Adding memory to my Dell Inspiron 9300

[pitsteelforever]

I have a Dell Inspiron 9300 Notebook with only 512 MB RAM. I was wondering what I would have to do to had another 512MB of RAM. Would this be something I could install myself? How can I tell what kind of RAM is in my laptop so I know what I would need to purchase? Thanks a lot!

[Alaron]

You can certainly add ram to your machine, its fairly simple. Check your manual for which panel to unscrew, and you just pop in the new stick. Crucial guarantees that the ram they pick out will be compatible with your machine. Check it out here: http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...9300&submit=Go

[pitsteelforever]

Thanks a lot for the reply! This should make it really easy to add RAM. I was just under the impression that RAM was cheaper than that these days. Are there any sites that might offer lower prices than Crucial does? Thanks

[glc]

Sure, but you have to make sure they offer a similar compatibility guarantee and have just as good a warranty (lifetime) and return/customer service policy.

The first thing you need to do is open the hatch and see if you have a single 512 or a pair of 256's. If it's a pair, you will have to toss it. If it's a single, you have to buy an *identical* module to be able to enable dual channel operation, in that case you should order the ram direct from Dell.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by glc .... in that case you should order the ram direct from Dell.

And that may actually be cheaper than Crucial! I bought some notebook ram the other day for a picky Dell notebook and it was cheaper from Dell than from Crucial. Another source I've found useful is the configurator at Corsair.com. They tell you what ram to use and then point you to an online store like Newegg to buy it. That's been cheaper than Crucial or Dell on occassion.

[thefultonhow]

I'm going to break with everyone else's opinions. Just get RAM from Newegg. As long as you order DDR2-533 SODIMMs you'll be fine; plenty of other people upgrade these laptops with Newegg RAM.

If it was an older system, though, I would definitely say to go with Crucial or Dell.

[pitsteelforever]

so would this work in my laptop-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231038

thanks!

[thefultonhow]

Looks like that should work fine. You'll probably need to get two modules or get a 1 GB one instead, though, because usually in 512 MB configurations on those laptops, both slots are filled. It's only on 256 MB configurations that there is a free slot.

[pitsteelforever]

so if i order a 1gb model, then i just pop out one of the 256 ones, and replace it with the new one. leaving me with 1gb and another 256 mb, correct?

[thefultonhow]

Yep.

[pitsteelforever]

just to be sure, how do i check if mine has 1 512 module or 2 256mb modules? thanks

[thefultonhow]

Under one of the doors on the bottom of the laptop are two slots. (Another one of the doors only has one slot; that's the wireless card.) The door can be removed by unscrewing the screw and then rotating the door up. If there's an empty slot, then only one is filled; if both are filled, then, well, both are filled.

[pitsteelforever]

haha, i guess if its that easy, i should be able to tell even tho i dont know what im looking at! thanks for all the help!

[thefultonhow]

No problem. It's pretty easy; you just have to take off the correct door, and if I'm remembering correctly there are only two doors.

[pitsteelforever]

well, i ordered the 1GB module last night. Thanks for all the help fultonhow!!!