Can I replace a 512MB PC3200 RAM with a 1GB PC4200 RAM?

[stargre]

Hi! I have a Dell Inspiron XPS laptop, the one with 3.4GHz CPU. It's not the newer XPS M140/M170 or XPS GEN2.

So, it has the older PC3200 RAM. I am now interested in upgrading from 2x512MB PC3200 to 2GB. But I found that the PC4200 RAMs are much cheaper than the PC3200's. So, I want to know whether I can use the PC4200 RAM on PC3200 machine? I understand that they have different FSB. But I don't know whether it can be downward compatible.

Also, if I can use PC4200 RAM, then does it matter I use DDR or DDR2?

If there is any other issues I need to note, please do not hesitate to point it out for me. Thanks very much!

 

[Vybuni]

The PC4200 will be compatable, IF you have DDR RAM in it now. The PC4200 will run at PC3200 speeds however.

If you can post your model number, we can figure out what kind of RAM you can use.

 

[stargre]

Hi! Thanks so much for your reply.
The model number is "Inspiron XPS". Kind of weird that it does not look like a model number, but it is. I guess that won't help. And the detailed configuration of the laptop cannot be found on Dell website now. But with the service tag, I found the following information.

1 8T749 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, Wide Ultra Extended Graphics Array, NO-SPWG, 15.4, TOSHIBA
1 C2512 ASSEMBLY, CABLE, 15.4, NIMITZ-ALCATRAZ
1 W1456 ASSEMBLY, BASE (ASSEMBLY OR GROUP), BOTTOM, 1G, BROADCOM CORPORATION, EXTREME PERFORMANCE SYSTEM
1 Y3740 KEYBOARD, 87, US-ENG, DUAL POINTING, NIMITZ-ALCATRAZ
1 M5270 PROCESSOR, 80546, 3.4, 1M, PENTIUM 4 PRESCOTT DT, 800, D0
1 X1501 BRACKET, KEYBOARD, METAL, NIMITZ-ALCATRAZ
1 70TVD ASSEMBLY, CABLE, S-VIDEO, WEST
1 K2490 CORD, POWER, 110V, 6F, ALTERNATING CURRENT, 3W, PROPOSITION 65, UNITED STATES
1 N3834 ASSEMBLY, ADAPTER, ALTERNATING CURRENT, 150W, LITEON, WORLD WIDE
1 G4613 CASE, CARRYING, NYLON, NOTEBOOK, BACK PACK, EXTREME PERFORMANCE SYSTEM
1 R1185 BATTERY, PRIMARY, 14.8V, 12C, LITHIUM, SONY
1 U1202 CARD (CIRCUIT), GRAPHICS, ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC, M11, 128MB, 9100
1 8267R CONNECTOR, HEADER, 2X22, FEMALE, 2, S, G, 35K, THIRD HEIGHT, CHIP SET
1 P2364 HARD DRIVE, 60GB, 9.5MM, 5.4K, FUJITSU, Z40
1 U5251 ASSEMBLY, COMPACT DISK READ WRITE/DIGITAL VIDEO DISK DRIVE COMBO, 24X, HITACHI LG DATA STORAGE, D MODULES
1 N2999 KIT, SOFTWARE, MNY-2K4, STANDARD, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MFGR., ENGLAND/ENGLISH
1 P2643 KIT, SOFTWARE, MSENC-2K4, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MFGR., ENGLAND/ENGLISH
1 T7166 KIT, SOFTWARE, WP-PRDCT-STE12, ENGLAND/ENGLISH, V2
1 H8412 KIT, SOFTWARE, OVERPACK, WXPHSP2, COMPACT DISKETTE W/DOCUMENTATION, ENGLAND/ENGLISH
1 G4874 KIT, DOCUMENTATON ON FLOPPY DISK, SOFTWARE, POWERDVD, 5.1
2 F3603 DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 512, 400, 64X64, 8K, 200

Could you figure it out?

Thanks very much!

 

[bkolk]

Hmm thats alot of extra specs =p
i think we just need ur mobo, so u can edit out the things like the monitor and floppy drive ect.

 

[stargre]

Hi! I am sorry. But I was confused myself. I could not find the motherboard information. That's why I am posting everything so that you may be able to distill down the information valuable. But I will try to google more and find out. Thanks!

 

[stargre]

I found it is a i865pe motherboard.

 

[Vybuni]

A quick google search yielded exactly what we needed.
http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-180-1.htm
It takes DDR RAM so DDR2 will NOT work.
How much is the RAM you are looking at? can you give us a link to it?

 

[stargre]

Thanks! I wanted to buy this
http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/SubCategory.asp?SubCategory=381

But since you said it'll not work, maybe I can only settle with two of this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145562

 

[Vybuni]

Are you sure thats your motherboard? That looks like a desktop mobo. I would reccommend looking at the RAM you have in it now. Is it SODIMM or regular DIMM?