Advise on memory upgrade for older laptop

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Advise on memory upgrade for older laptop

foobar

186 posts

Master Geek

#57640 20-Feb-2010 10:16

Hello!

I have a Dell Latitude D820 laptop, which is now around 3 years old. The DDR2 memory speed for that laptop is 667 MHz. I have two 1 GByte modules in there, which I would like to replace with two 2 GByte modules, to upgrade my total memory to 4 GB.

When I look at the Dick Smith website, I can see a 2 GByte DDR2 module, such as this one. However, that is rated at 800 MHz. Apparently, they are not selling 667 MHz memory modules anymore.

Is there a problem with using 800 MHz modules in a laptop that only runs them at 667 MHz?

Thank you for your help...

uktuatara

149 posts

Master Geek

#300490 20-Feb-2010 10:40

I'm fairly sure the only thing that will happen is the chipset in your laptop will downclock them to 667Mhz, to be sure (unless someone else can clarify for you in the forum first) you could take your laptop in to DSE with you and try them at the store, I'm sure they'd let you try it and if it doesn't work they'll take them back.

Also (and you may have already checked) check the specs that the laptop will handle 4GB.

foobar

186 posts

Master Geek

#300500 20-Feb-2010 11:48

uktuatara: I'm fairly sure the only thing that will happen is the chipset in your laptop will downclock them to 667Mhz, to be sure (unless someone else can clarify for you in the forum first) you could take your laptop in to DSE with you and try them at the store, I'm sure they'd let you try it and if it doesn't work they'll take them back.

Also (and you may have already checked) check the specs that the laptop will handle 4GB.

Yes, it does handle 4 GB.

Good idea with trying it in the store. That would save on having to drive back and forth.

Thank you!

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#300502 20-Feb-2010 12:00

You can probably find 2x2GB of DDR2 cheaper from somewhere like ascent or pbtech :)
Something like http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=MEMHYN42048 should work.. save you $40 a stick over DSE :)

coffeebaron

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#300531 20-Feb-2010 15:18

You need this:

http://www.acquire.co.nz/acquire/default.asp?PageID=ProductDetail&pf_id=690631

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rphenix

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#300679 21-Feb-2010 11:30

If your using 32bit Windows you will unlikely get full benefit of 4GB (More likely 3.25GB - 3.5GB) so I would consider only buying a single 2GB stick and leaving one of the original 1GB sticks in the machine.

dimsim

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#300920 22-Feb-2010 10:17

I almost always use Kingston and have never had any problems. they do a matched 2GB DDR2-667 for the D820 for around $130+ or a generic DDR2-667 from their ValueRAM range for around $80+

You mainboard should support a higher speed, but it would be pretty hit and miss, unless you can find someone that has tried it already.

And unless you're going to use a 64bit OS then there's proabbly little point going over 3GB anyway.

HTH

foobar

186 posts

Master Geek

#301982 25-Feb-2010 10:11

I bought the memory upgrade recommended by 'coffeebaron' from Acquire. Arrived in my mailbox the next day. Nice!

Anyway, I installed it and it all works well. Except that only 3.3 GB are available. I am not running Windows, so the OS is certainly able to handle 4 GB. The Wikipedia page about the Latitude D820 has the answer:

"Although the D820 is capable of accepting 4gb of physical memory, because of Intel 945 chipset limitations, it makes at most 3.5gb of memory available to the installed operating system. ... Neither Intel site describe this Intel chipset limitation (it states 4GB supported), nor does Dell warn customers before buying..."

Nice! I feel a bit ripped off. On one hand I'm happy to have more memory, on the other hand, if I would have known this then I wouldn't have bought the second 2 GB module. Not worth it for just 300 MB extra.

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coffeebaron

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#301986 25-Feb-2010 10:21

Shame it doesn't make the most of 4GB - do check for a BIOS update, though from sounds of it that won't help.
However, I still think 2x 2GB modules in dual channel is better than 1+2GB in single channel, even though you are missing a about 1/2 a GB.

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Nety

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#302081 25-Feb-2010 13:47

Are you sure it is not using some of the ram for video?

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rphenix

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#302088 25-Feb-2010 13:59

coffeebaron: Shame it doesn't make the most of 4GB - do check for a BIOS update, though from sounds of it that won't help.
However, I still think 2x 2GB modules in dual channel is better than 1+2GB in single channel, even though you are missing a about 1/2 a GB.

Dual channel will get a 5-10% performance increase. So it depends if its worth paying for another stick.

foobar

186 posts

Master Geek

#302390 26-Feb-2010 08:45

@Nety: The laptop has a discreet graphics card, so that shouldn't be it. The BIOS (before any OS is loaded) already tells me that only 3.3 GB are available, since the rest is used for 'system memory'. But that exactly shouldn't be the case.