Hard Drive and RAM options for Dell Latitude D630 Notebook?

[ibex333]

I have this laptop and I am wondering what are my options when it comes to RAM and hard drive. Currently I have 1 gig installed and I want to make it 4gb.

As I understand I need PC6400 800GHz ram? But I cannot understand if this laptop has only one RAM slot or a 2nd one hidden somewhere. Will it take 2x ram sticks 2gb each or does it need one 4gb stick?

Also, when it comes to HDs... Will it take ANY 2.5 inch SATA hard drive? Will it benefit at all from an SSD? As I understand the SATA controller must be fast enough to support and SSD, so even if I do get one, there's no point getting one of the newer ones since the PC will bottleneck it anyway?


Thanks.

 

[zuffy]

Base on Crucial, 2 slots, max of 8GB
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Latitude D630&Cat=RAM

 

[DaveSimmons]

SSDs will be much faster than any platter drive, even when connected with a SATA-1 interface.

What won't help is paying extra for a faster SATA-3 SSD instead of a cheaper SATA-2 one.

 

[ibex333]

Oh... So I guess I will just get an older SSD

 

[ibex333]

Base on Crucial, 2 slots, max of 8GB
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Latitude D630&Cat=RAM

Interesting, becuase most websites that still sell this particular laptop or used to sell it list 4Gb max.... This is why I posted here to get some more info.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you use Crucial's selector and order from them, they guarantee it will work so there's no RMA / restocking fee if they're wrong. Might be worth any extra cost if you don't want to open up the laptop ahead of time to check.

 

[Charlie98]

You can go onto Dell's site and find out what your computer can handle. If you have the express service code it makes it even easier. I think 4GB would be plenty... but that's your call.

If your's is like my Inspirion 6000, flip it over and the RAM access panel is right in the middle. Two Phillips screws and you are in.

Be glad you have a SATA HDD that you can replace with a SSD... my older Dell has PATA, I was only able to upgrade the 40GB to a 160GB HDD. I did replace the RAM with 2x 1GB sticks of Crucial DDR2, (in fact, I have another set setting right here for my mom's computer...) and it works beautifully; I would wholeheartedly recommend the Crucial.

 

[gsaldivar]

4GB is plenty for that old laptop. Unless you plan on upgrading to 64-bit OS, you'll be limited to 3.25GB regardless.

Regarding the HD, consider a hybrid SSD/HD drive like the Seagate Momentus XT. This will give you a great speed boost over a standard HD, without the size limitation, and at a fraction of the cost of a true SSD. This one happens to be on sale this week:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148591

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5160/seagate-2nd-generation-momentus-xt-750gb-hybrid-hdd-review

...the Momentus XT ended up being the best 2.5" hard drive on the market. In many cases, it was fast enough to be better than 3.5" desktop hard drives as well...

Good luck.

 

[mfenn]

As I understand I need PC6400 800GHz ram? But I cannot understand if this laptop has only one RAM slot or a 2nd one hidden somewhere. Will it take 2x ram sticks 2gb each or does it need one 4gb stick?

It has two DIMM slots. One is under the back cover and the other is under the keyboard. Here's a link to the relevant part of the Dell service manual.

 

[Charlie98]

It has two DIMM slots. One is under the back cover and the other is under the keyboard. Here's a link to the relevant part of the Dell service manual.

Oh, jeez... I didn't know they split them on the Latitudes...

 

[ibex333]

Thanks a lot everyone.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you're considering the Seagate hybrids note that there are 2 different designs, as described in the article linked above.

The $130 500GB model is the old design. The $175 750GB model is the new design:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148837

If 120GB is enough storage, there have been several Hot Deals lately for them for $150 or less.