512 mb SDRAM or 2- 256 mb's?

Hi everyone,

I have a quick memory upgrade question...
I ordered a Crucial 512MB SDRAM PC-133 card to upgrade my mother's Dell Dimension Desktop. It should be compatible... my mother's PC is a PC-133 and can hold up to 512 mb. memory. I removed her 64 MB card and inserted the 512 MB one and the PC just beeps! (It will not power up or anything either.)

Did I get a bad memory card or should I have inserted 2 256 MB ones instead?

Much Thanks in advance!
Gina

 

you're on the right track.

most older computers with a limit such as 512MB allow a maximum of 256MB per slot. bummer aint it?

 

Yes, that's a bummer! However, I'm EXTREMELY glad you told me that because I have a buddy in another state who advised me to buy this particular memory card. Now he thinks I did not seat the RAM correctly and I know I did. (So I can just stop wondering what I did wrong, send the card back, and request 2 256mb ones.) Yeah, it sucks, but I'm happy to know that I was right about something, and you've saved me a trip to CompUSA!

Thanks InYearsToCome,

Gina

 

for future reference, the intel 815 chipset (i'm assuming that's what you have) supports only up to 512mb ram and 256mb sticks tops. Yeah, i know that sucks, but that's the truth:/

 

Strogg,
According to the specs generated by a program I have called "Everest," her chipset is Intel Whitney i810. (My old HP also lists the same chipset.) Does this sound right? According to http://www.crucial.com/index.asp. (Excellent site and I highly recommend it to anyone ordering crucial memory, I wish I had checked it before I ordered!) these memory cards are compatible. I am re-ordering & will hopefully get it right this time.

Thanks,
Gina

 

ive been talking to ace latley, and ill tell him to come and post, but apparently the more sticks, the faster itll get. so 2 x 256

 

Thanks Dan,

Anyone who wants to give their input, please don't be shy. (Next time I'll come and post BEFORE I take someone else's word for it... )
I will be ordering these from newegg.com (where I ordered the first one) and they are generously waiving the restock fee on the return of the 512 mb and purchase of the 2 256's. I need to have this PC ready to go by the beginning of next week as I am visiting my mother then and will be taking this PC with me, so I want to order the memory in the next couple of hours. If anyone wants to visit the link to the memory cards & tell me what they think that would be great!

Thanks bunches!
Gina


Further Specs on Mom's PC:

Dell Dimension L800CXE
Motherboard:
CPU Type: Intel Celeron II, 800 MHz (8 x 100)
Motherboard Name: Intel Cayman CA810 (4 PCI, 2 DIMM, Audio, Video)
Motherboard Chipset: Intel Whitney i810
System Memory: 64 MB (PC133 SDRAM)
BIOS Type: AMI (03/07/01)
Disk Drive: GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE47; 19,059 MB
Windows ME (but I will be reformatting to Windows XP Pro when I put the extra memory in.)

 

Not nececarily so. If you have dual channel support for the DDR, then yes you will have better performance with 2x256 than with one 512MB stick, as you get double the bandwidth.

SDRAM, PC133, it makes little difference.

 

BTW, HERE is the link again and I am trying to decide between the first three cards on the chart in the middle of the page (am ordering two.)

Thanks again,
Gina

 

I'd go with the PC133 CL=2 ones. Its faster.

 

Thanks Goldfish.
Upon looking at the page again I saw that the 3rd one was PC100, which I DON'T want... so I'll get those PC133 CL=2 ones.

Peace,
Gina

 

Ok, just one more question (for Goldfish or anyone else) before I order this. I just took her existing 64 mb memory stick out of her PC and it's a CL=3. Will I have any conflicts?

Thanks!
Gina

 

Nevermind... Newegg doesn't have the CL=2 in stock so I'll have to go with the CL=3 ones anyway.

Thanks for the help,
Gina

 

Mastertech is teh late.