Adding RAM

[Mandi]

There is a spare port (slot? dock?) on my laptop motherboard for another RAM module.[nbsp][nbsp]I assume I'll be quite happy with someone's used memory, from replacement, and have been cruising Ebay for just such a deal . . . is there an easy way to tell which flavor of RAM I am set up for - or should I just pull mine out and visually look.[nbsp][nbsp]

-Mandi, the happy recycler . . .[nbsp]

[Jeff]

I personally don't think it is worth to take the chance to buy used RAM right now.

RAM prices for DIMMS and SIMMS(if it is older) are really, really cheap at present.[nbsp][nbsp]Look at http://www.pricewatch.com
(the RDRAM is for P4's and some newer P3's running on intel i8xx chipsets and is just starting to come down but is still very overpriced.[nbsp][nbsp]The PC150 is for overclocking.[nbsp][nbsp]PC133, PC100, and the older modules are all at rock-bottom prices right now.)

You should look at what you have (visually unless it is hard - then from the manual/web) and possibly even match the manufacturer and part if it only costs a few dollars more.[nbsp][nbsp]There can be compatibility problems between some different brands/parts, though I have not experienced this myself - I've even had good luck with generic RAM (buying when RAM was expensive) though people who know their stuff would always recommend name brands like Mushkin, Micron, Crucial, Corsair, etc...[nbsp]
[This message has been edited by Jeff (edited 02-13-01@04:27 am)]

[tedloh]

Actually, used RAM is generally a SAFER purchase, because it is tried and tested.[nbsp][nbsp]That is unless you get a piece which was not so hot LOL.

You will need to get the RAM chip out of the laptop and note down the part number.[nbsp][nbsp]Unfortunately, memory modules for notebooks vary widely.
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Ted (Chief Do-It-All)
Got2Bet.com - The Net's Winner's Circle
http://www.got2bet.com
ted@tygresystems.com

[Justin]

What brand is your notebook? Generally you can hit the website of the manufacturer and find a service manual (Compaq has them available in PDF format), or otherwise find information on what type of RAM it takes (and, probably more importantly, how much it can hold).

My Compaq came with a lousy 64 megs, some of which is used for Video memory. Windows 2000 uses all available RAM just being booted up, and this thing was just plain slow because of it (they always seem to pair super-fast processors with so little memory these days).

I picked up a Kingston 128 meg module for $99 at Best Buy. Fit right in, installed in seconds, and worked just fine. I've never considered the idea of used memory; I have to disagree that it's better because it's been tested, as I don't recall ever having a problem of purchasing bad RAM new.

Used RAM could have potentially been overheated/overclocked, subjected to high-voltages (on older motherboards), static zap, etc. You won't always know this right away. Bad ram could pass a memory check and still pop up addressing or parity errors after use, or when it heats up. I have a 32 meg stick that does just that -- it works fine for the first half hour or so, then the computer freezes up (Linux, Windows, different machines...)

And yes, memory prices seem to have dropped drastically. Kingston isn't a top name like Micron, but it's also not a no-name -- it's probably akin to Maxtor, affordable but still high-quality. Or, high-quality but still affordable... one of the two. And $99 for 128 megs of notebook memory, you just can't beat that.

My recommendation is to:

a) See what kind of RAM your system takes, and how much you can put in (on mine, the 64 megs is built-in and non-removable, so the slot was completely empty).

b) Hit BestBuy.com and see if they stock your particular type, or shop around elsewhere (they had the best prices for me)

c) Buy it, install it, and enjoy a MUCH FASTER notebook (depending on how insufficient it currently is, what OS you use, CPU speed, etc).

Hope this helps.

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Justin Nelson
SFE Software (http://www.sfesoftware.com)

[dank]

Justin,

What's your opinion of the Compaq notebook?[nbsp][nbsp]I've heard mostly negative opinions of the brand of late, but nothing about their line of notebooks.[nbsp][nbsp]I was looking at a few of them the other day, and they seem pretty solid, but...[nbsp][nbsp]Is it normal for a notebook to have an expansion slot(s) for RAM, especially if there is no such product labeling at the store?

Dan

[Mandi]

Thanks for the thorough advice.[nbsp][nbsp]My laptop is a Dell (inspiron 3200).[nbsp][nbsp]It's running a P2 233, with 48 MB RAM currently.[nbsp][nbsp]It truly has been a workhorse, I have few complaints . . . sometimes it's a little sluggish to swap between windows and apps., and I've had some NS crashes I suspect may be memory issues.

As much as I love my laptop and Dell products in general . . . I hate their website.[nbsp][nbsp]It's just so confusing, I can never find what I am looking for . . . and I *think* I'm a pretty decent web user, ya know?[nbsp][nbsp]I look up my particular machine (even using their special secret code for my exact machine) and they just want to sell me every upgrade EXCEPT RAM . . . grrr.

Pulled my RAM chip, and was still unable to determine type.[nbsp][nbsp]Back to the drawing board.

[Brian]

Crucial.com has a 64meg chip in stock for $34.19 with free 2nd day shipping :)

Link for Dell Inspiron 3200 Model which is what you said you have:

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?model=Inspiron+3200+Series&x=3&y=18

-Brian

[Mandi]

Thank you thank you :)[nbsp][nbsp]. . . you're right, just what I was looking for, and they're a division of my other favorite computer company, Micron, to boot!

Late Valentine Day kiss *smooch* ;) !

[Justin]

What's your opinion of the Compaq notebook? To be honest, the only reason I went with a Compaq was because they are the only one's putting good audio in their notebooks. Ever since I saw (and heard) one of these with the JBL speakers, I have wanted one. The audio sounds really good in comparison to the average laptop, and since I write audio software, it's perfect.

Aside from that, price was the other consideration. Now, however, I would not do it again (too late now, but if I were to do it again I'd get something else).

First, the Presario line of computers (which includes both Desktops and notebooks) is their "home user" line. Therefore, they do not support Windows NT or 2000 or any other OS for that matter -- only Windows ME. I wouldn't install ME on my worst enemy's box... My notebook locked up twice within the first hour I had it, so I booted up Linux and re-partitioned/formatted.

Since they don't support Windows 2000, they have no drivers for any of their hardware. Luckily, I was able to find drivers for other Compaq products that come with some of the same hardware (video chip, audio, PCMCIA cardbus, etc), except for the internal modem. It's a software-based modem, and they put real DSP-based modems in their "business" series machines, thus no Win2k drivers even exist for it. Tried other manufacturers, but it turns out this particular modem is all but shunned because it's crap even with the right drivers under 98/ME...

Another thing I don't like is this: instead of giving me Windows ME on a CD, they put it on a 1.3 gig partition on the hard disk. My "recovery CD" has a full 1.4 megabytes of stuff -- just enough to boot the machine, where it installs Windows from the hard disk.

This creates two issues: First, it's only a 6 gig drive to begin with, so remove 1.3 of that, plus the space used by a typical OS installation, and you don't have much left.

Second, you can't upgrade the drive, or partition it, without losing your ability to install the OS which you have licenced.

Since ME just plain sucks anyway, I didn't worry about that, I installed Linux on a 2 gig partition and Windows 2000 on the remaining 4.

I'm getting way off topic here, so I'll briefly describe the good/bad points, starting with:

Bad:
- Not enough RAM, but it is expandable to 320
- Not enough hard disk, but the next model up had a 10 gig... I blame my own cheapness for that
- No support if you decide to stray from their preferred OS
- Serious IRQ conflict if you enable the "Sound Blaster Emulation" (cardbus won't work), a design flaw
- No serial ports at all
- No docking station support (not important to me personally though)
- Only 1 PCMCIA slot (the internal modem is attached to what would have been the second slot)

However, there are many things I do like about it:

Good:
- PIII-650, very fast system once you upgrade the RAM
- Good audio (the VIA audio chip is halfway decent)
- DVD drive, kewl when travelling (and complements the speakers nicely)
- The video chip, USB, audio, touch pad, cardbus, and power management features are all very standard, so both Windows 2000 and Linux support all of that hardware (the latest X server supports the video very nicely)
- It actually has a fan (a lot don't these days)

So it's not all complaints, and really, I have been extremely happy with it. But I knew going into it I was giving up any idea of tech support because I planned to put Linux on it from the start. So I am content having no support. Luckily, unlike a lot of earlier Compaq products, all of the components are quite standard (eg, the RAM). And I'm content using a PCMCIA modem.

Next on my list: 20 gig IBM TravelMate hard drive upgrade. Then this Toshiba 6 gig can go in a portable MP3 player of some sort, since some of them can be bought without a drive ;)

(sorry this post is so long, I tend to get carried away pretending to be a hardware expert ;) )

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Justin Nelson
SFE Software (http://www.sfesoftware.com)

[dank]

Whew, that was quite an extensive review![nbsp][nbsp]Audio would probably be relatively low on my list of considerations, and reliability/upgradeability right near the top.[nbsp][nbsp]So...

Dan

[Mandi]

Am happily zipping around on my newly rejuvenated laptop, 64 MB faster than before (...which was a mere 48 to start with.)

WOW http://www.cgspouses.net/community/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif !!

Thanks very much for the advice and guidance :)!

[Brian]

lol, I wish ram prices were that low when I got mine (hehe)

-Brian

[tedloh]

congrats![nbsp][nbsp]Ain't it nice? :)

I had to up my workstation from 128 to 256 - it's a bit better now but I would have preferred 384 (ram slots are flaky or the modules don't like each other).
------------------
Ted (Chief Do-It-All)
Got2Bet.com - The Net's Winner's Circle
http://www.got2bet.com
ted@tygresystems.com

[Spearmaster]

I have two 64MB modules that cost me about $175 each :([nbsp][nbsp]The new 256MB cost me all of $100.
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[Mandi]

What the "cheapening" (reverse pricing structure) found in technology has done, is inadvertently offer a TON of disincentive to change our bad habits, for those of us who are rotten procrastinators :D :D ;)[nbsp][nbsp] !

Hubby is (over) due a new desktop . . . he is drooling over the 256+ RAM setups available now.

I have to say . . . these few bucks are the ONLY hardware I have ever spent money on, for this laptop.[nbsp][nbsp]Dell replaced a bad motherboard and gave me a new (better!) modem, when I reported that the modem CORD had chipped and become unusable.

It's gonna be a tough call for that desktop, between Dell and Micron!![nbsp][nbsp](Current desktop is so old, it's a ZEOS, which Micron bought out.)

**
Edited to make sense
[This message has been edited by Mandi (edited 02-22-01@4:13 pm)]