Upgrading RAM on Dell Laptop

[falco]

I am currently researching to build my first PC but due to money issues I don't see that happening until the summer. So for now I would like to upgrade the RAM on my current laptop which is a Dell Inspiron 9100.

Specs on the lappy:
Dell Inspiron 9100
Windows XP Professional
Pentium 4 3.20 GHz
3.19 GHz 1.00 GB of RAM
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700


I am having trouble finding RAM that would go with this system, any help?

I found the following info on the Dell website:

Inspiron 9100
Maximum Memory: 2048 MB.
Number of Slots: 2
[Although your system may currently have 333 MHz module(s) installed, the 400 MHz module(s) are also compatible]


Then this was the only product they are selling as far as ram goes:
DELL - 512 MB Module for a Dell Inspiron 9100 System
512 MB DDR SDRAM, PC3200 / 400 MHz
Dell Part #: A0308633, Manufacturer Part #: DF3603


I then went to Newegg and found these, will they work?

Crucial
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146575

Corsair ValueSelet
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145579


It looks like my lappy only has 2 card slots so I will have to remove the dual half gigs and put 2 1GB's in there. If I can do this upgrade for under $200 then I will be happy because I plan on keeping this computer for awhile. Plus I can always try and sell the RAM I take out.


Thanks for any help!

[mairving]

You can get it at Crucial (http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Dell%2BInspiron&mfr=Dell&tabid=AM&model=Inspiron+9100&submit=Go). Why do you need 2GB of RAM? Are you doing video editing or something? For the most part you would be wasting your money to have 2Gb of RAM. The cheapest route would be to get one 1GB module and replace one of the 512's. You won't be able to do it for under $200.

[falco]

thanks for the reply :)

Yes I do very heavy graphical design work and I am getting major bind up when using ps, illustration, flash, etc.

So the modules I linked to are no good huh? I went to Crucials site and it looks like 1 stick of 1GB is going to set me back $137. Nothing cheaper huh?

Thanks again for the help, I will have to figure something out :rolleyes:

[mairving]

Laptop RAM is different. The modules are smaller. The ones that you linked to are desktop RAM. The Crucial has been tested to work in the laptop.

[glc]

Even though it costs more, buy the ram from the Crucial configurator. It's guaranteed compatible. Generic ram is cheaper, but no guarantees. If it doesn't work, you just lost your savings in restocking fees.