Having Problems Upgrading RAM, What kind of Ram do I need?

[ubrnoodle]

Hi,

I?m hoping someone here can help as I really want to add RAM to my computer which currently has only 128MB. According to the Dell user guide, this is the kind of RAM that I currently have: DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 128, 100M, 16X64, 4K, 168.

I purchased new RAM from Newegg but it doesn?t seem to work, the only difference I see is that mine is PC100 and the one I bought is PC133, but even Dell says that they should be compatible and I have capacity for up to 768MB.

Can somebody please tell me if the RAM I am trying to upgrade to is incompatible and if so can you also point me to a place where I can get the appropriate kind? At the Dell website, everything seems to be double the price of anything elsewhere (literally). Oh, this is the RAM that I tried to upgrade to, but failed:

Brand Kingston
Series ValueRAM
Model KVR133X64C3/256
Type 168-Pin SDRAM
Tech Spec
Capacity 256MB
Speed PC 133
Cas Latency 3
Voltage 3.3V
ECC No
Registered/Unbuffered Unbuffered

This is the RAM dell is suggesting I get from their website, for more than double the price:

Package Type: 168-pin DIMM
Logical Type: 32x72
Speed: PC100
Description: Unbuffered
Units Required: 1
Install Notes: Desktop/PC
System Type: Desktop/PC

 

[FlyingPenguin]

OEM computers (especially Dells) are VERY fussy about memory. Not all memory is the same and timing is VERY important. On a custom built system you can tweak the memory timing in BIOS to match your memory, but you can't do that on OEM systems.

TRUST ME do not use ANYTHING but memory that's specifically matched to your computer. Go to Crucial.com or Corsair.com and use the database on their sites to lookup the SPECIFIC memory that's guaranteed to work on your system.

You could also order it from Dell, but Crucial or Corsair will be cheaper. Your best price will probably be Crucial and they have free 2 day Fedex shipping.

 

[ubrnoodle]

Thank you for your help. I should've checked it out in the first place before I bought the RAM. I ordered the Corsair from Newegg as it was listed to be compatible with my system, and the Crucial one wasn't available on Newegg (I ordered from there so that i could get a full refund for the original price, without being charged a restocking fee).

Thanks again.