Need help installing my Dell computer RAM

[newbie2005]

Hi folks,

I need your help. I just bought a Dell 8400 computer. It takes PC2-4200 "DDR2" memory (400 Mhz / 533 Mhz). The system comes with 512 MB DDR2 533 Mhz memory (2 modules of 256 MB)

I'm thinking about adding more memory, because I do video-editing quite often. I guess my question is, will this computer take GEIL PC2-4300 "DDR2" 533 Mhz memory? If I one matched pair of PC2-4200 533 Mhz, go toghether with another matched pair of PC2-4300 533 Mhz, will I still be able to achieve this so-called Dual Channel capability? I think there's some configuration rules to be met, in order for this dual channel thing to go on.

Here's my upgrade plan:

Memory Bank A0 - 256 MB PC2-4200 533 Mhz
Memory Bank A1 - 1.0 GB PC2-4300 533 Mhz
Memory Bank B0 - 256 MB PC2-4200 533 Mhz
Memory Bank B1 - 1.0 GB PC2-4300 533 Mhz

Will this work?

 

[Cromewell]

The chipset you have supports dual channel mode with that configuration but who knows what dell might have done to it

 

[joshj]

I pretty sure that should work. But are you sure that you want 2.5GB? I doubt you'd see any performance increase over 1 or 1.5GB.

 

[shreypuranik2005]

2.5 GB sounds a little too extreme for the Dell 8400 but it should work. Any idea what the costs are for all this?

 

[newbie2005]

2.5 GB sounds a little too extreme for the Dell 8400 but it should work. Any idea what the costs are for all this?

A friend of mine told me there's pretty good deal at this NewEgg site. The Geil PC2-4300 (533 Mhz with heat sinker), 2x1 Gig only costs roughly $230 (USD). At first, I was confused by the model PC2-4300 (533Mhz), with my current existing Dell PC2-4200(533Mhz). Now that based on your responses, I should be able to achieve dual channel mode when I install the 2 matched pairs.

Which, brings up another interesting question. On the same website, the price for a "single" 1-Gig module of Geil PC2-4300 (533Mhz) only costs $100, while the "dual channel kit" 2x1 Gig of Geil PC2-4300 (533Mhz) costs $230. Will I be better off buying 2 single modules for a total of $200, instead of getting the 2x1 kit for $230? It's not the memory itself that is dual channel, it's rather the way its configured on the motherboard's memory bank, am i right?

 

[Cromewell]

You're right, buy them seperately if it's cheaper.

 

[flip218]

Here's my upgrade plan:

Memory Bank A0 - 256 MB PC2-4200 533 Mhz
Memory Bank A1 - 1.0 GB PC2-4300 533 Mhz
Memory Bank B0 - 256 MB PC2-4200 533 Mhz
Memory Bank B1 - 1.0 GB PC2-4300 533 Mhz

Will this work?

This is from the Dell website:

DDR2 memory modules should be installed in pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8400/SM/parts.htm#wp1052394

@Praetor, I know what ya said about i915 or higher chipset ... just saw that