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Computer memory and adding HDMI port question.

AJ

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
I'm looking at replacing the two 256 sticks in Jana's desktop with two 2GB sticks.

CORSAIR
4 GB (2 x 2 GB) Replacement 240-pin DIMM DDR2 Memory Module Kit
Click to expand...
My question is if I want to look on sites like newegg (used Dell.com to find correct memory replacements) what do I want/need to look at?

Same goes for adding an hdmi port via new video card.

Geforce GT 240 1 GB DDR3 PCIe 2.0 Graphics Card from EVGA was one of Dell.coms suggestions.


"this graphics card boasts 1 GB DDR3 memory to deliver a dazzling visual experience optimized to support compelling 3D gaming environments. Additionally, the DVI-I, VGA, HDMI interfaces offer high speed connectivity and let you experience sharp, vivid images and text. Furthermore, it comes with 2nd Generation Unified Shader Architecture and OpenGL® 3.1 Support for high-quality graphics and 3D textures. Besides, this card is PhysX™ ready and supports NVIDIA CUDA™ technology. Packed with these features and more, this graphics card adds a natural and realistic look to your games.

Manufacturer Part# : 01G-P3-1236-LR
Dell Part# : A3476614"
Click to expand...
 
S

spek1098

Guest
How old is the computer your working? I have a 2.4Ghz P4 from 2003 that I recently upgraded that would only work with a 4x AGP card. Everything out there today is either 8x AGP or PCIe. I had to get a older used one from James, with a DVI output (works just as good as HDMI, with a DVI-HDMI cable).
 
AJ

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
not sure the year, but it's got a Pentium 4, 2.80GHz, so i'm looking for something that will work seemless with that.
 
S

spek1098

Guest
Was this a custom built pc or a brand name PC? If it's the latter then you can look up the specs at the mfgs website, see what video cards it excepts. I'm guessing you'll be in the same boat I was.
 
AJ

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
It's a Dell, so the items listed in my first post are what Dell has on their site that I can use, I'm wondering if I have other/better options from other sites to upgrade her machine without the markup Dell puts on parts.
 
S

spek1098

Guest
I did a quick google search of P4 2.8Ghz and it looks like some of the chipsets that supported that speed also supported 8x AGP. You may read that 8x AGP cards were suppose to be backwards compatible with 4x AGP, and they were for a while, but that's no longer the case.
 
Jana

Jana

New Member
dmention7 said:
Install this: http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Then use it to figure out what your motherboard model is and post that up here. Then someone can tell you exactly what kind of memory to get.
Click to expand...
Here is what it shows:

Operating System
MS Windows XP Home 32-bit SP3
CPU
Intel Pentium 4 520
Prescott 90nm Technology
RAM
512MB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 199MHz (3-3-3-8)
Motherboard
Dell Inc. 0M3918 (Microprocessor)
Graphics
X223W @ 1280x1024
X223W @ 1280x1024
128MB RADEON X300 Series (ATI)
Hard Drives
78GB Seagate ST380013AS 37 °C
Optical Drives
JLMS DVD-ROM XJ-HD166
NEC DVD+-RW ND-3450A
Audio
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit



Specific info on the motherboard:
Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model 0M3918
Chipset Vendor Intel
Chipset Model i915P/i915G
Chipset Revision B1
Southbridge Vendor Intel
Southbridge Model 82801FB (ICH6)
Southbridge Revision 03
BIOS
Brand Dell Inc.
Version A10
Date 01/04/2006

Let me know if any other information is needed to help recommend products.
 
M

Matt D.

Guest
If you go to www.crucial.com and plug in your system information (since it's a Dell) it will tell you exactly what type of memory you need and the most the system can handle. Some older systems were limited to 2GB or less, and 1GB or less per slot.
 
Jana

Jana

New Member
Matt D. said:
If you go to www.crucial.com and plug in your system information (since it's a Dell) it will tell you exactly what type of memory you need and the most the system can handle. Some older systems were limited to 2GB or less, and 1GB or less per slot.
Click to expand...

How does that differ from the previous stuff I posted? And what would be the lowest amount I could add, and still notice a difference? It's mainly for working in multiple programs (Excel, etc) and online.
 
Jana

Jana

New Member
Ok, so I picked up new memory sticks tonight @ MicroCenter. I went with just (2) 1GB DDR2 sticks as that is what the guy recommended there as well on my system. We get home, swap the sticks out and it won't boot up. We take one out, and it boots up just fine. It's definitely quicker. Question - why won't it take the two sticks? We tried swapping out to confirm the stick is good, and it is, so it's not defective.

Suggestions?
 
AJ

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
On a side note, with one new stick replaced it the fan kicks on upon start up and then it boots fine. With two sticks, it just makes some beeping noies, the fan seems to kick on with more umpf, and the computer never boots. With the 2 original 256 sticks the fan does not kick on during start up.
 
Workdawg

Workdawg

NARWHAL
What is the sequence of beeps? That's called the POST (power-on self test) and those beeps are telling you what the status of the computer is.

How many DIMM slots are there on the mobo (slots for RAM)? If there are more than 2, try putting the sticks in varying arrangement among them. Typically you want them in the first two though.

Check the BIOS to see if maybe Dell had the additional slots diabled for some reason.

What speed is the RAM that you bought? Could you find a link to the exact stuff you bought?


Also, I just noticed it looks like you've got the same monitors as I do... the native resolution on them is 1680x1050, not 1280x1024, fyi.
 
AJ

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
There are 4 slots, 2 sections of 2. The factory 256 sticks had one stick in each section. We tryed that way, as well as both in the one section.

We will have to look at the other info.
 
Picklz

Picklz

SUDO Make me a SAMCH
I can probably stop by and take a look one night if you guys want. Sometimes you need to tweak some settings in the BIOS for timings and such, it is also possible you could have picked up a bad stick o ram.
 
mndsm

mndsm

I'M OFFENDED!
I know this is going to sound stupid, but is it possible that the MOBO is freaking out because it has too much ram plugged in? If the PC HAD 2x256 in it, that sounds like some old jargon there.... maybe it just doesn't know what to do with 2 gigs and starts having a stroke.
 
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