short, (sorry for the shaky video), my whole hand fits in, but my wrist barely enters the Hand Massager. I was able to push through a bit more with my fingertips extending out the other end to get a bit of massaging on the start of my wrist. Usage For some reason, there is a strap that is very difficult to fasten to my wrist with one hand. I am not sure what function it has, and it isn't mentioned in the user manual. The only thing I could find was in the product images that claimed "wrist precision". Unlike the Bob and Brad Hand Massager, this device does not massage the wrist anyway, even though a "wrist mode" is mentioned, which must be for smaller hands than I have, as it is mainly intended for the hand and fingers. In addition, for its steeper price, there are no disposable gloves provided in the box, which is a bit of an issue considering the internal cover (which appears to be elasticated nylon) cannot be removed for washing; so you are left with only one choice: always thoroughly wash your hands before using it. I can imagine this thing getting a bit grimy after a period of use, and that is a bit of a shame. With that said, the buttons on the device, from left to right, do the following: Heat button: 3-level heat control at 104°F, 113°F, or 122°F Mode button: Auto mode Circular mode Soothing mode Relax mode Palm and fingers mode Palm and wrist mode Intensity button: from (First-time users) 15Ka, 25Ka, 35Ka, 45Ka, 55Ka, 60Ka (Intensive relief) Knead button: on or off (6 pressure levels) Power button: Long-press to turn on or off Cooling button: turn on or off the cooling fan Also, in the product imagery, it states there are 36 "custom modes," but nowhere is it listed what these modes are. I can only imagine that they mean a combination of all of the above settings in different intensity levels. The device itself seems to rely on a single "kneading" mechanism located at the palm area of the hand, which spins when in use, and the other massage features are mainly utilized through the air sacs, increasing and decreasing at various levels on the hand and fingers. I am not sure it offered too much relief for someone who is typing and operating a mouse for hours at a time; further testing may be required. It does feel nice, though. Finally, you may be wondering how this fits into the scope of a tech website? Well, let me tell you something: sometimes I sit for up to 15 hours working on Neowin, and although I take breaks in between, it takes a toll on my body. I think in the immediate absence of a partner to apply relief, a good massager like this Hand Massager can shed the strains of the day in just a couple of 15-minute bursts. On the official website, this has an MSRP of $99.99, but luckily for our readers, it is selling at $10 off for just $89.99 right now on Amazon. SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 for $89.99 (with $10 off coupon), $99.99 MSRP For me, this gets a thumbs hands(?) down. However, it could be improved by making it so that the protective covering could be removed and thrown into the washing machine, or get yourself some disposable gloves to use with it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Creative Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe review: your headphones will love it

      By Taliseian · Posted

      Thanks for the info, but I'm still not sure if I need this....

  • Recent Achievements

    • Dedicated
      Almohandis earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Dedicated
      JuvenileDelinquent earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • First Post
      DrWankel earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      DrWankel earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • Week One Done
      Supreme Spray LV earned a badge
      Week One Done

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      505
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      184
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      86
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      78
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      76
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!