Hello, I have a Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop which has a type of memory I've never seen before: PC2-4300. Has anyone ever dealt with this rare kind memory? If I upgrade it, is it ok to get PC2-4200 instead? Or should I get PC2-5400? I'm asking because it seems no store carries this type of memory...


Here's a CPU-Z screenshot:

Yeah, either speed will work fine, as your system will run it at 266mhz anyways (asuming you are running a 1:1 divider)
~Bryan~

Based on what I found out on google, Dell Inspiron 1501 comes with one 512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 200pin SO-DIMM memory stick and has total of two memory sockets supporting up to 2Gb of ram.

But before going out shopping, open the panel on the back and take a look at what kind of memory it is just to be 100% sure.

Quote from Crommi :

Based on what I found out on google, Dell Inspiron 1501 comes with one 512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 200pin SO-DIMM memory stick and has total of two memory sockets supporting up to 2Gb of ram.

But before going out shopping, open the panel on the back and take a look at what kind of memory it is just to be 100% sure.

I found some PC2-4300 240pin on newegg. Only two of them, I think it is more likely that you have PC2-4200 which you should be able to find anywhere. I know that Best Buy has PC2-5300 for ~$30/gb this week, but I'm not sure if FutureShop runs the same ads.

It's a laptop, so 240 pin modules are useless as they're for desktops. Don't worry, I know exactly what memory I have/need, but I just wanted an opinion from some of the hardware gurus around here.

In fact, I opened up the memory compartment and the stickers on the ram actually say PC2-4200. Why in the world does CPU-Z detect them as 4300?

Quote from shiny_red_cobra :

In fact, I opened up the memory compartment and the stickers on the ram actually say PC2-4200. Why in the world does CPU-Z detect them as 4300?

Same with PC-5200 and 5300, they are both the same speed, it's just to do with rounding...

euhm another thing, isnt PC2-4300, 533Mhz memory(instead of 266 what it says in CPU-Z)?

What's 266 Doubled?

Double
Data
Rate


ftw :P

ah i see

Quote from Jakg :

What's 266 Doubled?

532

:P

Quote from shiny_red_cobra :

It's a laptop, so 240 pin modules are useless as they're for desktops. Don't worry, I know exactly what memory I have/need, but I just wanted an opinion from some of the hardware gurus around here.

In fact, I opened up the memory compartment and the stickers on the ram actually say PC2-4200. Why in the world does CPU-Z detect them as 4300?

I know 240 is useless for a laptop. I was making a point that PC2-4300 does apparently exist but could only find it IN 240 PIN and it is thus less likely that you have it in your laptop.

If anyone's interested, I did end up upgrading the ram to 2GB. I bought 2 x 1GB PC5400 RAM from OCZ, and it works great. Thank god for backwards compatibility.

Quote from shiny_red_cobra :

If anyone's interested, I did end up upgrading the ram to 2GB. I bought 2 x 1GB PC5400 RAM from OCZ, and it works great. Thank god for backwards compatibility.

Great to hear!