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Mix Different RAM Sizes in Dell Laptop ?

G

Guidance1

Junior Member
I just bought a Dell Latitude E5430 laptop, which comes with 2GB RAM (in one slot). Can I add a 4GB card to the other (empty) slot, for a total of 6GB ? Of course, using the same type of RAM. Win7Pro64, i5-3210.
Thank you.
 
Guidance1 said:
I just bought a Dell Latitude E5430 laptop, which comes with 2GB RAM (in one slot). Can I add a 4GB card to the other (empty) slot, for a total of 6GB ? Of course, using the same type of RAM. Win7Pro64, i5-3210.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Dell says...
"Memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology. If the memory modules are
not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate."

The Dell memory configuration matrix for the E5430 doesn't show any X for a 6GB configuration. What that means, I don't know, especially with the statement above.

I would simply install a matched pair of so-dimms and be done with it.
At the very least only buy a single module that matches speed, voltage and CAS of your current stick.
 
Thanks to all, for for the useful chart ...
So nothing definitive yet 🙂 Dell warns that the computer will "continue to operate" if sticks are not matched ! 🙂) I wish I could find a computer engineer who knows for sure either way, and the ramifications if unmatched. Many say that the "matching" requirement is from "marketing" to sell more memory, but I don't think that info is reliable. I suppose there might be a warranty issue as well.
 
Good eye ! Wish I could take credit for the pununintended 🙂 Do you think 4GB is enough? The E5430 is actually for a friend who will use it in writing papers, often with Dragon Speak, PowerPoint, occasional presentations, recording herself speaking, and the usual web browsing. If you think 4GB is enough, we'll likely use Crucial to tell us exactly the specs of the 2GB stick, and then get another one (I hope).

I have a T530 with 12 GB RAM (4+8), which "appears" to work fine ... but maybe I don't really know.
 
4GB for W7 is generally considered the minimum... if money is no object, and the platform supports it, go 6- or 8GB.

FWIW, I stuck mismatched DDR2 RAM in my daughter's older AMD 2-core Dell and it runs better, but not as well as my even older RAM-matched (Crucial 2x1GB) single-core Pent M Dell. I don't know if that's a result of the CPU or the RAM, but navigation isn't as good on the newer AMD laptop.
 
Mismatched RAM wont bring your system to a screeching halt unless you have a really crappy motherboard these days.

However, there are valid reasons for them to still warn against it. Most notably the potential for errors is reasonably increased, and the RAM may not run properly with mismatched timings or the BIOS trying to force cheap ram to run out-of-spec timings.

These can lead to silent data corruption, as well as computational errors. Not a big deal for a PC dedicated to your kids playing flash games, a very big deal on a workstation dedicated to complex mathematics (folding@home) or professional work of any kind.
 
Guidance1 said:
Thanks to all, for for the useful chart ...
So nothing definitive yet 🙂 Dell warns that the computer will "continue to operate" if sticks are not matched ! 🙂) I wish I could find a computer engineer who knows for sure either way, and the ramifications if unmatched. Many say that the "matching" requirement is from "marketing" to sell more memory, but I don't think that info is reliable. I suppose there might be a warranty issue as well.
Click to expand...
You'll lose dual channel and it'll operate at single channel operation.
 
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