Adding more memory to my Dell which has 4 memory slots? Please Help.

[TommyHolly]

Hello everyone,
I have a Dell Dimension 8250, 3.06 Ghz/HT, 533 FSB, with 512Mb of 1066 Mhz RDRAM.

That RDRAM is extremely expensive. I wanted to upgrade from 512MB to around 1GB of total memory. For a while now I was thinking about replacing the (2) 256 MB Ram chips with (2) 512Mb chips but that would cost me around $500 for a PC that is almost 3 years old. That's when I looked inside my PC and saw that there are 4 slots for the Ram??? If I could add just 2 more small sticks of 256Mb Ram, that would be alot cheaper.

I checked online and it said my PC can handle a total of 1.5 GB of Ram??? My questions to you guys are:

1. Because I have 4 ports, does that mean I can just add 2 more sticks of 256 Mb, 1066mhz, RdRam as long as they match? (The total then would be 1 GB)

2. How did the websites get the total of 1.5 GB for my PC? Are they assuming that the first two ports have 512Mb each and the second two ports have 256 Mb in them?

EDIT:
3. I found a good price for RAMBUS that matches everything...however 1 type says 232 pin 32bit and the other type says 184 pin 16bit? How do i know which one I should use?

[Sentential]

1. Yes its fine
2. Correct, depending on the maximum number of banks. It could be 1gb + 512

[TommyHolly]

I did some reading about #3 and it looks likeyou CANNOT switch 184 pin (which I have) with the 232 pin. The cool thing about that 232 pin stuff is that you don't need to install it in pairs.

My only question now is what is "ECC"? I see 2 different types of Rambus and mine is "Non-ECC" whatever that means? I can't find info on what that is?

[Miguita]

I assume you've got the i850E chipset, correct me if I'm wrong.

ECC is some sort of error correction, a data verification that occurs for each read and write. This is common for servers with lots of RAM, but not considered necessery for common everyday use. The sticks you already have are probably non-ECC, so I recommend you buy non-ECC.

Your chipset supports up to 2GB RAM (if it's the i850E), that online check probably ment you could add 1 GB to your current setup (keeping the stick you have).

[batboy]

Wait, are you saying that you have two empty RAM slots? RDRAM has to use either all 4 slots or a pair of RAM and another pair of continuity "dummy" modules. If you have two sticks of 256 RDRAM and two dummy sticks, then the two dummy modules can be removed and a matched pair of RDRAM can be installed. I would just get two more 256 sticks to match what you have. Since you have a 533 processor, you will need 184 pin PC1066 RDRAM. But, first make sure you don't really have 4X128 RDRAM. If you have non-ECC (the most common type) then just get more non-ECC.

[TommyHolly]

I have 2 dummy ports. I'm planning on just buying 2 more sticks of 256 PC1066 RamBus.

By the way, how can I tell if my motherboard is i850E?

[Miguita]

By the way, how can I tell if my motherboard is i850E?

Download a program like CPU-Z, it gives certain details on your CPU, buses, RAM and chipset.

However I'm pretty sure you've got the i850E, as you have support for FSB 533 and PC1066

[TommyHolly]

I know I'm bringing up an old thread but it has all the info I still need...

Prices have come down on the RAMBUS 184 pin stuff finally enough that I will buy some... However I still need some questions answered:

#4: So what exactly is my total amount of Ram I can install in the PC? 2Gb worth or is it really only 1.5Gb. (Someone above posted it is saying 1.5 because it is subtracting 512Mb of what i already have from the total of 2Gb.)

#5: Here is a link from www.pricewatch.com Is this cheap enough or do you guys know a better spot? I just search for Memory-PC/Server-PC 800- and look for 184 pin of whatever size i choose.

#6: What is the maximum I can put in one slot? Can I add (2) 1gb Ram modules in a slot and keep the dummy slots I have in the ramaining 2 slots or do I have to only add 512Mb in all 4 slots?