New RAM

[rumples riot]

Well, decided today that I would go down to the local Hardly Normal store and purchase some more ram for my laptop.

Checked manual and yes it can support modules 256, 512 and 1024 independently and up to a combination of 2gig. Purchase a 1024 module, I already had two modules of 256 = 512. I thought I would simply remove one module and have 1280 of ram.

Got home, took all necessary precautions, static etc. removed one module and installed new module. Computer will not boot. Right try just new module on it's own and same thing. Change 256 module and replace with other, same thing. Hmmm, something is astray. Try every possible combination of ram or ram without. Put back in previous modules and computer boots.

Drive down to store again, and suggest that their module needs to go to the recycle bin. They say it might be your computer will not take the module. After a bit of investigation, we find out that the aformentioned computer while being touted as taking 2gig worth of ram will in fact not go any higher than 1gig of ram with it being able to take a max of two modules of 512. Now I am very unhappy, and apologies to store attendants. They replace modules with two that will fit each bay and only now have 1024 ram. Better than before, but not what I wanted.

So now I will be ringing Dell to inform them that they are conducting misleading and deceptive conduct with selling machines that are supposed to be ungraded to 2gig of ram and infact they can only be upgraded to 1gig.

Besides that they have sold me a machine with a 5400rpm drive in it when I specifically asked for a 7200 drive. Goes to show, check everything.

Not happy Jan.


Paul :mad2:

[vindictive666]

id have em for breakfast paul :)

[rumples riot]

Hmm, I think that I will, just have to serve it up right.

[h0ughy]

before you do, check to see if they have a bios upgrade for the mainboard, it may be supported in the bios update! what is the exact model number Paul

[h0ughy]

laptops do not have 7200 rpm drives, the current highest is 5400, they used to be 4200

[rumples riot]

Houghy, it is a 8600 inspiron with mobile centrino chip. I knew they did not have the drive, but they said that they would put it in after I asked and then they took extra money for it. Thats why I am mad. Besides the manual says for my 8600 that it will take ram up to 2gig. There manual is incorrect. They are misleading the public.

[acropolite]

That, and the fact that proprietry companies screw their customers for any proprietry spares, is the reason I always use clone P.C.'s

[rumples riot]

My desktop is a clone that I have built myself. It is the 6th that I have built, but I needed a laptop and I did not want to get completely stung so I got a Dell. I will talk to them and see what they have to say.

[asimov]

I smell toast burning!

[DRCORTEX]

It could in fact take the 2Gb - perhaps the clock speed on the memory was incompatible, especially with notebooks. Not such an issue with a desktop, as it will downclock to the lowest common speed. Perhaps it wasn't the memory, but that your bus simply couldn't handle the clock speed.

Dell arn't that bad - they have at least broken people away from having to buy from the large department stores, Harvey Moron included ( in your case tho, they did give you good after sales service ). Its' a little like the Andrews/Bintel argument.

Rest assured, soon notebooks will fall into the generic taiwanese mould as well. In fact, swapping/upgradeing on a notebook is actually easier ( excepting the mini-mobo ). snap/click, and you have swapped a HD/DVD-ROM, etc.

Regards,

Lance

[Striker]

Go get them Paul....

I gig or ram will be enough..you probably wont see any performance increase with 2 gig anyway.

[DRCORTEX]

Actually, he probably would, but hardly worth the upgrade from 1 to 2 Gb.


It would save use of the pagefile, and programs would be "hot" swappable. So, no need to cache programs back to HD. It would really depend on exactly how much he was running, and the momory sizes. Worst thing is all these programs like Quicktime, Real Media, Video Card Software, that load as resident.

I get cheesed off when the pagefile activates when I hit a ALT/TAB because I don't have enough memory.

Regards,

Lance

[fringe_dweller]

I was sure the latest top of the range dell laptops had 7200 drives - my mate just bought one and was excited by that fact amongst others :confuse3: -including the inbuilt sub woofer hehe

[h0ughy]

I stand corrected they do make 7200 rpm drives.. humble pie

the memory slots may only support single sided ram too Paul, if what you got was double sided you would only see the memory on that side. that is a trap for a lot of people

[rumples riot]

Lance, while I understand what you are driving at. The clock speed of the RAM is exactly that which is specified in the Manual. ie PC2700 running at 333mhz. All the RAM was exactly the same maunfacturer and smae clockspeed. We even tried placing the 1 Gig in on its own. The techs check the Bios and it just would not register. They said that this does happen more often than not.

Anyway, that aside I have noted a huge increase in speed, I have done upgrades many times in the past and am often surprised to see the speed increase. I remember my old 486 and how sluggish that was. In fact by todays standards the 486 would not even boot with the system requirements that I have at present.

Still, the fact that they said they would put in a 7200 when I bought it and they did not, is going to land them in some hot water. And the fact that in this case anything over 1 gig of RAM does not seem to work. Bios reflash aside. I should not have to do that sort of thing especially, when the unit is sold as a total plug and play unit. Even the manual says all is need are "these five simple instructions". Plain and simple misleading and deceptive conduct.

Thanks all for the responses.

[rumples riot]

No Houghy, I had double sided in there to begin with.

[h0ughy]

fair enough. go get 'em!

[gbeal]

Don't call him "CRazy" fer nuthin'.

[DRCORTEX]

Welp, yeh, how much satisfaction you will get from Dell - who knows. Considering the cost/upgrade of notebooks now - if you can get some compensation - you are breaking even ;) It is in there best interests to help you ( word of mouth, etc )

Unfortunately, I get the impression that cost has gone down, service has gone down, and in the end, who gives a damn what else gone down, as long as its cheap. be that for PC parts, or anything else.

I had exactly the same kind of arguement with a supplier re a part. I threatened to take them to the ACCC, there response was, "they are there to protect me , just as much as protect you, and I sell a lot more than you buy".

Wow! ( and they are right )

Regards,

Lance

[lost_in_space]

IIRC, (which I usually don't) the ACCC is not there to represent the business or the consumer. They exist to ensure the Trade Practices Act is adhered to. In this case it has not been (IANAL). From my point of view as an ex computer retailer with ethics, (yeah, I know, trust me I sell computers) Dell are in the wrong here on many points and a complaint to the ACCC is warranted if they do not cooperate with you.

If you do pursue this, and you should, present as much evidence as you can as to Dell where they are in breach of the act. Your first port of call is http://accc.gov.au and learn all you can about your rights, then head to http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/703863/fromItemId/3653 dope yourself up with caffeine and read, learn and inwardly digest what the act is all about. Also check out your State govt web site to find out more about your "local" rights.

I don't know the rules in your State, but here in Tassie the consumer has a choice of 3r's... repair, replace or refund, and it is the CONSUMERS choice, not the retailers. Interstate mail orders and online sales complicate this a bit, but nothing trumps consumer rights.

Too many megacorps trample all over consumers, relying on ignorance of the law and stonewalling to achieve their goals.