[Davexx1]

I have a 2-3 year old Dell Dimension 8250 desk top, 2.8gh, Win XP Home, with 256mb of RDRAM. It is working OK but has slowed a bit with the addition of allot of anti-spy ware/virus programs, ZA firewall, etc.. It was mentioned that I might want to add more RAM to make it more efficient and improve performance.

If this is true I am not opposed to spending some $$ for the addition. I looked around on the net and it seems this RD type RAM is not very popular today and/or readily available.

Where/what is a trusted, reliable source for purchasing this RDRAM 256 module? Would I be better off trying to find and buy it locally or purchase over the internet? What can I expect to pay for it?

I removed the cover and added a RAM module to another PC once before and it was no big deal or complicated affair but have been warned there could be dama[font=Comic Sans Ms]ge from static electricity so what is the accepted procedure for adding the module so there is no risk of damage?

Thanks for any feedback.

Dave1

Edited by Davexx1, 01 April 2006 - 07:08 AM.

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Can you check it is RDRAM

Q: What is the difference between RDRAM™, DDR, and SDRAM memories?

A: RDRAM is used in the highest-performance PC systems. RDRAM memory operates at high-frequency for increased throughput from each component. Current mainstream RDRAM memory operates at transfer speeds of 1200MHz. DDR is targeted towards mainstream applications and typically operate at transfer speeds of 400MHz, and SDRAM is used in low-performance systems and operate at transfer speeds of 133MHz.

RDRAM is performance memory for users seeking to the highest performance from their PC RDRAM-enabled PCs excel at graphics, multimedia, CAD, content creation, and office applications.

[Retired Tech]

Can you check it is RDRAM

Q: What is the difference between RDRAM™, DDR, and SDRAM memories?

A: RDRAM is used in the highest-performance PC systems. RDRAM memory operates at high-frequency for increased throughput from each component. Current mainstream RDRAM memory operates at transfer speeds of 1200MHz. DDR is targeted towards mainstream applications and typically operate at transfer speeds of 400MHz, and SDRAM is used in low-performance systems and operate at transfer speeds of 133MHz.

RDRAM is performance memory for users seeking to the highest performance from their PC RDRAM-enabled PCs excel at graphics, multimedia, CAD, content creation, and office applications.

[WinCrazy]

RDRAM (RAMBUS DRAM) looks pretty much like typical DDR DRAM other than having a metal "heat spreader" clipped over the chipsp. RDRAM must be installed in pairs. First you must open the cover and see how many memory slots there are. You will probably see 4 there. Here comes the tricky part: All slots must have something plugged into them - either a memory modual or a "continuity" module. Continuity modules are smaller than memory modules and have no chips on them; its just a simple circuit board. Continuity modules must be installed in pairs, also.

Hopefully your motherboard will have 2 RDRAM modules and 2 continuity modules, which makes upgrading simple: buy 2 more 128MB memory modules, take the 2 continuity modules out and replace them with the new memory.

If there are 4 RDRAM sticks already in there and you want the total memory to add up to 512MB, then you will have to but 4 128MB new modules and throw away the 4 64MB modules that it now has. This would be expensive. You might only replace 2 of the old modules with 2 128MB ones to bring the total up to 384MB.

RDRAM was an experiment that didn't pan out to be as worthwhile as hoped. There are only two manufacturors left that make it anymore. Here are some links:

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820151003

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820150301

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16820145151

Go with the cheapest - they are all 128MB and PC800 speed.
Remember that they have to be installed in identical pairs.

[Davexx1]

Thanks for the replies and info. Seems the first step is to remove the cover and see what is in there right now before going any further. Seems there are only two possibilites i.e. 4-68mb chips or 2-128mb chips with two continuity cards.

Just found my owners manual and noticed there are steps/procedure illustrated to add memory. I will check and see what is in there now and report back.


Thanks, Dave

Edited by Davexx1, 02 April 2006 - 08:14 AM.

[Zoey Z]

Davexx1, you're right. If you have a Dim 8250, it's an RDRAM (either PC800 or PC1066). And the maximum memory you can upgrade it to is - 2GB for PC800 and 1.5GB for PC1066. Hope this helps

[Davexx1]

OK, just got back on here after having this thing apart. Must have done OK as it appears to be working.

I have two 128mb memory cards in RIMM slots #1 & #2 and two continuity cards in RIMM slots #3 & #4.

The two memory cards are:

Samsung; Korea 0304; 128mb/4
MR16R1624DFO-CT9 1066-32P 102

My Dell owner manual directions to install new memory cards are fairly simple to follow so I now need to just get the pieces ordered from Newegg.com or bought locally. I have never ordered on line with credit card before, scared of theft, fraud, etc. (see question posted this morning in the Coffee Shop section of this board).

So far so good.

Thanks, Dave

[Retired Tech]

Look for https instead of http in the addres bar

Try to use a card with internet fraud protection and also consider getting a seperate one with a much lower credit limit

[Davexx1]

The referenced links in one of the replies to this thread above for memory cards are not the exact model number of what I found in my PC. I went to the Samsung site and looked at their available RDRAM chips and they do not have listed the same exact memory chip number as I have.

Do I have to have the exact memory card part/model number? Are any of the memory chips listed by Samsung the same as I have only a newer different part/model number???

My memory chips are 1066-32P. The ones listed at Newegg.com say PC800. Are they different?

Please clarify what I need to order.

Thanks, Dave

[WinCrazy]

You don't need the exact same memory but you do need 1066 type. The links I gave you are NOT 1066.

I googled for "PC1066 RDRAM" and got some results:

http://www.4allmemor...m_rambus_pc1066

http://www.zipzoomfl...goryCode=011120

http://www.memorysup...c1066rdram.html

http://www.4allmemor...ch&model_id=-71 (2 X 128MB sticks)