RAM Upgrade Dell XPS (400) DXP051

SniffMoney

SniffMoney

New Member
I have quite an older Dell PC. I work with audio music production and know i need a new PC badly. But for a cheap fix i'm looking at getting some more RAM in the think. I'm running XP and want to stick as much RAM in it as possible.

I read on some site that a 32bit computer can't take more than 3.5 RAM, or maybe it was just an XP 32bit. Not really sure, which is why i'm here with my questions.

I was wondering if you guys can tell me how much RAM i can put in this thing, and what kind.

Thanks for the info in advance.

Here's my specs

P.S. i'm not sure if showing the registration code number was something i wasn't supposted to shade for safety reasons, so i redded it out.
2m3n2gy.jpg
 
4GB is the most you can install on 32 bit XP, or any other Windows 32 bit OS.

That 4GB can be less if you have integrated video.
 
I heard it has 4 ram slots, not sure if that's true. Do I need to fill all 4 slots with ram to equal the 2 gig Max? Or can I just use 2 of the slots?
 
You can probably just use two but check your motherboard manual.

Download CPU-Z, run it, take a screenshot of the 'memory' tab and then post it here. That will tell us exactly what RAM you need and what you currently have (in terms of sticks). http://www.cpuid.com/downloads/cpu-z/1.69-en.zip

I'll warn you that DDR2 RAM is going to be expensive! You might be better off leaving it with 2GB in it and then buying a new computer when you can afford it. I don't think you'll see a lot of difference between 2GB and 3GB-4GB with an old Pentium D and Windows XP. You likely wouldn't be able to use your RAM in this PC in a new build so it could be a waste of money.
 
spirit said:
You can probably just use two but check your motherboard manual.

Download CPU-Z, run it, take a screenshot of the 'memory' tab and then post it here. That will tell us exactly what RAM you need and what you currently have (in terms of sticks). http://www.cpuid.com/downloads/cpu-z/1.69-en.zip

I'll warn you that DDR2 RAM is going to be expensive! You might be better off leaving it with 2GB in it and then buying a new computer when you can afford it. I don't think you'll see a lot of difference between 2GB and 3GB-4GB with an old Pentium D and Windows XP. You likely wouldn't be able to use your RAM in this PC in a new build so it could be a waste of money.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'm assuming the RAM would cost so much because nobody makes much of it anymore considering the dinosaur of a computer I’m running… so that's why it cost so much?

I have an Intel i5 laptop (HP Pavilion) that I use to DJ with. The dell was my desktop that I worked with audio on (audio production), but it’s sp dang old now the thing just can’t keep up. It used to, but the older it got and the more RAM and CPU hog the software and software plugg-in's got the worst the whole thing became. I got out of production for a wile, but have been trying to get back into it.

I used to know a lot about all the CPU’s coming out and RAM, but I’m kinda lost now with all the new stuff. All this GUP talk and everything, I can’t quite figure out what I’m looking for in a new build.

Can you guys direct me to a CPU and motherboard that would work well for a Digital Audio Workstation? I’m not looking at getting some top of the line thing, just stepping into the present a bit and being able to get the job done. So something decently priced… maybe one of those barebones or motherboard CPU combos.

I’ve always wanted to build a hackintosh since there’s some good software that only runs on MAC, but that would push the price up a bit I’m assuming since it would have to be a Intel core and a nice gigabyte motherboard?
 
Looks like you have DDR2 667MHz RAM. Is there anything in CPU-Z that can tell you which bays are populated with what? Maybe look on the CPU or Mainboard tab? (I can't remember right now, haha!)

So if you want to buy more RAM you'll need to get 667MHz or presumably 800MHz will work too. And yes DDR2 is expensive because it's not the standard anymore.

Since it sounds like you've not really been using this Dell, I would simply not bother because it could be a waste of money and I honestly don't think you'll notice any difference. You'd be better off building/buying something new. If you need suggestions about what parts to buy, post a thread in the Desktop section with your budget and I and the others will help you choose.

You can build a Hackintosh if you want, but it is against our forum rules to discuss those here on the forum, so the best thing we can do if you want to go down that route is point you to a guide on the internet telling you how to do it. Yes, a Hackintosh will likely be an expensive build - but it may be cheaper than a Mac.
 
Cool, thanks for the info. I'll have to post something up in there. The idea or thought we in the music production feild used to go by was, that if the computer was good enough for the gamer crowd, it wasgood enough to make music on. But I haven't been following computer tech stuff much lately, so I'm not sure if that's still all true. I'm not really sure in this day and age if more cores will help, or faster cores will help. So many bench mark results with chips were two comparable ones will beat eachother out in different areas. Not sure what kinda bench test I should be looking for that would most accurately depict the kinda math or number crunching a digital audio workstation would be doing.

Also, I kinda wanna go the AMD route because it's cheaper, but then again I have no idea what kind of AMD cores are comparable to let's say an Intel i5 or i7 core. Obviously I don't need near as much video card power as a gamer would. My video card money would be better spent on a sound card.

Thanks for the help guys.

P.S. Where would be the proper section or tutorial to get my i5 pavilion laptop running at tip top shape? It just doesn't seem to run as good a normal i5 core computer should. i'm assuming its full of bloatware and other junk restricting it. I took a good amount of the junk of, but it seems when you buy the damn laptops, you don't get a real windows install CD with the thing. all you can do is recover back to the bloatware beginning. I'd love to install straight up windows on it, but at that point I'm assuming tons of drivers would be missing that the laptop needed?

anyway, thanks again guys. I'm kinda on the poor side, so I'm trying to work with what I got and hopfully also slide into a decent desktop for a good price. I've built one or two desktops before, but that was like 10 years ago, lol. PCIE was just coming out then I think. haha
 
Yeah a gaming PC would be fine for audio editing so long as it had a powerful CPU, a good amount of RAM and a nice sound card. As you quite rightly said, the graphics card wouldn't matter.

I assume you have some good speakers or headphones to go with your audio editing setup?

As for AMD vs Intel, if you want a budget build then I'd probably go with AMD and get yourself an FX-8320. It has 8 cores and can be easily overclocked, but it usually doesn't perform quite as well as a quad-core i5 and definitely not as well as an i7, but you do pay a lot less.
 
thanks for the info. Yeah, i've already got good speakers and an okay sound card. I'd want to get a new sound card in the future, but could deal with the one i have on a new system until i picked up a newer one if needed.

What's the best\cheapest place these days to pick up a system? like the sites that sell packages deals, bearbones, motherboard\CPU combos..... that kinda stuff.

I found this setup on tigerdirect: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8990028&CatId=7718

Comes out to like $420 after some coupon codes and whatnot. Not sure if the bundle deals are the best rout these days. Been a wile for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top