RAM upgrade for Dell XPS 600

Krattle · 06-25-2009, 12:50 PM

I have a relatively old XPS 600 with 2gb of RAM and I want to upgrade. My OS is only 32-bit, but I've read that if I use 4gb of RAM, it will at least recognize around 3 to 3.5 GB of that. In case it matters, my GPU has 256mb RAM. Does the computer count that in the total RAM, and therefore subtract it from 4gb?

Is this true?

I'm a little confused about all the RAM options available. I want a kit of four 1GB 240-pin DIMMs, preferably Corsair, and it has to be DDR2. I'm pretty sure my mobo can support only 667mhz max. Beyond that I'm not sure. Does it matter if it's PC2-4300, PC2-5300, PC2-6400, or whatever? I don't even know what PC2 means, but I don't think my mobo could support PC3.

My motherboard is an Nvidia nForce4 SLIx16. Can that support anything like 800mhz or 1066mhz DDR2? I don't think it can, but I want to make sure that I'm not selling my self short by buying only 667mhz. I don't know if it's relevant, but my CPU is an Intel Pentium D 820 2.80GHz (Smithfield Socket 775 LGA) with an 800MHz FSB.

Thank you for any help,
Krattle

Krattle · 06-25-2009, 01:41 PM

Also, it must be non ECC.

If I bought two packs of 2X1GB, would that work?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145098

**wrench97** · 06-25-2009, 02:37 PM

For OEM systems especially Dell I use Crucial it just simply works.
http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartsp...44AF91A5CA7304

32 Bit OS's have a 4 gig mathematical address space limit including system devices and add in cards. You will most likely see 3.2Gig available to windows, but windows also limits programs to 2gig max over 2gig in XP doesn't give a lot of improvement in overall system performance unless you are running out of ram causing virtual memory hard drive writes/reads.

Krattle · 06-25-2009, 02:58 PM

Ok, but can I at least upgrade to 800MHz (PC2-6400)? Will my computer run the RAM at that speed? Crucial claims my computer can support that.

**wrench97** · 06-25-2009, 03:45 PM

DDR2 800 will run but at 667 speeds as that's as fast as the motherboard supports.
And a to run 667 all the sticks will have to be 667 a lot of the 600's shipped with 533.

Krattle · 06-25-2009, 10:35 PM

Yeah, I went with 667. My mobo definitely can't support 800. Thanks for the help!

**wrench97** · 06-26-2009, 12:52 AM

Anytime.

06-25-2009, 12:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Krattle Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 22 OS: XP Pro 32-bit	RAM upgrade for Dell XPS 600 I have a relatively old XPS 600 with 2gb of RAM and I want to upgrade. My OS is only 32-bit, but I've read that if I use 4gb of RAM, it will at least recognize around 3 to 3.5 GB of that. In case it matters, my GPU has 256mb RAM. Does the computer count that in the total RAM, and therefore subtract it from 4gb? Is this true? I'm a little confused about all the RAM options available. I want a kit of four 1GB 240-pin DIMMs, preferably Corsair, and it has to be DDR2. I'm pretty sure my mobo can support only 667mhz max. Beyond that I'm not sure. Does it matter if it's PC2-4300, PC2-5300, PC2-6400, or whatever? I don't even know what PC2 means, but I don't think my mobo could support PC3. My motherboard is an Nvidia nForce4 SLIx16. Can that support anything like 800mhz or 1066mhz DDR2? I don't think it can, but I want to make sure that I'm not selling my self short by buying only 667mhz. I don't know if it's relevant, but my CPU is an Intel Pentium D 820 2.80GHz (Smithfield Socket 775 LGA) with an 800MHz FSB. Thank you for any help, Krattle Last edited by Krattle; 06-25-2009 at 12:58 PM.

06-25-2009, 01:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Krattle Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 22 OS: XP Pro 32-bit	Re: RAM upgrade for Dell XPS 600 Also, it must be non ECC. If I bought two packs of 2X1GB, would that work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145098 Last edited by Krattle; 06-25-2009 at 01:52 PM.

06-25-2009, 02:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,742 OS: Win7	Re: RAM upgrade for Dell XPS 600 For OEM systems especially Dell I use Crucial it just simply works. http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartsp...44AF91A5CA7304 32 Bit OS's have a 4 gig mathematical address space limit including system devices and add in cards. You will most likely see 3.2Gig available to windows, but windows also limits programs to 2gig max over 2gig in XP doesn't give a lot of improvement in overall system performance unless you are running out of ram causing virtual memory hard drive writes/reads. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-25-2009, 02:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Krattle Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 22 OS: XP Pro 32-bit	Re: RAM upgrade for Dell XPS 600 Ok, but can I at least upgrade to 800MHz (PC2-6400)? Will my computer run the RAM at that speed? Crucial claims my computer can support that.

06-25-2009, 03:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,742 OS: Win7	Re: RAM upgrade for Dell XPS 600 DDR2 800 will run but at 667 speeds as that's as fast as the motherboard supports. And a to run 667 all the sticks will have to be 667 a lot of the 600's shipped with 533. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

06-25-2009, 10:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Krattle Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 22 OS: XP Pro 32-bit	Re: RAM upgrade for Dell XPS 600 Yeah, I went with 667. My mobo definitely can't support 800. Thanks for the help!

06-26-2009, 12:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,742 OS: Win7	Re: RAM upgrade for Dell XPS 600 Anytime. __________________ Power Supply and Selection