CAPTAIN SLINKY SLINKALERT GOING OUT TO ALL ACTIVE SLINKATEERS

[captain_slinky]

HELP! I want to upgrade my brother's memory on The Dell Laptop You See Listed At This Link, but I have no idea which one to buy! It's gonna come with 1.0GB, DDR2-533 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS (probably 2 512MB sticks), I'd like to upgrade him to 2GB. Unfortunatley, that's all I've got... "1.0GB, DDR2-533 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS". If anybody can help out their beloved Cap'n here by showing me the lowest-priced way of doing this, I'd be much abliged!

Comments

[collisions.livejournal.com]

I can't see the laptop (that link takes me to a register page - clearly I don't have whatever cookie or token is associated with the quote).

If he hasn't bought it yet, just get Dell to upgrade the memory. That will no doubt be the least cost if cost includes heartache, effort, phone support, etc. If he has, since it's a laptop, go to Kingston--Kingston.com, go to Branded (http://www.kingston.com/branded/default.asp) then search by manufacturer, model number, etc. When they give you a part number for their memory, plug that into froogle or something, and buy.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... weird about the link. It's just at http://www.dell.com/snapon where he has his choice of two different computers. Only difference I could find in the two was tht one has a larger screen, then they both have all the same upgrades available.

Thing is, they're charging $140 for the upgrade when I *know* I can get the memory cheaper and then just pop it in myself, right? Is it really any more difficult to upgrade memory in a Laptop than it is to do it in a PC? 'Cuz I can do it in a PC... mostly...

[collisions.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think it's worth $130 (see below about needing to get the 1GB stick version rather than the 2x512MB sticks version) to get $100 of memory stuck in the thing. First of all, you're getting a known-good and tested configuration - they stick it in at the factory and give it to you warranting that it all works together. Second, you don't have to screw around with 2 vendors, each of whom will point the finger at the other if something goes wonky (memory doesn't work, it seems to work but you get lots of system errors after the install, etc.--all of which are not uncommon when you try to match up 3rd party memory to a new system). Third, you may invalidate the warranty if you buy third party memory and/or install it yourself--Dell used to be horrible for that in the desktop space, and although they improved, vendors tend to be more of a bother about laptops.

Aaaanyway, I think you are not saving him much money. Even if you charged him exactly what Dell would to do the job, you wouldn't make enough after shipping to make up for the risk of nonsense. And if you don't charge him anything, you're taking on risk you don't need.

That's just my input after having done what you are proposing for random clients for years. Dicking around with upgrades for new gear (as opposed to buying it upgraded) is hardly ever worth it.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmmmm... excellent opinion. I think that's the way I'll go. This way I won't be the one who rok Butchie' new laptop! Thanks!

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Hm. Link goes to a page that wants you to log in.

Although, for DDR2-533 ram, 1 gig sticks appear to go for around $100 each - at least at newegg. You may want to check & see (or post a link that doesn't require a login... pleeze?) whether it IS 2 - 512 sticks in there, 'cause if its one 1-gig stick you're golden. Also, need to see what the max capacity of the motherboard is, just in case.

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

er...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Category=17&N=2010170381+1309221133+1309121113&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=381

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Actual computers he has to choose from are at http://www.dell.com/snapon

Only difference between the two models (as far as I have seen) is that on has a larger screen.

I don't want to have Dell make him pay $140 for an extra gig of ram when I can easily do it for him for $100, ya know what I'm sayin'?

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Get the one that's the extra $9.30 - the ddr2-667? Not because of any kind of techno-snobbery but because its 1 stick of 1 gig memory. Thus, when you go & spring for the 2nd stick (which, newegg has sitting around $99 per ALSO) you just snap it in.

Whereas, if you go with the 2 512 sticks of ddr533, you have to spend $200 to go to 2 gigs 'cause you'll have to pull out both 512's to make room. Which, you may not be able to recoup enough to make it worth it EVEN THOUGH you are a naughty vampire ebay god.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Okay, good advice... but WHICH ONE on NewEgg.com and I going to want to buy? The specs for the laptop say nothing of how many pins!

[nani-ka.livejournal.com]

Fortunately for people like me... and you, I guess, all the ddr2-667 is 200 pin. No need to worry about that crap, 'cause its all one standard unlike PC memory...

[teegin.livejournal.com]

Looking for best price for memory? The places to look would be:

www.newegg.com (as Nani mentioned)
Fry's (in renton or at www.outpost.com)
compUSA
Walmart
Froogle (through google’s website)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I would avoid: (due to price too high)
radio shack
best buy
ebay (good idea to look but be wary of used)


Which ever way you go do your price shopping and make sure the RAM is the correct kind and return policy of where you buy it (this last part is really important). Cheapest and best place to get it if you don't buy it online in my opinion would be Fry's down in Renton. That way you can see exactly what you’re buying, there is support staff to help you in your decision, usually their prices are comparable to newegg's when you factor in shipping costs, and they have an excellent return policy.

[teegin.livejournal.com]

Oh I forgot. It would also be a good idea to bide your time right now with thanksgiving day after shopping spree and pre/post x-mas sales coming up shortly keep the ol' eyes peeled for sales. Personal I would avoid the mail in rebate BS.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, i will be installing this memory ONE Thanksgiving day :(

[collisions.livejournal.com]

Hey! Why don't yall allow non-customers to do the self-install process? Why do I have to pay some guy $50 to come out and install stuff just because I'm not a cable customer? Do you figure anyone who does not have cable by now is either stupid or a Luddite, so they are unqualified to install and configure a network card?

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Nope! We charge you $50 because your cable lines are innactive and we'll need someone to actually climb the pole and activate your cable line for you. If you had cable television, there would already be some "juice" going through the line and you could use one of our Self Install Kits.

Actually, did you already sign up? Because I might be able to get you a better deal by signing you up for one month of the $15 Cable Television and then letting you do the Self Install whenever you're ready!

Either way, we should talk.