Dell Inspiron 1520: Viable After Market Upgrades

[Mihael Keehl]

Originally Posted by zulashraf

Oh thanks a lot! I got your PM, but can't seem to reply.

I was wondering, how much is the current price in the US for a new Intel C2D T9500 or a Intel C2E X9000?

Last I checked the X9000 was running somewhere between $200-$225 USD unused/new and $165-$185 USD used.

The T9500 is somewhere around $120-$125 USD used and $208 USD for unused/new.

[bracktheballer]

Thanks for the help miheal. Whats Intel Flex Mode?

[bracktheballer]

so can I buy this ram combo?

Newegg.com - Crucial 4GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Laptop Memory Model CT51264AC800

With

Newegg.com - Crucial 2GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Laptop Memory Model CT25664AC800

[Mihael Keehl]

Yeah, I've heard you can use the PC2-6400 ones as well but I haven't tested them out, I've only used PC2-5300. As the PC2-6400 speeds (800 MHz) would probably be downclocked to the speeds of the PC2-5300 (667 MHz).

As for matching which brands, I have had great performance with the following memory:

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Laptop Memory Model F2-5300CL5S-4GBSQ

w/

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Laptop Memory Model F2-5300CL5S-2GBSQ

And to answer your earlier question about Intel Flex Mode: Certain Intel chipsets support different capacity chips in what they call Flex Mode: the capacity that can be matched is run in dual-channel, while the remainder runs in single-channel. For instance, in our cases, 2GB is the maximum that can be supported to run in dual channel with either slot (as one of the slots would have to be limited to 2GB, thus the slot with the 4GB would be split into 2GB, one running with the other slot in Dual Channel and the remaining 2GB runs in single channel).

[ScottyBoy]

Mihael, quick question for you - would a lot of the hardware you have listed be compatible with a Dell Vostro 1700? Cheers :-)

EDIT: Ooops, missed out your section stating that most of it would be compatible in your initial post - apologies I'm going blind in my old age! lol

[bracktheballer]

Thanks for the help! Sorry another question :/ so if I use one 4gb module and 2gb module, would i be running at 6gb ram speeds or 4gb speeds? Right now I have just 2gb (1gbX1gb). Would I notice a difference?

[Mihael Keehl]

Originally Posted by ScottyBoy

Mihael, quick question for you - would a lot of the hardware you have listed be compatible with a Dell Vostro 1700? Cheers :-)

EDIT: Ooops, missed out your section stating that most of it would be compatible in your initial post - apologies I'm going blind in my old age! lol

I have heard that the 6GB can only be used on the Inspiron 1520/1720 models, most people have stated that Vostro 1500/1700 models don't really work as well.

Originally Posted by bracktheballer

Thanks for the help! Sorry another question :/ so if I use one 4gb module and 2gb module, would i be running at 6gb ram speeds or 4gb speeds? Right now I have just 2gb (1gbX1gb). Would I notice a difference?

The maximum speeds that it would support are 667 MHz, this is because of a motherboard limit not something placed upon RAM. If you buy the faster RAM, it'll just downclock to 667 MHz. At least that's what I was told.

[bracktheballer]

Ok so heres the deal:

I want to upgrade my dell inspiron 1520 but I dont know what to upgrade first. Should I upgrade my CPU and Graphics card or should I upgrade my RAM and graphics card. The main thing I want is a higher windows rating and speed. My CPU is an Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 and my Graphics card is an nvidia geforce 8400m GS. My ram is 1GBx1GB. So that being said, what is your guys advice on what I should do? I'll link you with the products I was looking at.

Graphics card

CPU

RAM

[Mihael Keehl]

Originally Posted by bracktheballer

Ok so heres the deal:

I want to upgrade my dell inspiron 1520 but I dont know what to upgrade first. Should I upgrade my CPU and Graphics card or should I upgrade my RAM and graphics card. The main thing I want is a higher windows rating and speed. My CPU is an Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 and my Graphics card is an nvidia geforce 8400m GS. My ram is 1GBx1GB. So that being said, what is your guys advice on what I should do? I'll link you with the products I was looking at.

Graphics card

CPU

RAM

Perfect, that's exactly the things I would do. However, I would recommend using 4GB Stick w/2GB Stick to yield better results. Don't buy (2) 4GB sticks, as it will not work.

Also, you'd save a few bucks buying this 4GB one

[Netherwind]

Is it possible you could reup the w7 x64 driver package as megaupload no worky no more?

And should a T8100 be enough to run 1080p video w/o MPC-HC? The T5250 I have right now lags really bad on 1080p