The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    4g ram on vista

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by sinfolmatt, Jul 29, 2007.

  1. sinfolmatt

    sinfolmatt Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    16
    I was curious, I know that the 4gigs of ram cant be used the full amount running on the vostro 1700 with vista business I ordered, so I was curious about how much ram will it actually be able to use?
     
    sinfolmatt, Jul 29, 2007
    #1
  2. HCW

    HCW Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    246
    Messages:
    1,575
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    56
    3.5 gigs............................
     
    HCW, Jul 29, 2007
    #2
  3. CeeNote

    CeeNote Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    780
    Messages:
    2,072
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I think it's more like 3.2 gigs.
     
    CeeNote, Jul 29, 2007
    #3
  4. dc74

    dc74 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    64
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It really depends on your configuration so it varies between 2.75GB & 3.5GB.
     
    dc74, Jul 29, 2007
    #4
  5. sinfolmatt

    sinfolmatt Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    16
    i just read somewhere that its a max of 4 gigs less the amount of memory my video card has because that is counted into it or something like that, so 4 gigs less 256 megs in my case.
    Is it possible for me to upgrade later to a new vista os if its released or does that take a new motherboard and processor too, i dont know much about 64bit
     
    sinfolmatt, Jul 29, 2007
    #5
  6. DoubleBlack

    DoubleBlack Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    70
    Messages:
    1,086
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    If you want to be able to use more than 4GB of addressable memory (not RAM) you'll need to use x64. You'll also need to take into account the number of SHARED memory your video card also sometimes uses, however as previously mentioned the common max (and the max of any of the new inspirons/vostros) will be 3.5GB ;)
     
    DoubleBlack, Jul 29, 2007
    #6
  7. dru500a

    dru500a Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    21
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I wish I could afford 4GBs of ram right now.... that must make your system fly
     
    dru500a, Jul 29, 2007
    #7
  8. DoubleBlack

    DoubleBlack Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    70
    Messages:
    1,086
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I got 4GB of RAM for x64, before I realized that the new Inspirons don't have ESSENTIAL drivers for x64 :(
     
    DoubleBlack, Jul 29, 2007
    #8
  9. HCW

    HCW Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    246
    Messages:
    1,575
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    56
    only about $165 to $170
     
    HCW, Jul 29, 2007
    #9
  10. DoubleBlack

    DoubleBlack Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    70
    Messages:
    1,086
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    nah, I chose for quality RAM...I got 4GB of GeIL from NewEgg for $200 ;)
     
    DoubleBlack, Jul 29, 2007
    #10
  11. McGurn1988

    McGurn1988 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    17
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Have you gotten the Geil Ram? I heard the Heat shields on that ram are huge and it won't ever fit in the notebook....I Think
     
    McGurn1988, Jul 29, 2007
    #11
  12. sinfolmatt

    sinfolmatt Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    16
    is it possible at some later time that the vostro can be upgraded to x64 or basically I will need a new computer when I want to get to that level. I dont think I will ever need it but just curious
     
    sinfolmatt, Jul 29, 2007
    #12
  13. DoubleBlack

    DoubleBlack Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    70
    Messages:
    1,086
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    They fit in my 1420...

    x64 isn't the kind of computer, it's the OS installed - you can install any x64 OS you would like ;)
     
    DoubleBlack, Jul 29, 2007
    #13
  14. sinfolmatt

    sinfolmatt Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    16
    awesome thanks
     
    sinfolmatt, Jul 29, 2007
    #14
  15. zfactor

    zfactor Mastershake

    Reputations:
    2,894
    Messages:
    11,134
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    455
    where??? cheapest i can find anywhere is at least 200$ plus shipping..also i can get geil or patriot for the same price what would you take out of those?? geil has the heat spreaders patriot does not...
     
    zfactor, Jul 30, 2007
    #15
  16. DoubleBlack

    DoubleBlack Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    70
    Messages:
    1,086
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    You used to be able to get Patriot for like $175 or something like that from Fry's, but I don't think you can anymore...I got the GeIL from NewEgg for $200 about a month ago. I'd just like to point out to anyone else who buys it, again this is for the 1420, at first it looks like they don't fit...but if you put it in like you normally do, you'll have trouble getting it to snap - don't be scared, and just push down and it'll snap ;)
     
    DoubleBlack, Jul 30, 2007
    #16