DDR2 Compatibility Question

[kl884347]

I have an old Dell that is running DDR2 with 3GB PC5300 ram (2x512 + 2x1GB). I searched a bit on Newegg as well as ebay trying not to spend too much because after a certain point it would just make sense to dump and upgrade everything. Anyway, I saw this on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8GB-4x2GB-M...1733116?pt=US_Memory_RAM_&hash=item53ec98f67c

which is pretty cheap for 8GB so I am wondering if it would be compatible. Thought I'd ask people with expertise before plopping down the cash.

TIA

 

[Cerb]

I'd buy it from somewhere like Newegg, in the case of needing a return, being easier to do. But...

If you have the model (of course you do), you can find compatible memory upgrades from Crucial or Kingston, to be sure. Generally, if you get a DIMM with the same number of chips, at the same capacity, and the same timings, it will work. Dell seems to flip a coin, as to whether they'll let a system work with any RAM plugged in, or only with certain sets of timings.

But, before that: are you running a 64-bit OS? 3GB was most common with 32-bit OS systems, which can't use more than about 3.3GB.

 

[kl884347]

Cerb,
Thanks for responding, that makes sense. I'm running Win7 64bit and the ram that is in there is a mix from what came originally (2x512) plus the other stuff I had laying around.
I'll try looking at Crucial and Kingston.

 

[rsutoratosu]

Those are server memory, your system wont be able to that, you need regular ddr2 not FBDIMM,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fully_Buffered_DIMM

 

[kl884347]

FBDIMM - Did not know that! Thank you very much!!! I learn at least one new thing every day.