Dell Dimension L Memory Advice Needed

[trudi]

Stupid question but here goes - Is there a difference between PC133 memory?

Reason being, my aunt brought me her Dimension L, she wants her OS and memory upgraded tomorrow. If I would have had warning the computer was coming with I would have ordered it from Crucial but she is here and it needs to be done now (she lives a few states over - yes she brought her whole computer on a train with her).

So I went to Crucial and it gave me three choices for a 256 MB
SDRAM, PC133 ? CL=3 ? Non-parity ?
SDRAM, PC100 ? CL=2 ? Non-parity ?
SDRAM, PC133 ? CL=2 ? Non-parity ?

So I have two questions -

1. Can I pick up "Dell compatible memory" at Office Depot or Micro Center? Is there such a thing as "Dell Compatible Memory" beyond some random BS to scare the average Dell customer into paying them $140 for the same thing you could pick up MUCH cheaper elsewhere? Is PC133 all that makes it "compatible"? Like I said I bought memory for my MB based on Crucial's selector and my parents Dell memory from there as well.

2. If I wanted to could I pop one of mine out of computer and put it in theirs? I don't want to mess up their computer so I have to be as careful as possible, but its $100 for 256 at Office Max and $67 at Crucial, I can order myself another one and wait a couple days for it. I don't remember which one it is but probably one of the following from Crucial.
SDRAM, PC133 ? CL=3 ? Unbuffered ? Non-parity ? 7.5ns ? 3.3V ? 32Meg x 64
SDRAM, PC133 ? CL=2 ? Unbuffered ? Non-parity ? 7.5ns ? 3.3V ? 32Meg x 64
SDRAM, PC133 ? CL=3 ? Unbuffered ? ECC ? 7.5ns ? 3.3V ? 32Meg x 72

I'm going to check for sure but is all of those other numbers immaterial for a Dell? Thanks!

 

[Bug]

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to simply take a pc133 stick of ram out of your rig and put it in hers. Even if the sticks are running at different CAS speeds, you shouldn't be able to see a difference unless you benchmarked the sticks. If it doesn't work, it won't recognize the ram and will not count it during POST. If you're really concerned, backup the data before doing anything.

Uh, you may also want to ask your relatives not to bring their computers with them while traveling. Things can get stolen that way or damaged...

 

[Bug]

And if you do wind up ordering from Crucial, go thru the Hot Deals forum to get an extra 5% off the 10% you already get by ordering online, and don't forget Ebates.