Best ram for Dell XPS 420

[badge]

You need to read the post, OP is hoping to replace his PC5300 with PC6400 and hoping the new, faster RAM will run at 800mhz. instead of his old 667mhz. RAM when he installs it. OP's question is simple, if it will, upgrading to PC6400 certainly will make his sytem faster. It comes down to what dividers his Dell BIOS is equipped with and will those dividers allow his new PC6400 to run at 800mhz.. Op has no control of his BIOS, it's a Dell. OP knows that. Of course if OP installs PC6400 and the RAM defaults to PC5300 667mhz. there would be absolutely no improvement and it would be a complete waste of money. If you read OP posts, his manual says his system supports PC6400. Hopefully that means supports PC6400 at 800mhz. (with the proper divider provided by BIOS/Chipset and PC6400 DIMMS also cooperating). I have never owned a DELL so in that regard, I know little about the company' systems, BIOS limitations, upgradability path, etc.

 

[badge]

You could try taking out all the RAM that is currently in the system and purchase just 2x2GB PC2-6400 DIMMs. See if the mobo automatically sets your (RAM speed: fixed) to 800MHz after putting the new RAM in.

If possible, OP should borrow some PC6400 and do this. BTW, this is what I have been saying all along. If his system has the proper BIOS Dividers AND the PC6400 he installs cooperates and runs at 800mhz. (from his current 667mhz.), his sytem's performance would imporove with RAM running at a faster speed. This idea is anything but confusing. It's totally basic knowledge. Maybe OP will let us know how it goes.

 

[rockyjohn]

No, that is not what you have been saying all along. You repeatedly talked about OC. Maybe YOU should read the posts and when others ask reasonable questions when your comments are off topic you should not put them down with such comments and with "anything but confusing" and "basic knowlege".

If the PC5300 bandwidth is as fast as the FSB (see my first post above), and the FSB also has to carry all the traffic to the CPU from the graphics card as well as the memory, won't the FSB limit limit performance of the PC6400 memory?

 

[badge]

Post your question as a new topic. You are obviously learning nothing from this thread.

 

[rockyjohn]

My question is not onlydirectly relevant but also basic to this thread and has not been answered. And your insult only demeans yourself.

 

[badge]

Your question has been answered several times. Go back and find it or start a new thread. Your lack of self esteem and personal selfishness when using this forum is showing. What don't you go jump. Want to know how far?

 

[rockyjohn]

Why do you chose to continue demeaning yourself with childish personal attacks?

 

[masterson001]

I think you guys need to calm down a little. Both of you have been very helpful and I have learnt a lot from these post. But I just want to update you guys.

My system arrived a few days ago but the RAM (PC2 6400/800MHz) only yesterday. As I expected with Dell BIOS (as well as what everyone else was saying) you have no control at all for OC. As I was going thourgh the BIOS I noticed that it reported RAM information with the speed of 667MHz. So after testing the system out for a few minutes I proceeded to swap the RAM. I swaped the PC2-5400/667MHz for the new RAM PC2-6400/800MHz, booted the system checked the BIOS and I can confirm that the system accepts the RAM and runs at 800MHz.

Thanks again guys for your help!
Masterson

 

[jerktom]

Could you confirm how much RAM (4, 6, or 8GB) can be added to your 32/64 systems? What brand of RAM did you use?

I think you guys need to calm down a little. Both of you have been very helpful and I have learnt a lot from these post. But I just want to update you guys.

My system arrived a few days ago but the RAM (PC2 6400/800MHz) only yesterday. As I expected with Dell BIOS (as well as what everyone else was saying) you have no control at all for OC. As I was going thourgh the BIOS I noticed that it reported RAM information with the speed of 667MHz. So after testing the system out for a few minutes I proceeded to swap the RAM. I swaped the PC2-5400/667MHz for the new RAM PC2-6400/800MHz, booted the system checked the BIOS and I can confirm that the system accepts the RAM and runs at 800MHz.

Thanks again guys for your help!
Masterson

 

[deepakarora79]

I'm also on the same boat .. I have a Dell XPS 420 and want to max out the memory to 8GB..
OP: Can you update the thread with your memory config, I know it's DDR2-6400/800MHz... I just want to know what brand, voltage & place you bought them from???

 

[bamacre]

You will need a 64bit version of Vista.

Get two of these, and you are good...
http://tinyurl.com/4rwyoc

 

[deepakarora79]

Thanks Bamacre.. I do have 64bit Vista Ultimate on the system...
I can't see the voltage rating on the RAMs you've mentioned.. Can u confirm if it's compatible with XPS420. I think XPS420 needs 1.8v RAMs

 

[marx_w]

It sounds like your xps is coming with slower memeory. I have and xps 420 about the same specs but I got my system with 3GB of memory @ 800MHZ. Now I'm going up to 4GB and I'm getting my memeory from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TPXULC
CORSAIR XMS2 4GB ( 2 X 2GB ) PC2-6400 800MHz 240-pin DDR2 CL5 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit

 

[Gobelet]

I have 8GB of PC2-6400/800MHz Corsair in my XPS 420. Works like a charm.

 

[HiFiSi]

OK, so to get this out of the way first... I know this topic is pretty old. But my question is pretty much identical to the topic creator's, only I have some additional info to add.

At the moment, I have 4GB of PC2-6400 in my XPS420 that I added when I bought the PC a few years back. I recently upgraded to 7 ultimate 64 bit and am looking to add more RAM. That and the fact that I am occasionally getting BSOD's every now and then which I am assuming is RAM related as I have systematically replaced all the vital components (OS, hard drive, video card, PSU, audio card) with parts from a second PC and it is still occurring.

Now... I went to Crucial's website and looked up the XPS420, and it is saying:

Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-6400,DDR2 PC2-5300,DDR2 PC2-8500 with a maximum of 2GB per slot.

Now when I bought this 4GB of PC2-6400 a couple years ago their site said that 6400 was the fastest RAM that this PC could use. But NOW, it is saying that it will use PC2-8500. Is this trustworthy? Did Dell issue a BIOS upgrade to allow support for this faster RAM? Since the RAM that crucial offers are "guaranteed-compatible parts" is it safe to assume that they are right and 8500 will work in an XPS420, or are they ill-informed?