Notebook Specs.. Possible modifications?

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by NO1, Oct 14, 2010.

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  1. NO1 I Am DARKNESS Registered Senior Member

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    I purchased another notebook.
    Its another Dell 15 ( I bought the last one on July )

    I have all the specs as I want them except the DIMM Memory.

    My current has a 2GB DIMM ( I want to upgrade to a 3GB. I want a 1GB card in slot A + 2GB card in slot B ) Making 3GB. 1+2GB

    This new notebook has 4GB DIMM ( I want to upgrade to a 5GB. I want a 1GB in slot A + 4GB card in slot B ) Making 5GB. 1+4GB

    Researching this custom modification, I found out that the notebooks ( having Dual-Shared DDR2 channels ) will only run as fast as the slowest producing DIMM slot. That would make the faster cards useless. However, I talked with a my Geeksquad tech friend and he told me it is possible to run them together if I open up and "flash" the BIOS of the Operating System. I cannot find anything on the web about configuring with an Odd number of GB memory. You guys have any suggestions? Operator at Dell warned me by doing such a modification would void the warranty. AND...It could be a waste of an additional ~$500 on purchasing the memory that will not work. Anybody know this for sure? or should I just stick with the 2+4 setup?

    Im trying to configure these notebooks by my birthday.

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    Last edited: Oct 14, 2010
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  3. fedr808 1100101 Valued Senior Member

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    Well the first mistake was getting a dell. Never by custom made anything as far as computers go, especially desktops.

    They literally f*** you out of your money and the reason why is because you (through no fault of your own) knows the actual value of your laptop. You think it's the value dell gave you, it's not, usually it is a good few hundred less, maybe even a thousand.

    Yours it is a small amount, maybe less than a hundred. But as advice for the future try to always build your own computer if it is a desktop. It is A TON easier than it looks, namely because a CPU only fits in a cpu slot, RAM can't fit in a PCie, etc... It's really easy.

    Laptops not so much.

    Now, what flashing your BIOS means is literally resetting/upgrading the BIOS

    the thing is that your BIOS is your fundamental operator for your computer. It says what speed your chips work at and guides the interaction between the programming and the hardware.

    If you mess up a flash that could cause serious, and I mean SERIOUS issues. If you mess it up badly which chances are you will (no offense, just because it seems you are new to the world of hardware and such and you are just now becoming interested in it) than the computer may be as good as dead. You see, the BIOS is literally the first thing that boots up when your computer does, your OS actually buts up later and if you screw up an OS setting it is fixable because the BIOS is booted up before the OS can cause an error.

    If you severely mess up a flash there is no way to fix it as far as I know. I've deconstructed, rebuilt, watercooled, and upgraded my own desktop PC, and I do not even dare to do a flash myself. Leave it to a pro to do the flash for you, and ask them how it will affect the RAM because personally I do not see the relationship.
     
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  5. adoucette Caca Occurs Valued Senior Member

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  7. James R Just this guy, you know? Staff Member

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    I just bought an HP Pavillion dv6-3079 last weekend. Haven't updated the computer for 6 years, so this is a welcome step up.

    Stats:

    Intel Core i7-720, 4 GB ram, 640 GB hard drive, Radeon HD5650 graphics (1 GB), Wireless, bluetooth, Windows 7 HP, makes coffee on demand, lots of bright pretty blinking lights and buttons I can push.

    Have spent quite some time trying to migrate all my software/data over to the new machine.
     
  8. NO1 I Am DARKNESS Registered Senior Member

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    269
    I know a little about where BIOS works before the OS.

    When you say "open" I think you are referring to the physical notebook. I was implying to "open" the program. Im under the idea that after I download the BIOS for these particular Dell versions I have to set the BIOS readings to be able to utilize the memory cards in the dual-shared mode. As I said, I have a friend who is a certified Microsoft Engineer/Consultant/whatever who may do this diagnostic.

    My concerns pertain to having my setup of an Odd number configuration, 5 & 3. Mass publications state CPU's perform maximally when matched as pairs.
     
  9. adoucette Caca Occurs Valued Senior Member

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    Perform maximally is a nice concept on a benchmark, but if you could actually tell the difference is an entirely different thing.

    My guess is you couldn't.

    Arthur
     
  10. NO1 I Am DARKNESS Registered Senior Member

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    269

    The upgrades are not large and will be significant since me wanting the setup with just the additional 1GB will boost the performance of my custom Win 7 theme which is what is slow.
     
  11. Sarkus Hippomonstrosesquippedalo phobe Valued Senior Member

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    Why spend so much (c$500???) on upgrading the memory??

    My advice - live with what you have - and next time get a machine with the spec you actually want up front.

    Also - upgrading from 4 to 5Gb even for W7 won't make too much difference.

    For the apparent cost (seriously - $500??) as well as the intangible cost of voiding the warranty - I would certainly say it is not worth it.
     
  12. NO1 I Am DARKNESS Registered Senior Member

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    I am satisfied with this model hence purchasing another.

    I vehemently addressed my desired specs with Dell advisors. They just dont sell what you want. One must shell out the extra $$$ to customize. And they will not do it for you. Also it is not as easy as adding 1GB to each CPU. Together both setups will need 3 chips. I can keep a 1GB and add a 2 for the 3GB. But for the 5GB, Ill have to swap both chips and resell, possibly eBay.

    The cost of a 1GB + 2GB is ~$85
    Dell Does have a single 4GB chip available in stock 6GB & 8GB standard models of this notebook in a DDR2 format. However not for sale anywhere. I dont know how much and when it will available, the telepsonder told me. Now, Im thinking I should have bought the 6GB and replaced the 2GB with a 1. But that did not have an integrated webcam.

    With those 6 & 8GB standard setups, I think they are using the 4GB + 2GB & 4GB + 4GB chips. That shows me using unmatched pairs can be interpreted by the BIOS. Still nothing of risking Odd pairs though.
     
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