E521 with 8GB (4GBx2) PC2-6400 (800mhz) Possible?

[kcaravelli]

Well I have a Dell E521 desktop which I use for dev work. It is 64bit but I need more memory to run servers such as SharePoint 2010 on Windows Server 2008 for study and dev work.

Has anyone taken this little machine over 4GB ? If so, what were the results.

I know Dell says it only goes to 4GB but I have read other comments that it should go higher with this chipset and mobo.

I have a Dell 2600 Server but it is only 32bit which will not work anymore. I am trying to avoid building a new PC until I go back to work.

Thanks

 

[GhislainG]

Even though the chipset could possibly handle more than 4GB of RAM, the Dell E521 is limited to 4GB (4 x 1GB DDR2-533).

 

[kcaravelli]

Well that is what I am challenging.

I know the manual says Dell does not "Support" more than 4GB but what I'm looking for is someone who knows enough about RAM to know if I can put in 2GB modules and have it still read them...64bit os of course.

I mean how does dell configure the bios to limit the RAM, I would think it is the desing of the chipset that does that not the board. Of course if you don't have enough memory modules or whatever.

No, I'm just not convinced yet. Thanks though for your input.

Fry's has 2 GB ram modules on sale but I'm about to build my new server anyway so I'm not sure it's worth the gamble.

 

[GhislainG]

Dell claim that they only support 4 GB, but you challenge them. You'll have to buy 2 GB modules to convince yourself that they don't work.

 

[kcaravelli]

DONE!

I have 2 x 2GB 800mhz memory sticks in it now and just finished Installing Windows Server 2008. Seems fine since last night. Did some very heavy file copying of large files but that is primarily disk I/O of course.

I will probably have to install a new Video card compatible unless the Vista driver works with this.

I had 1 additional slower 1GB sticks in and CPU.Z reported 6GB total.

Although it is reportedly running at 800mhz, I think if I remember correctly it is running in single channel on the RAM so how could it be seeing 800mhz? Maybe sees it but since it is gaming RAM I may have to swap it for lower voltage RAM. I did not consider that when I purchased it.

I'm going back for more RAM so I will look at the bios again and CPU.Z with this 64bit OS installed.

Happy camper, this is my new dev box for SharePoint 2010. I will have it up and out on the web next week.

Thanks for the input.

 

[GhislainG]

I had 1 additional slower 1GB sticks in and CPU.Z reported 6GB total.

One or 2 modules (your sentence leads to interpretation)? Did Windows Server 2008 also report 6 GB?

 

[kcaravelli]

"I have 2 x 2GB 800mhz memory sticks in it now "

I have two memory modules in it now. Each module is 2GB. I took out the added 1 GB modules before I installed 2008 to see if it would register higher than 400mhz but is still reads 400mhz.


I am upgrading the CPU from an AMD 64 X2 3800 to AMD 64 X2 6000 today. This will take if from 2mhz to 3 mhz and give me significant improvement.

I am also adding two additional memory modules although I'm not sure if I will go with more 2GB modules or 1GB modules for the remaining two. The 1GB modules I have are slower memory so I upgrading them to take advantage of the new CPU which will also do virtualization...that is one of the key benefits of the new CPU for me.

Anyway, thanks for your input. Here is CPU.Z for the memory that I have now.


Memory SPD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) PDP Systems (7F7F7F7F7F020000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number 6400EL Series
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP yes (1 profiles)
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-3-3-6-12 @ 200 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-4-4-8-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-5-5-12-23 @ 400 MHz
EPP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
EPP profile #1 (full) 5.0-5-5-12-22-2T @ 400 MHz (1.900 Volts)

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x51
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) PDP Systems (7F7F7F7F7F020000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number 6400EL Series
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP yes (1 profiles)
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-3-3-6-12 @ 200 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-4-4-8-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-5-5-12-23 @ 400 MHz
EPP timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC-CR @ frequency (voltage)
EPP profile #1 (full) 5.0-5-5-12-22-2T @ 400 MHz (1.900 Volts)

 

[GhislainG]

CPU-Z reports the base frequency. DDR2 at 400 MHz actually is 800 MHz (400 MHz x 2 = 800 MHz).

 

[silver_dell]

Hello!

I can confirm, I upgraded my E521 to 6GB of RAM. (2GB x 2 and 1GB x 2) Windows 7 64 bit recognizes and uses it flawlessly!

Don't believe DELL, as long as you have a 64 bit OS that can recognize more than 4GB you are golden!

I took a chance and SUCCESS!! I will be buying another upgrade to 8GB soon. This little guy can still hang with the "big boys", woo hoo.

 

[rynosaur]

Hello!

I can confirm, I upgraded my E521 to 6GB of RAM. (2GB x 2 and 1GB x 2) Windows 7 64 bit recognizes and uses it flawlessly!

Don't believe DELL, as long as you have a 64 bit OS that can recognize more than 4GB you are golden!

I took a chance and SUCCESS!! I will be buying another upgrade to 8GB soon. This little guy can still hang with the "big boys", woo hoo.

Thank you so much for this thread! I love my little E521, and put the 6000mhz Brisbane in it long ago, but this 4GB RAM limit is killing me in Server 2008 (I need the environment to run at home to do labs for class).

Can you run through what you think the optimal RAM config is up to 6 or 8gb, based on your experience?

Thanks again!

 

[jlm_55]

Dear silver_dell,

I upgraded my E521 to 6GB as well - same configuration as you have - with Windows 7 64bit - but then started getting blue screen. I ran memtest86+ overnight without an error but then after only a little time in Windows - blue screen.

What type of 2G modules did you use? Is there a speed or voltage issue (however memtest passes)? Or is this a bios issue?

Help!

Jim

 

[rynosaur]

You probably got a bad stick. Are you on bios 1.1.11?

I actually upgrade 1gb at a time from 4gb -- I didn't want to go opening sticks that wouldn't work.

Presently, I have:
DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Centon (7F7F7F1900000000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number MICT38UXB 2GB
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP yes (0 profiles)
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-3-3-9-12 @ 200 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-5-5-18-24 @ 400 MHz

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x51
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Crucial Technology (7F7F7F7F7F9B0000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number CT25664AA800.M16FH
Manufacturing date Week 25/Year 11
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 4.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #2 5.0-5-5-15-20 @ 333 MHz
JEDEC #3 6.0-6-6-18-24 @ 400 MHz

DIMM # 3
SMBus address 0x52
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Kingston (7F98000000000000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number
Serial number 6720F179
Manufacturing date Week 25/Year 11
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 4.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #2 5.0-5-5-15-20 @ 333 MHz
JEDEC #3 6.0-6-6-18-24 @ 400 MHz

DIMM # 4
SMBus address 0x53
Memory type DDR2
Module format Regular UDIMM
Manufacturer (ID) Kingston (7F98000000000000)
Size 2048 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number
Serial number 6520079B
Manufacturing date Week 25/Year 11
Number of banks 2
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 4.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #2 5.0-5-5-15-20 @ 333 MHz
JEDEC #3 6.0-6-6-18-24 @ 400 MHz

It all works very well, despite having mixed manufacturers and timings. I bought whatever CompUSA had on sale every few weeks

I've run Linux's memory test for hours with no errors -- so overall, it's been a total success!

 

[mwb1100]

Just another data point - despite what Dell says about the memory capabilities of the E521, I was able to successfully install two 4GB DIMMS along side two 1GB DIMMs for a total of 10GB.

A few notes:

I'm running Win7 x64 and it is able to recognize the memory without problem.

The BIOS setup correctly reports the DIMMs in its slot-by-slot table of memory info, however in the field that notes the total memory it says 2GB not 10GB.

On the boots after installing/changing memory or after exiting the BIOS setup, the boot time is *very* long (more than 1.5 minutes). I assume it's doing a memory test, but there's no progress indication - it just sits on the screen with the BIOS boot progress bar stuck at about one-third complete. I note this because it was long enough that I thought the machine was dead, and spent an inordinate amount of time playing shuffling DIMMs around. Turns out that all I needed was to be very, very patient.

Subsequent boots are quite fast.

I wish I had known this was possible long ago - 4GB wasn't quite enough for some software loads I run at times.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Best answer selected by mousemonkey.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey