Memory, backward compatible SDRAM info ???

[WildBill66]

I'm running a Dell Dimension 4500S with
PC2100 256mb SDRAM 266Mhz, non-registered, non-ECC memory and I'd like to
increase performance with a 1gig stick or 512k minimum. I went to Circuit
City and all they have is PC2700 sticks.

The salesman said PC2700 is backward compatible with pc2100 and I've read
that before and een seen it online. But, I cannot afford the have system
crashes or system slow downs due to have 2 different sticks in one PC.
Everything I've read says, put the PC2700 stick in the primary slot and
the PC2100 in the other slot. My pc only has 2 slots and according to what
I've read, everything should be fine.

But I cannot find any articles on systems with pc2700 & pc2100 and I want
to know if there are any issues that could cause problems. I'm running
Windows XP Home edition which seems to phone home every day to check for
updates and so does Norton antivirus and they slow down the pc
and God knows Windows ain't perfect. So I want to here from the techies
who know what works.
Thanks.

WB

 

[kony]

I'm running a Dell Dimension 4500S with
PC2100 256mb SDRAM 266Mhz, non-registered, non-ECC memory and I'd like to
increase performance with a 1gig stick or 512k minimum. I went to Circuit
City and all they have is PC2700 sticks.

The salesman said PC2700 is backward compatible with pc2100 and I've read
that before and een seen it online. But, I cannot afford the have system
crashes or system slow downs due to have 2 different sticks in one PC.

PC2700 is MORE compatible on a system running PC2100, than
another stick of PC2100 would be! Reason is that it's
logically the same memory but spec'd, "guaranteed" to be
able to run faster, but that doesn't mean it has to or needs
to.

The larger issue with crashes or compatibility would be the
particular timings the module used, the motherboard's bios
(quality or lack of bugs), and that you're adding addional
modules. Multiple modules always have a lower margin for
stability than any single one of those installed. That's
not meant to cause unnecessary caution, usually such
upgrades work fine, but the potiential is significant enough
to avoid buying unknown generic memory from disreputable
vendors with questionable return policies.

Everything I've read says, put the PC2700 stick in the primary slot and
the PC2100 in the other slot. My pc only has 2 slots and according to what
I've read, everything should be fine.

Yes, everything should be fine.
Of all the reasons why it might not work, that it's PC2700
instead of PC2100, isn't one of them.

But I cannot find any articles on systems with pc2700 & pc2100 and I want
to know if there are any issues that could cause problems. I'm running
Windows XP Home edition which seems to phone home every day to check for
updates and so does Norton antivirus and they slow down the pc
and God knows Windows ain't perfect. So I want to here from the techies
who know what works.

Then turn off windows update and do that manually if you
want it done. Norton's software does typically slow a
system down a lot, IMO you should consider completely
uninstalling ALL Norton/Symantec software, though this would
be after you find a different antivirus program, I will not
presume you're safe without one- you would have to make that
decision... better safe than sorry.

If you're still running what is essentially the default,
untweaked Dell installation, there might be a lot of ways to
tweak WinXP to further the performance. Google will turn up
lots of guides.

You could even get PC3200, it would be more likely viable in
the future and the cost difference is little to nothing
these days. Generally it's best to get CAS2.5 or better
rather than CAS3, though I vaguely recall some Dells had
CAS3 in them, so you'll have to make that call, perhaps ask
in a Dell forum or use CPU-Z to determine your present
memory timings and what timings the motherboard is using if
not same as the spec'd timings for the current memory.

 

[Noozer]

I'm running a Dell Dimension 4500S with
PC2100 256mb SDRAM 266Mhz, non-registered, non-ECC memory and I'd like to
increase performance with a 1gig stick or 512k minimum. I went to Circuit
City and all they have is PC2700 sticks.

The salesman said PC2700 is backward compatible with pc2100 and I've read
that before and een seen it online.

But PC2700 is DDR memory and it sounds like you want SDR memory(I didn't
check Dell specs)... SDR and DDR are NOT interchangable. Make sure you know
what's in your PC and what your buying.

 

[kony]

But PC2700 is DDR memory and it sounds like you want SDR memory(I didn't
check Dell specs)... SDR and DDR are NOT interchangable. Make sure you know
what's in your PC and what your buying.

According to Crucial it is DDR,
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpa...at=RAM&model=Dimension+4500S+Series&submit=Go

 

[WildBill66]

Well, I agree with Kony and Noozer, and from what I've learned here and at
the Crucial website
too. So I went to the Dell website because my owners manual lists the
memory specs as:
non-ECC DDR SDRAM and so does the Dell website

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...ion&ModelSelection=123627&category_id=4325&k=

So either ddr sdram is a hybrid or Dell has a typo on its site and in its
owners manual. Regardless, I'm going to buy from Crucial, the price is $30
cheaper and free shipping and of course they back what they sell. So I
trust what you 2 guys have to say.
Thanks.

WB

 

[Noozer]

Well, I agree with Kony and Noozer, and from what I've learned here and at
the Crucial website
too. So I went to the Dell website because my owners manual lists the
memory specs as:
non-ECC DDR SDRAM and so does the Dell website

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/...ion&ModelSelection=123627&category_id=4325&k=

So either ddr sdram is a hybrid or Dell has a typo on its site and in its
owners manual. Regardless, I'm going to buy from Crucial, the price is $30
cheaper and free shipping and of course they back what they sell. So I
trust what you 2 guys have to say.

Nope... Dell is fine.

There is the old SDRAM (SDR SDRAM if you want) and newer DDR SDRAM. It's the
same kind of memory, but DDR is designed to be accessed twice as often as
SDR.