Dell XPS 400

[ajr160]

I have a Dell XPS 400 and just purchased the Dominator 4GB, 2x2GB DDR2 for my system. I was advised to purchase this product and was told that it would be compatible. After reading some of the posts in this forum, I am no longer certain that I received accurate information. Was I misguided, or will this work with my system? Also, it appears that the plug for the fan is too big for the fan connection in my machine. If this product will work with my computer, would I be able to find an adapter for this plug and if so, where can I get it?

[DerekT]

Please post the actual DRAM you have. Post the model:

 

ie: Twin2X4096-8500C5 Version 1.2

 

As well, please post the exact specs of this Dell XPS 400 as there are many iterations of this product. I do, however, think that you would do well to stick with JEDEC approved DRAM and not the high end Dominators.

[RJLeong65]

I have a Dell XPS 400 and just purchased the Dominator 4GB, 2x2GB DDR2 for my system. I was advised to purchase this product and was told that it would be compatible. After reading some of the posts in this forum, I am no longer certain that I received accurate information. Was I misguided, or will this work with my system? Also, it appears that the plug for the fan is too big for the fan connection in my machine. If this product will work with my computer, would I be able to find an adapter for this plug and if so, where can I get it?

 

You were misguided, as far as the memory is concerned. I've seen a lot of resellers who know little, if anything, about memory compatibility; such resellers are only concerned with making a quick buck on their memory upgrades (compatibility be @#$%ed). Your Dell XPS 400 officially supports only up to DDR2-667 (PC2-5300) memory. And that system has no provision at all whatsoever to manually set anything, as far as the memory and processor is concerned (you're stuck on "auto-detect" permanently, and if any parameter doesn't match the JEDEC reference spec, your system will not even POST). The SPD in those Dominators likely have no programmed data at all for any officially supported DDR2 speed below DDR2-800/PC2-6400 speed, and they require either an EPP-equipped system or manual speed/timings/voltage settings in order for those modules to work at their tested speeds. And the Intel 945P chipset that the XPS 400 uses does not support any memory modules with a capacity of more than 512MB per bank (this means that you're limited to a maximum of 1GB per module - and the 1GB modules cannot be single-sided {or put it this way, they must be double-sided only} in order to work with your system). And with your system, if you want 4GB, you have no choice but to fill up all four memory slots with double-sided 1GB modules due to the limitations of the chipset's memory controller hub (MCH).

 

As such, here is the list of compatible modules for your XPS 400 system.

[Wired]

The only modules that are compatible are:

VS1GB533D2

VS1GB667D2

VS512MB667D2