Crucial 256mb for dell inspiron 8100 at 53.99

[kyudrew]

I went to crucial site to find how steep the recent price hike on notebook memory I am thinking to buy. I found only
256mb for Dell Inspiron 8100 is $53.99 (still expensive compared to the price a few month ago), whereas 256mb for
dell inspiron 4100 is $76.49. I think both memory are 144pin, pc133, CL2 module, but don't know the big price difference.

Does anyone buy crucial memory and put into inspiron 8100? Any comment on it? Is crucial memory the best option for memory
upgrade (compared with infenion, samsung, or kingston)? Is the crucial memory the only CL2?

 

[the FooL]

I bought 2 of the 256MB Crucial stick as a gift for my best friend.
Worked without a problem...

in fact, I installed it while he was taking a shower and it turned into a joke between
his girlfriend and I, since he didn't even notice it.
Even after complaining about how it would be faster if we got him more memory.
(from 256 to 512).

 

[JuanDoe]

Hey thanks,
I was just lookin for some memory for my 4100.

 

[Tokar]

you dont NEED to buy crucial RAM first off...crucial is expensive most of the time, in comparison to computer shows to online resellers...and at PC133, you will see no performance difference between generic brand...at least I dont...

i get sick of seeing crucial make it so there is SPECIFIC RAM for a model computer...all models accept A TYPE OF RAM, whether it be EDO, SD, DDR SD, FC DDR, or RD, etc, etc...i dont see the need to make the site designed such that you choose your computer and you get RAM specific to it, unless the site is designed with idiot users in mind...

 

[dethman]

<< you dont NEED to buy crucial RAM first off...crucial is expensive most of the time, in comparison to computer shows to online resellers...and at PC133, you will see no performance difference between generic brand...at least I dont...

i get sick of seeing crucial make it so there is SPECIFIC RAM for a model computer...all models accept A TYPE OF RAM, whether it be EDO, SD, DDR SD, FC DDR, or RD, etc, etc...i dont see the need to make the site designed such that you choose your computer and you get RAM specific to it, unless the site is designed with idiot users in mind... >>



crucial is a very friendly retailer with extremely competetive prices and usually free 2nd day shipping. i just picked up 128MB SODIMM for only 23 dollars shipped five days ago!! their customer service is awesome and their ram chips were extremely overclockable in the day when that was actually worthwhile. they actually stand behind their products. i'd rather buy from them than any two bit computer show dealer or online reseller who would rip me off for $10 shipping in a heartbeat.

 

[Tokar]

well
ok fine...i can agree on the tech support and the reliability factor...etc etc etc as you said...i agree with you totally...you dont get the kinda support crucial gives at a computer show or such...
But im no overclocker, and i really dont care if i have ram that is "good" for overclocking...because im not an overclocked as i stated...

Nor do i care if i have ram thats "bad" for overclocking...personally i think all RAM was designed to run at the speed it was made for, nothing faster...when ram can be overclocked WELL it tells me that the ram, which was designed for the speed designated, is just manufactored slightly differently to handle overclocking better

Now if brand X ram from a computer show (or an internet reseller) is $20-$30 less than crucial, then im more likely to get it because im not an overclocker and i have every intention for using it at the speed it was designed for.

Lets assume im an OC'r and i buy this brand X RAM from the computer show with the intention of overclocking it...assuming it was designed for, lets give a number, 133 MHz, it is not guaranteed to run well at over 133...so i shouldnt be expecting the best of all possible worlds when overclocking...which is with ALL RAM and other products such as CPU's and GPU's etc...

With CPU's i mean like its different, you either buy AMD or Intel...there isnt a thin like with RAM and graphics cards where there are tons of different makers making the next brand different from the next...

But with the CPU, the certain CPU you get ISNT guaranteed to run at a clockspeed that others have acheived...What im saying is, lets say someguy out in city XYZ in country ABC buys an AMD 1700+ and somehow manages to get the clockspeed up to over 2.0 GHz, his SPECIFIC chip got that. And lets say another guy in city MNO in country DEF can get his to 2.0 GHz, or at least tries b/c he heard from the guy in ABC, XYZ that it can get to 2.0 GHz, but is unsuccessful b/c its unstable. each chip is slightly different from the next: the same with RAM...one thing is certain with these two users, both of them will always be able to maintain 1.47GHz...what im saying is that these chips were designed to RUN at 1.47GHz, nothing higher, but of course YOU CAN go higher by overclocking...being that one chip is different from the next, one chip may better support the higher speeds...

All RAM is the same in how it comes...256MB is usually 32x8 and the list can go on from there with other sizes of RAM...now that one chip differs from the next chip thing applies here in that brand X designs their own RAM while crucial designs their own...both are able to be used by SDR motherboards, but crucial chips were designed to better support overclocking...but both is certain about both pieces of RAM, they will both SUCCESSFULLY run at 133 MHz...

Again, being that im not an overclocker, im not looking to see which piece will better overclock, im looking where i can save some $$$...

And being that most of consumer america isnt overclocking, they are looking to save the $$$ not trying to figure out which piece will serve better in overclocking...



Please do not take this post the wrong way...not trying to be the bad guy anywhere...just expressing my thoughts...

 

[Gmetech]

<<
Again, being that im not an overclocker, im not looking to see which piece will better overclock, im looking where i can save some $$$...

And being that most of consumer america isnt overclocking, they are looking to save the $$$ not trying to figure out which piece will serve better in overclocking... >>

I don't run Crucial or Mushkin memory.. so I have no say one way or another about either, but I'd like to point out that you are talking about most of consumer America not needing or caring about the extra capabilities of these brands, but you are doing so in a forum on a site that is frequented by many, many people who are not typical of consumer America.

 

[Tokar]

<< you are doing so in a forum on a site that is frequented by many, many people who are not typical of consumer America. >>



hahahaha...very true...

not everyone in the forum is an OC'r, then on the other hand not everyone is the typical consumer (the non-overclocker)...

For the typical consumer, i would have to say that my opinions should be considered, being that they are coming from someone who would be characterized as typical of consumer america in that im out to save $$$ and im not an OC'r...

Still...all RAM is more or less the same, and buying one brand from the next SHOULD OC as one would plan...but as i had stated earlier, nothing i guaranteed with this stuff, not even CRUCIAL RAM, because all RAM was designed to run at the speed it was designed at... (PC133 - 133MHz, PC100 - 100MHz, PC2100 - 266MHz, PC1600 - 200MHz, etc etc)

Nothing is guaranteed unless stated...

But im not here to make up peoples minds, only to help consider other options... thats what this forum is all about, helping others... and id have to say giving someone the knowledge that there is more than one option, which will save them some $$$ is helping...

 

[Outfits]

Tokar, I wasn't going to post after reading your first reply but now that you've opened your mouth again and removed all doubt here goes.
All ram is not created equal the pcb is as important as the chips. I have a Kingston dimm that is fine by itself but will not co-reside with any other dimm I've tried: a generic Micron, a Crucial, and a Seimens. Since last summer when prices were rock bottom I've seen handfulls of generic stuff fail either DOA or within 2 weeks.
Your analogy cpu's/ram is laughable, 2 makers vs hundreds. As for their ram selector chart, most people can read the model # from their box and match it but less than 5 out of 100 that come in to the shop can tell me what series and speed their cpu is. On thursday a gal brought in a pc133 dimm to install(she bought it elsewhere), I had to tell her I couldn't manage to pound it into a simm slot.
And wtf is FC DDR?


<< personally i think all RAM was designed to run at the speed it was made for, nothing faster >>




<< but crucial chips were designed to better support overclocking. >>


Do you even read over what you've written?
I don't want to be the bad guy here either, but I feel you are doing a disservice to other menbers who are not that tech savy and take your opinion as reliable info.
Crucial may not be the best but its in the top three. Warranty and support are sometimes worth their weight in gold. If you didnt buy some in the last 2 months unfortunately you are going to pay quite a bit more, and thats why this thread may save some $ for those that want Crucial.
Oh and just expressing my thoughts.

 

[Tokar]

how can you REPLY WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT FCRAM IS?

hehe...only kidding...

FCRAM is DDRRAM first developed by Toshiba/Fujitsu as a joint project...clocked at 333 MHz...

That is the DDR RAM that we know as PC2700...

YOu can read the article at toshiba's website if you have any interest...

Im not saying they SHOULD take my opinion...but rather consider it...

For someone to say...uh Crucial is the ONLY RAM worthy for my computer...is wrong...

I mean almost every overclocker here is gonna tell a user when they ask about RAM that they should go Crucial, but they never say "maybe you should look at buying from a reseller or goto computer show to save $$$" because of support...and its guarantee of working...

Its always, go crucial...yes they have unmatched support and warranty...but one piece of RAM is as reliable as the next from my experience...Ive purchased PNY RAM...runs darn fine...purchased this no namer brand from a computer show Satellite or something, runs DARN fine...then my supervisor where i worked over summer ordered all these sticks of generic EDORAM for the 386's running for old games purposes...everyone except for the defunct sticks worked...(basically the guy who sent them from ebay just said "a whole BAG of sticks"...that doesnt necessarily mean they will all work...)...
now i gots some transcend data ram...works AOK...now if i were an overclocker i could say otherwise...but im not...and running fine, providing me with a service i didnt once have (more RAM) is what i need, and what most ordinary people need.

As i said, nothing is guaranteed unless stated...and in the case of the Kingston ram u got, one can only assume it will work with the RAM one already owns...im sure you did as well, NOT THAT ITS A BAD THING...i would have assumed that too in your case...Me, i would think kingston should work with any RAM...kingston is a name brand in my book, but nothing is guaranteed...

 

[JmsAndrsn]

<< Does anyone buy crucial memory and put into inspiron 8100? Any comment on it? Is crucial memory the best option for memory
upgrade (compared with infenion, samsung, or kingston)? Is the crucial memory the only CL2? >>



I added an extra 128mb SODIMM from Crucial into an Inspiron 8100. Works great. Actually, the other 128mb SODIMM that came with the system from DELL, lookeded pretty much identical(PCB and chips) to the Crucial stick. I have a feeling that DELL probably uses Crucial themselves as their OEM supplier(or at least one of thier suppliers).

 

[maximumbob]

Dell branded memory uses micron part numbers. Check at the Micron site.

 

[SOHCC]

My Inspiron 4100 is on the way. I need to buy 2 sticks of 256MB PC133 SoDIMM from Crucial. Any details on the difference ?

 

[mechBgon]

Tokar, you probably spent $10 worth of your time typing all that! Personally, I'll pay the extra for Crucial for my own systems. Saving $10 or $20 up front isn't worth having a 36-hour animation/render session crash on me (or having my best-ever game of UT lock up, either! ). Know what I mean?

As for the question of the two memory modules, kyudrew, they have different part numbers, and surprisingly, the less-expensive one is CL2 (theoretically better than the other, which is CL3). There are some systems that have unusual memory requirements, however. Any Dell techs around here?

 

[Tokar]

i know exactly what you mean (i played UT online so much that i was just lightyears better than the godlike bots)...but i have yet to experience a lockup with ANY RAM i have bought...

 

[Yo2]

Crucial carries CAS2 and CAS3 PC 133 SODIMMs make sure you get the CAS2 version, and replace all SODIMMs in your 8100- since the original Dell memory is CAS 3. Using only CAS2 improves memory scores by quite a bit (I got them from 350 to 425MB/s), which translates into a 1 hour improvement for SETI (5:15 instead of 6:15), and overall faster response.

I agree that Crucial is a first rate shop that stands behind their product and they are reasonable with shipping and quite often it's free.

Yo

 

[commOdog]

Just a HEADS UP for Inspiron 8000 owners.
I had major problems with 512mb of Crucial ram and the 32mb Geforce2Go video card in my laptop. It would shutdown from too high current draw by the memory and videocard.

Long story short, I had to buy Infineon Branded Chips to get my laptop to quit shutting down randomly at 512mb of ram.

Its well documented in the Dell Inspiron Forums on dells site, and it seemed to be an issue with the first 2 versions (A01, A02)of their Motherboards on the I8K. Needless to say I think they fixed it now on all new Motherboards, but Dell branded ram didnt do it, it was only the crucial branded stuff. Just a slight compatabilty problem is all.

Crucial is very good about returns so I was able to return it no questions asked.

 

[aniki]

seems like its $76 now

 

[xyyz]

you rule!!!! I need some really bad for my 8000... two days ago this stuff was like $80+ and now it's back to $53.

I've picked up two.

great find.

 

[AU Tiger]

The recommended memory for my Vaio is 144 pin SODIMM SDRAM, PC100, CL=2, Non-Parity. The memory for the Inspiron 8100 seems to be the same except it is PC133 and it is also $9 cheaper per stick. I would think that I should be able to run the Inspiron memory in my VAIO and save $18 on 512MB. Is this correct or is there something that prevents me from using PC133 in my VAIO? Thanks.

 

[gdana]

I was unimpressed with my experience with Crucial when upgrading my 8100 (which I sent back because of the shoddy case construction). They sent me RAM that they knew would not work in my 8100. The RAM they sent me had 16 chips on it and was known and documented through the Dell forums to be incompatible with the 8100. After trying unsuccessfully to upgrade using the RAM, I did my research and found this out. I called them and they sent me the correct RAM (which has 8 chips on it) and it worked beautifully. Also, when I said I wanted to return the RAM because I was returning the 8100, they said they had to charge a 20 percent restocking fee. So I still have the RAM, which I hope to use in an upgrade of a near-future purchase of a new 4100 or Compaq.

 

[explrsport]

hey gdana, what was the problem with your 8100? I'm about to order one, and would like to know of any problems.

 

[gdana]

hey gdana, what was the problem with your 8100? I'm about to order one, and would like to know of any problems

I have the most un-imaginative of user names

There was really nothing "wrong" with my 8100. I hated the screen, even though it had a gorgeous resolution. It was difficult to get a good angle at which to view the whole thing, and it is very bright, almost too bright. Also, I had 3 dead pixels, but that wasn't such a big deal. The major problem was with the case: it is very plasticy, very flexible, and very cheap. I'm really not that picky about such things, but was alarmed at how much the case flexed and how much it wobbled when I set it on a flat surface. As fast as the machine was and as much performance as it had and as cheap as it was, I knew it would just bug the hell out of me everytime I used the computer and saw how cheap the housing was. So I sent the machine back, but kept the RAM

I'm hoping that the 4100 is not as bad, case-wise; because I really do like Dell and the machine really was damn fast.

 

[explrsport]

My friend just got a 4100, and I don't notice any of the problems you speak of. However, if my 8100 is like that, back it goes.

Oh, you should enable private messages in your profile.

 

[Kris]

8100's creak and flex and bend, it is most disconcerting. For example, if I lift the front left corner with the screen open in normal operating position, the left corner will come off the table nearly .5 inch before the right corner leaves the table.
This has not impacted it's functionality as far as I can tell, but it does cause me enough concern that I don't take it anywhere. The power/$ is tough to beat, or was when I got it in October. If you don't move it alot it's fine. But what good is a laptop that you leave stationary? Also, the touchpad mouse buttons are large enough that I hit them with my palms while typing, repositioning the cursor. The bright display comment was on-target also. It's fine during the day. I don't want to complain too much, it does it's job, but if I could change things I certainly would.

Sorry this is not a ram experience, but it seemed there were a few reading this post curious about the 8100 overall.