Memory for Dell 8200 that doesn't cost $400?

  • Thread starter Thread starter David B.
  • Start date Start date
D

David B.

You do have to install in pairs, but I see no reason why you would need to
remove the original pair.
The memory is expensive because it is Rambus, was the latest and greatest
when introduced, but has now obviously fallen by the wayside.

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"Susan Rice" <srice1@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Mplxi.85749$kK1.71646@newsfe14.phx...
>I wanted to add some memory to my Dell 8200. (400MHz FSB I think.) I have 4
>slots. 2 have 256MB memory cards. I thought I'd add two more memory cards.
>
> Dell wants $129 for 256MB, and says:
>
> "Rambus memory modules MUST BE INSTALLED in pairs. An upgrade requires two
> identical modules. Please order two.
>
> "In order to upgrade, the customer must remove all existing system memory
> and replace completely. To upgrade the memory, a BIOS update is required.
> The latest BIOS revision and instructions on how to flash update the BIOS
> are located at www.support.dell.com"
>
> Now I'm just confused. I can buy 2 @ $129 each, but why do I have to throw
> away my current memory? That sort of defeats the purpose of buying more
> memory.
>
> Dell also wants $339 for a 512MB card. For two of those I might as well
> just buy a new computer!
>
> Why is memory so friggin expensive for this machine?
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767636
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767559
 
You might want to try Crucial Memory Advisor tool.
Crucial may be able to give you a better price.
http://www.crucial.com/

JS

"Susan Rice" <srice1@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Mplxi.85749$kK1.71646@newsfe14.phx...
>I wanted to add some memory to my Dell 8200. (400MHz FSB I think.) I have 4
>slots. 2 have 256MB memory cards. I thought I'd add two more memory cards.
>
> Dell wants $129 for 256MB, and says:
>
> "Rambus memory modules MUST BE INSTALLED in pairs. An upgrade requires two
> identical modules. Please order two.
>
> "In order to upgrade, the customer must remove all existing system memory
> and replace completely. To upgrade the memory, a BIOS update is required.
> The latest BIOS revision and instructions on how to flash update the BIOS
> are located at www.support.dell.com"
>
> Now I'm just confused. I can buy 2 @ $129 each, but why do I have to throw
> away my current memory? That sort of defeats the purpose of buying more
> memory.
>
> Dell also wants $339 for a 512MB card. For two of those I might as well
> just buy a new computer!
>
> Why is memory so friggin expensive for this machine?
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767636
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767559
 
Susan Rice wrote:
> I wanted to add some memory to my Dell 8200. (400MHz FSB I think.) I
> have 4 slots. 2 have 256MB memory cards. I thought I'd add two more
> memory cards.
>
> Dell wants $129 for 256MB, and says:
>
> "Rambus memory modules MUST BE INSTALLED in pairs. An upgrade requires
> two identical modules. Please order two.
>
> "In order to upgrade, the customer must remove all existing system
> memory and replace completely. To upgrade the memory, a BIOS update is
> required. The latest BIOS revision and instructions on how to flash
> update the BIOS are located at www.support.dell.com"
>
> Now I'm just confused. I can buy 2 @ $129 each, but why do I have to
> throw away my current memory? That sort of defeats the purpose of buying
> more memory.
>
> Dell also wants $339 for a 512MB card. For two of those I might as well
> just buy a new computer!
>
> Why is memory so friggin expensive for this machine?
>


RDRAM is rare and expensive. The specialized architecture never
really caught on with the mass market.

From Crucia's web-site (http://www.crucial.com/library/ddr_vs_rdram.asp(:

"Rambus memory (RDRAM®) is a memory design that utilizes a
different bus structure compared to other synchronous (SDR, DDR, DDR2)
memories. Rambus memory sends less information on the data bus (which is
16 or 18 bits wide as opposed to the standard 64 or 72 bits), but it
sends data more frequently. It also reads data on both the rising and
falling edges of the clock signal, as DDR and DDR2 do. As a result,
Rambus memory is able to achieve effective data transfer speeds of
800MHz and higher.

Another difference with Rambus memory is that all memory slots in the
motherboard must be populated. Even if all the memory is contained in a
single module, the ""unused" sockets must be populated with a PCB, known
as a continuity module, to complete the circuit.

"Rambus DRAM modules are known as RIMM modules (Rambus inline memory
modules). Rambus memory supports both ECC and non-ECC applications.

"Bottom Line
Generally speaking, motherboards are built to support one type of
memory. You cannot mix and match more than one type of SDR, DDR, DDR2,
or Rambus memory on the same motherboard in any system. They will not
function and will not even fit in the same sockets. The right type of
memory to use is the one that your motherboard takes! And no matter what
type of memory you use, more is typically better. A memory upgrade is
still one of the most cost-effective ways to improve system performance."





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Bruce Chambers

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I wanted to add some memory to my Dell 8200. (400MHz FSB I think.) I
have 4 slots. 2 have 256MB memory cards. I thought I'd add two more
memory cards.

Dell wants $129 for 256MB, and says:

"Rambus memory modules MUST BE INSTALLED in pairs. An upgrade requires
two identical modules. Please order two.

"In order to upgrade, the customer must remove all existing system
memory and replace completely. To upgrade the memory, a BIOS update is
required. The latest BIOS revision and instructions on how to flash
update the BIOS are located at www.support.dell.com"

Now I'm just confused. I can buy 2 @ $129 each, but why do I have to
throw away my current memory? That sort of defeats the purpose of buying
more memory.

Dell also wants $339 for a 512MB card. For two of those I might as well
just buy a new computer!

Why is memory so friggin expensive for this machine?

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767636

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767559
 
I don't know why Dell requires that you replace your old RAM to expand it.
You would have to remove the terminators from the otherwise empty sockets,
but you ought to be able to keep your old RAM. (Maybe Rambus memory is so
finicky that you can't mix that from different makers.) There are no
statements about discarding your old memory at support.dell.com:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8200/replace.htm#1101964

www.newegg.com offers only a few different Rambus DIMMs. They have some
Samsung 512 MB DIMMs for $200 each. That's bad, but lower than the Dell
price. For guaranteed compatibility, I would usually suggest www.crucial.com
(retail arm of Micron), but they have never sold Rambus memory.

Rambus memory is expensive because it was never common, and it is now
obsolete.

Replacing the PC might be wise. Few would recommend spending significant
funds on upgrades for a 5 year old PC.

Return address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

"Susan Rice" <srice1@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Mplxi.85749$kK1.71646@newsfe14.phx...
>I wanted to add some memory to my Dell 8200. (400MHz FSB I think.) I have 4
>slots. 2 have 256MB memory cards. I thought I'd add two more memory cards.
>
> Dell wants $129 for 256MB, and says:
>
> "Rambus memory modules MUST BE INSTALLED in pairs. An upgrade requires two
> identical modules. Please order two.
>
> "In order to upgrade, the customer must remove all existing system memory
> and replace completely. To upgrade the memory, a BIOS update is required.
> The latest BIOS revision and instructions on how to flash update the BIOS
> are located at www.support.dell.com"
>
> Now I'm just confused. I can buy 2 @ $129 each, but why do I have to throw
> away my current memory? That sort of defeats the purpose of buying more
> memory.
>
> Dell also wants $339 for a 512MB card. For two of those I might as well
> just buy a new computer!
>
> Why is memory so friggin expensive for this machine?
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767636
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767559
 
Try searching through here first:

http://www.pricewatch.com/memory/rdram_800mhz_256mb.htm
--
Dave Vair
CNE, CNA, MCP, A+, N+

"Susan Rice" <srice1@cox.net> wrote in message news:Mplxi.85749$kK1.71646@newsfe14.phx...
>I wanted to add some memory to my Dell 8200. (400MHz FSB I think.) I have 4 slots. 2 have 256MB
>memory cards. I thought I'd add two more memory cards.
>
> Dell wants $129 for 256MB, and says:
>
> "Rambus memory modules MUST BE INSTALLED in pairs. An upgrade requires two identical modules.
> Please order two.
>
> "In order to upgrade, the customer must remove all existing system memory and replace completely.
> To upgrade the memory, a BIOS update is required. The latest BIOS revision and instructions on how
> to flash update the BIOS are located at www.support.dell.com"
>
> Now I'm just confused. I can buy 2 @ $129 each, but why do I have to throw away my current memory?
> That sort of defeats the purpose of buying more memory.
>
> Dell also wants $339 for a 512MB card. For two of those I might as well just buy a new computer!
>
> Why is memory so friggin expensive for this machine?
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767636
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0767559
 
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