My Dad recently bought a Dell 550, and when he told me it came with 64Mb of RAM, I ordered another 64 Meg stick from Mushkin to put in his machine next time I visited. Thinking it would use standard DIMMs, I got PC133, as that's what I use in all my machines. But when I gave him his present and tried to install it, no joy! It wouldn't fit in the slot and when I took the stick installed in the machine out to examine it, it was different, and had fewer pins that were wider than the standard 168 pin SDRAM I am used to using. What kind of RAM is this??
What RAM does Dell use????
- Thread starter Marine
- Start date
Welcome to "DELLWORLD" Where if you didn't know it coming in ....you will know it on your way out!
I didn't realize Dell's getting worse with proprietary stuff 
I've got a four year old system that has a proprietary power supply, and some of the motherboard connectors for sound, but other than that it's okay. Sounds like they've really gone downhill since then.
I've got a four year old system that has a proprietary power supply, and some of the motherboard connectors for sound, but other than that it's okay. Sounds like they've really gone downhill since then.It's called rambus...it's not proprietary, just too expensive for most people to want to deal with.
[edit]
I just checked this again, it indeed cannot be rdram because rdram comes in pairs, however, i suggest that jr members without the balls to enable their profiles could at least be courteous in their replies instead of insulting me, all my posts (I had no idea all my other posts were "suspect" as well), and the product in question.
As a side note, unless the system is a laptop or other portable computer, chances are (though without at least the model type, it's impossible to tell), it is NOT a sodimm, regardless of your cut and pasted definition, considering that most laptops (not just dell) require servicing to upgrade ram instead of allowing an end user to do so[/edit]
~Ladi
[edit]
I just checked this again, it indeed cannot be rdram because rdram comes in pairs, however, i suggest that jr members without the balls to enable their profiles could at least be courteous in their replies instead of insulting me, all my posts (I had no idea all my other posts were "suspect" as well), and the product in question.
As a side note, unless the system is a laptop or other portable computer, chances are (though without at least the model type, it's impossible to tell), it is NOT a sodimm, regardless of your cut and pasted definition, considering that most laptops (not just dell) require servicing to upgrade ram instead of allowing an end user to do so[/edit]
~Ladi
Ladi, ladi...another suspect response from you. RAMBUS???? RDRAM in a pokey little Dell 550???? Come on, you're not serious. Surely you know these strange little modules are SODIMMs?! Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module and have 144 pins. Available in 3.3v and up to 256 Mb in several form factors. Often used in laptops and appliances. Well, I guess we can call Dell computers appliances, can't we?
Could it be one of those "net" computers or whatever they're called? I suppose they might use SODIMMs (dosen't the iMac?).
I work in Dell Dimension tech support as a product specialist...
We have NEVER used properietary RAM in Dimension desktops. In systems that took EDO, they were standard 72 pin SIMMs. SDRAM is standard 168 pin DIMMs. RDRAM are standard RIMMs.
The XPS B series goes as low as 533MHz, and the B series takes RDRAM. RDRAM only goes in pairs when installed on an i850 chipset (P4) motherboard, but on the B series there's a terminator in the second RIMM slot.
Give me the model and line of system (Optiplex, WebPC, Dimension, Workstation, Precision, etc) and I'll get the specs.
We have NEVER used properietary RAM in Dimension desktops. In systems that took EDO, they were standard 72 pin SIMMs. SDRAM is standard 168 pin DIMMs. RDRAM are standard RIMMs.
The XPS B series goes as low as 533MHz, and the B series takes RDRAM. RDRAM only goes in pairs when installed on an i850 chipset (P4) motherboard, but on the B series there's a terminator in the second RIMM slot.
Give me the model and line of system (Optiplex, WebPC, Dimension, Workstation, Precision, etc) and I'll get the specs.
<< Ladi, ladi...another suspect response from you. RAMBUS???? RDRAM in a pokey little Dell 550???? Come on, you're not serious. Surely you know these strange little modules are SODIMMs?! Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module and have 144 pins. Available in 3.3v and up to 256 Mb in several form factors. Often used in laptops and appliances. Well, I guess we can call Dell computers appliances, can't we? >>
Hecky, Hecky... Another Junior Member who talks without thinking. SODIMM? SODIMMs in a Dell desktop? Come on, you're not serious. Surely you know these strange little modules are usually reserved for Laptop and low profile Desktop use.
Unless this thing is a WebPC, this will be a full-blown desktop machine running standard memory (DIMM, SIMM, RIMM). We buy our memory from whatever vendor, and it's not custom made.
Again, Marine get me the model and I'll get the correct info for you.
Bleh. 3 replies in a row. Anyway...
Here are the specs for any system right now that can have a 500-600MHz processor in a desktop or tower form factor (I'm not going to get into servers, but they take standard RAM too):
WebPC:
Architecture non-ECC SDRAM 168-pin modules
DIMM sockets two; gold contacts
DIMM capacities 32, 64, and 128 MB
Dimension LxxxR:
Memory
Architecture non-ECC SDRAM 168-pin modules
DIMM sockets two; gold contacts
DIMM capacities 32, 64, 128, 256, and 512 MB
Minimum RAM 32 MB (64 MB for systems running Microsoft® Windows NT®)1
Maximum RAM 512 MB
Frequency 100 MHz
Clock cycle 10 ns (supports four clocks only)
CAS latency three
Dimension XPS T:
Memory
Architecture ECC or non-ECC SDRAM modules
DIMM sockets three; gold contacts
DIMM capacities 32, 64, 128, and 256 MB
Minimum RAM 64 MB (non-ECC)
Maximum RAM 768 MB
Frequency 100 MHz
Clock cycle 10 ns (supports 4 clocks only)
CAS latency three
Dimension 4100:
Memory
Architecture non-ECC PC133 SDRAM
Memory sockets two; gold contacts
Memory capacities 64, 128, and 256 MB (non-ECC)
Minimum memory 64 MB (non-ECC)
Maximum memory 512 MB (non-ECC)
Frequency 133 MHz
Clock cycle 7.5 ns (supports 4 clocks only)
CAS latency 3
Dimension XPS B:
Memory
Architecture Rambus PC600, PC700, and PC800
RIMM sockets two; gold contacts
RIMM capacities 128 and 256 MB
Minimum RAM 128 MB
Maximum RAM 512 MB
Clock cycle 2.5 ns (PC800); 2.8 ns (PC700);
3.5 ns (PC600)
Dimension 8100:
Memory
Architecture RDRAM
RIMM sockets four
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, and 256-MB RDRAM
Standard RAM 128 MB (minimum)
Maximum RAM 1 GB
Optiplex e200 (thin client):
Support isn't handled by Dell, I have no info on it.
Optiplex GX300:
Memory
Architecture Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM)
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) sockets two
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and (when available) 512-megabyte (MB) RDRAM
Standard RAM 64 MB minimum
Maximum RAM 1 gigabyte (GB) (when available, two 512-MB RIMMs that have 16 memory devices each)
Optiplex GX200:
Memory
Architecture error-checking and correction (ECC) or non-ECC Rambus dynamic RAM (DRAM)
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) sockets two, with a maximum of 32 devices
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and 512-MB Rambus DRAM (RDRAM)
Standard RAM 64 MB minimum
Maximum RAM 1-GB (availability of 1-GB systems depends on market availability of 512-MB RIMMs)
Optiplex GX150:
Memory
Architecture 133-megahertz (MHz) synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) (memory clock operates at 100 MHz for Intel Celeron processors)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two non-error checking and correction (non-ECC)
DIMM capacities 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 64 to 512 MB
Optiplex GX115:
Memory
Architecture 100- or 133-megahertz (MHz) synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two non-error checking and correction (ECC)
DIMM capacities 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 64 to 512 MB
Optiplex GX110:
Memory
Architecture 100-megahertz (MHz) synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two (non-error checking and correction [ECC])
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 32 to 512 MB
Optiplex GX100:
Memory
Architecture 100-MHz synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two (non-error checking and correction [ECC])
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 32 to 512 MB
Optiplex GC:
Memory
Architecture 100-MHz synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two (non-error checking and correction [ECC])
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 64 to 512 MB
Dell Precision 330:
Memory
Architecture Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM)
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) sockets four
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and 512-megabyte (MB)
Standard RAM 128 MB minimum
Maximum RAM 2 gigabyte (GB), when 512 MB RIMM technology is available
Dell Precision 620:
Memory
Architecture RDRAM technology
Memory slots 8 RIMMs (4 on each MEC)
Memory module capacities 64-, 128-, and 256-MB 800 MHz with ECC
Dell Precision 420:
Memory
Architecture Rambus dynamic random-access memory (RDRAM) technology
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) slots four (dual channels)
RIMM module capacities 64-, 128-, 256-megabyte (MB) 800-MHz Rambus DRAM with error checking and correction (ECC)
RDRAM 128 MB to 1 gigabyte (GB)
Dell Precision 220:
Memory
Architecture Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM)
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) sockets two
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and (when available) 512-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
Standard RAM 128 MB minimum
Maximum RAM 1 gigabyte (GB) (when available, two 512-MB RIMMs that have 16 memory devices each)
Dell Precision 610:
Memory
Architecture 72-bit ECC SDRAM
DIMM sockets four
DIMM capacities 64- and 128-MB unbuffered, 72-bit SDRAM; 256-MB and 512-MB registered, 72-bit SDRAM
Standard RAM 64 MB
Maximum RAM 2048 MB*
Dell Precision 410:
Memory
Architecture 72-bit ECC SDRAM
DIMM sockets four
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, and 128-MB unbuffered, 72-bit SDRAM; 256-MB registered, 72-bit SDRAM
Standard RAM 64 MB
Maximum RAM 1024 MB*
Dell Precision 210:
Memory
Architecture 72-bit ECC SDRAM
DIMM sockets four
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, and 128-MB unbuffered, 72-bit SDRAM
Standard RAM 64 MB
Maximum RAM 512 MB*
Dell Precision 400:
Memory
Architecture 64-bit, noninterleaved EDO ECC
DIMM sockets 4
DIMM capacities 16-, 32-, 64-, and 128-MB
Standard RAM 16 MB
Maximum RAM 512 MB
Here are the specs for any system right now that can have a 500-600MHz processor in a desktop or tower form factor (I'm not going to get into servers, but they take standard RAM too):
WebPC:
Architecture non-ECC SDRAM 168-pin modules
DIMM sockets two; gold contacts
DIMM capacities 32, 64, and 128 MB
Dimension LxxxR:
Memory
Architecture non-ECC SDRAM 168-pin modules
DIMM sockets two; gold contacts
DIMM capacities 32, 64, 128, 256, and 512 MB
Minimum RAM 32 MB (64 MB for systems running Microsoft® Windows NT®)1
Maximum RAM 512 MB
Frequency 100 MHz
Clock cycle 10 ns (supports four clocks only)
CAS latency three
Dimension XPS T:
Memory
Architecture ECC or non-ECC SDRAM modules
DIMM sockets three; gold contacts
DIMM capacities 32, 64, 128, and 256 MB
Minimum RAM 64 MB (non-ECC)
Maximum RAM 768 MB
Frequency 100 MHz
Clock cycle 10 ns (supports 4 clocks only)
CAS latency three
Dimension 4100:
Memory
Architecture non-ECC PC133 SDRAM
Memory sockets two; gold contacts
Memory capacities 64, 128, and 256 MB (non-ECC)
Minimum memory 64 MB (non-ECC)
Maximum memory 512 MB (non-ECC)
Frequency 133 MHz
Clock cycle 7.5 ns (supports 4 clocks only)
CAS latency 3
Dimension XPS B:
Memory
Architecture Rambus PC600, PC700, and PC800
RIMM sockets two; gold contacts
RIMM capacities 128 and 256 MB
Minimum RAM 128 MB
Maximum RAM 512 MB
Clock cycle 2.5 ns (PC800); 2.8 ns (PC700);
3.5 ns (PC600)
Dimension 8100:
Memory
Architecture RDRAM
RIMM sockets four
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, and 256-MB RDRAM
Standard RAM 128 MB (minimum)
Maximum RAM 1 GB
Optiplex e200 (thin client):
Support isn't handled by Dell, I have no info on it.
Optiplex GX300:
Memory
Architecture Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM)
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) sockets two
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and (when available) 512-megabyte (MB) RDRAM
Standard RAM 64 MB minimum
Maximum RAM 1 gigabyte (GB) (when available, two 512-MB RIMMs that have 16 memory devices each)
Optiplex GX200:
Memory
Architecture error-checking and correction (ECC) or non-ECC Rambus dynamic RAM (DRAM)
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) sockets two, with a maximum of 32 devices
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and 512-MB Rambus DRAM (RDRAM)
Standard RAM 64 MB minimum
Maximum RAM 1-GB (availability of 1-GB systems depends on market availability of 512-MB RIMMs)
Optiplex GX150:
Memory
Architecture 133-megahertz (MHz) synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) (memory clock operates at 100 MHz for Intel Celeron processors)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two non-error checking and correction (non-ECC)
DIMM capacities 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 64 to 512 MB
Optiplex GX115:
Memory
Architecture 100- or 133-megahertz (MHz) synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two non-error checking and correction (ECC)
DIMM capacities 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 64 to 512 MB
Optiplex GX110:
Memory
Architecture 100-megahertz (MHz) synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two (non-error checking and correction [ECC])
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 32 to 512 MB
Optiplex GX100:
Memory
Architecture 100-MHz synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two (non-error checking and correction [ECC])
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 32 to 512 MB
Optiplex GC:
Memory
Architecture 100-MHz synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM)
Dual in-line memory module (DIMM) sockets two (non-error checking and correction [ECC])
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, 128-, and 256-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
System random-access memory (RAM) 64 to 512 MB
Dell Precision 330:
Memory
Architecture Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM)
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) sockets four
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and 512-megabyte (MB)
Standard RAM 128 MB minimum
Maximum RAM 2 gigabyte (GB), when 512 MB RIMM technology is available
Dell Precision 620:
Memory
Architecture RDRAM technology
Memory slots 8 RIMMs (4 on each MEC)
Memory module capacities 64-, 128-, and 256-MB 800 MHz with ECC
Dell Precision 420:
Memory
Architecture Rambus dynamic random-access memory (RDRAM) technology
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) slots four (dual channels)
RIMM module capacities 64-, 128-, 256-megabyte (MB) 800-MHz Rambus DRAM with error checking and correction (ECC)
RDRAM 128 MB to 1 gigabyte (GB)
Dell Precision 220:
Memory
Architecture Rambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM)
Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM) sockets two
RIMM capacities 64-, 128-, 256-, and (when available) 512-megabyte (MB) SDRAM
Standard RAM 128 MB minimum
Maximum RAM 1 gigabyte (GB) (when available, two 512-MB RIMMs that have 16 memory devices each)
Dell Precision 610:
Memory
Architecture 72-bit ECC SDRAM
DIMM sockets four
DIMM capacities 64- and 128-MB unbuffered, 72-bit SDRAM; 256-MB and 512-MB registered, 72-bit SDRAM
Standard RAM 64 MB
Maximum RAM 2048 MB*
Dell Precision 410:
Memory
Architecture 72-bit ECC SDRAM
DIMM sockets four
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, and 128-MB unbuffered, 72-bit SDRAM; 256-MB registered, 72-bit SDRAM
Standard RAM 64 MB
Maximum RAM 1024 MB*
Dell Precision 210:
Memory
Architecture 72-bit ECC SDRAM
DIMM sockets four
DIMM capacities 32-, 64-, and 128-MB unbuffered, 72-bit SDRAM
Standard RAM 64 MB
Maximum RAM 512 MB*
Dell Precision 400:
Memory
Architecture 64-bit, noninterleaved EDO ECC
DIMM sockets 4
DIMM capacities 16-, 32-, 64-, and 128-MB
Standard RAM 16 MB
Maximum RAM 512 MB
Motorheader
Diamond Member
- Sep 3, 2000
- 3,682
- 0
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Wow - quite the undertaking Rendus - kudos to you.
I deal with DELL direct and have never ever - and I mean ever - seen an SODIMM in any DELL desktop configuration.
If his system had RDRAM he would have had to pull the little "slot-filler" (as one DELL tech called it) to install the memory - this was not mentioned.
Some DELLS that take SDRAM do take memory that is not standard clock - 4 instead of 2. That is proprietary to them - seen many people buy memory upgrades for their DELL box only to find that they got the wrong clock memory and only 1/4 or 1/2 of the upgrade shows because of the memory clock being wrong.
Anyhow - if I didn't build my own box - DELL is the tops.
I deal with DELL direct and have never ever - and I mean ever - seen an SODIMM in any DELL desktop configuration.
If his system had RDRAM he would have had to pull the little "slot-filler" (as one DELL tech called it) to install the memory - this was not mentioned.
Some DELLS that take SDRAM do take memory that is not standard clock - 4 instead of 2. That is proprietary to them - seen many people buy memory upgrades for their DELL box only to find that they got the wrong clock memory and only 1/4 or 1/2 of the upgrade shows because of the memory clock being wrong.
Anyhow - if I didn't build my own box - DELL is the tops.
Yeah, the terminator I refered to in the first message on the XPS B is what the tech meant by the slot filler. It's technically a "Continuity Module". I doubt this system runs RDRAM though, if only because it's a 100MHz bus system (550) and the RDRAM systems are all 133MHz FSB.
<< Some DELLS that take SDRAM do take memory that is not standard clock - 4 instead of 2. That is proprietary to them - seen many people buy memory upgrades for their DELL box only to find that they got the wrong clock memory and only 1/4 or 1/2 of the upgrade shows because of the memory clock being wrong. >>
Well, the only system I know of that does this is the XPS D, and that's a limitation of the BIOS. The A09 BIOS release fixes that, though. (Supposedly, anyway We had a huge problem hunting down this issue... We would send out replacement memory and it wouldn't work... Never found a techncial reason until we started requesting people send in their system to Dell Research, and they found the 4 cycle memory worked, but not the 2.)
<< Some DELLS that take SDRAM do take memory that is not standard clock - 4 instead of 2. That is proprietary to them - seen many people buy memory upgrades for their DELL box only to find that they got the wrong clock memory and only 1/4 or 1/2 of the upgrade shows because of the memory clock being wrong. >>
Well, the only system I know of that does this is the XPS D, and that's a limitation of the BIOS. The A09 BIOS release fixes that, though. (Supposedly, anyway
We had a huge problem hunting down this issue... We would send out replacement memory and it wouldn't work... Never found a techncial reason until we started requesting people send in their system to Dell Research, and they found the 4 cycle memory worked, but not the 2.)TRENDING THREADS
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