Upgrading Dell Laptop - Questions

[blazsox]

I am new to upgrading computers. Although Ive been a user for a decade or so, I have never upgraded a computer. I have a DELL Inspiron 6000 notebook, and for the most part I love it. However a mistake I made was that although it came loaded with good software and a decent internal structure, the one thing it lacked was RAM. It only came with 256MB RAM, and I bought this 1.6 years ago. I want to upgrade it to its max RAM capability, which according to the DELL site is 2084 MB RAM. So I figure since there are two RAM slots I can buy 2 1 GB sticks, unless there is a 2 GB stick out there for cheaper.

My question is - Ive heard from friends mixed results. Some friends say I can buy any Windows laptop compatible RAM stick from newegg for cheap, but others keep telling me to buy parts from DELL themselves to ensure full compatibility. Basically, can any 1GB RAM stick from any maker work on the laptop?

Also, how easy is it to install it?

[Raithgar]

I'll take a look at the spec's.. but I do beleive you can pick up the RAM anywhere.. as long as the voltage and speed is compatable with your laptop. I just installed a 1gig ram chip into the laptop recently (picked up the chip from Comp USA when it was on sale) so I think I still have the links saved for all the different vendors.

[Raithgar]

OK, looked up the info on your Dell..

Seems you have some options (that mind did not), Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-5300,DDR2 PC2-4200 with a maximum of 1GB per slot.*

As long as you keep to those specs you should be golden.. but just keep in mind.. you need to have them match each other (ie: if there is a PC2-4200 already installed in one of the banks.. you need to pair it with another "upgraded" 4200 chip.. or you could replace both to the 5300)..

Unfortunetly you will need to pick up 2 1gig sticks to get the max ram out of your system.

[blazsox]

Thats fine (getting 2 sticks) because from my price searching so far a 2 GB stick costs more than two 1 GB sticks together.

And installation is fairly easy?

[Raithgar]

trying to find where the 2 slots are.. havnt found much documentation on that part yet.. but if they kept the formula like all the other manufacturers, one bank should be accessable via a panel on the bottom of the laptop and the other will be internal (somewhere near the CPU).. but I'll see what I can find for you on that..

[Raithgar]

Ok, just downloaded the pdf manual for your Dell, you might be lucky.. seems the documentation is saying both slots are accessable via a panel on the bottom of the laptop.. so the upgrade should be very easy.. I realy wish there were better photo documentation on this instead of the pathetic visual aids the manual gives.

[Rayeh]

It's fairly easy. There are a couple panels on the bottom of your laptop, just figure out which one you need and take it off. Then take out the ram currently in. Make sure to use the tabs to unsecure it. Slid the new RAM in, making sure they're going in the proper direction. Do not force them too much. You should hear a click, as the tabs on the ends snap in and secure the ram. Put the panel back, boot up.

If the ram doesn't register, make sure the RAM is secure in the slots. If they are, try going into the BIOS (when your system boots, you hit a key when prompted, before windows boots) and turning off "quick boot" or any similar options that would prevent it from checking the ram before booting.

Edit: This image shows which panel you want.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/7254/bottomgn3.th.jpg (http://img106.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bottomgn3.jpg)

[Raithgar]

thats a far better photo than I was able to find Rayeh.. good find

So Blaz, wich ram are you going with? the DDR2 PC2-5300 or the DDR2 PC2-4200?

[Rayeh]

thats a far better photo than I was able to find Rayeh.. good find

So Blaz, wich ram are you going with? the DDR2 PC2-5300 or the DDR2 PC2-4200?

I'm a google junkie :P

[blazsox]

Here is what I am thinking of getting for both memory and hard drive:

2 of these RAM sticks (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820208314)

this 400GB HDD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822101016)

One thing about the HDD though, I need to know if its compatible with the PS3. While I doubt I will ever need it for the system, I would just like to make sure. I doubt it is though.

[Rayeh]

If the ps3 can access USB mass storage devices, then it can. Basically, if you can use a thumbdrive, you can reasonably expect an external hard drive to work.

I have a 500GB external that I use almost exclusively with my laptop when I'm at my desk. You'll have a hard time filling up a 400GB drive, I think I've still got about 100gb to fill up on my drive and lets just say I download a lot.

[blazsox]

Thats the point, I dont want a hard drive I am capable of filling up. I want it for the long term. Like when I buy another computer I dont want to keep burning all my data to disks, or when I reformat as well.

[Raithgar]

thats a realy good deal on the Ram..

however on the HD, I dont even know where to start to look for that info.. didn't even know about the use of external HD's on a PS3 till I started comming here. But theory would hold since its USB, it could "possibly" work.. I'll see if one of the people on the Atlus board has more info on it..

[Rayeh]

Thats the point, I dont want a hard drive I am capable of filling up. I want it for the long term. Like when I buy another computer I dont want to keep burning all my data to disks, or when I reformat as well.

Yep, that's why I bought mine too. Only thing that sucks is feeling tethered to the desk at times.

The only thing is you have to make the files look like the directory in the psp so it knows where to look for movies, etc. It took me about 20 minutes to get it all figured out, but is works great.
From http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&message.id=803216

[blazsox]

Just purchased the upgrades. Came to $190.09 total, which is a deal. Hell DELL wanted $190 just for one 1 GB RAM stick.

Shipping was surprisingly cheap, only $11 for UPS 3 day shipping. Thought for sure it would be $20. Order actually will cost me $160.09, there is a $30 mail in rebate with the HDD.

[kmillard92]

Just purchased the upgrades. Came to $190.09 total, which is a deal. Hell DELL wanted $190 just for one 1 GB RAM stick.

Shipping was surprisingly cheap, only $11 for UPS 3 day shipping. Thought for sure it would be $20. Order actually will cost me $160.09, there is a $30 mail in rebate with the HDD.

Welcome to the amazingness of Newegg:coolguy: