My mom's computer needs a RAM upgrade. I'm finding it unusually difficult to find the specs for it online. I pulled a chip out, it appears to be PC3200 400mhz, 256K stick DDR SDRAM DIMM. She's got two of these installed for a total of 512K (never been upgraded).

I *think* it's upgradable to 4g (two sticks of 2GB) but it's hard to confirm since I can't find anything from Gateway. This is the first page I found which lists the max amount of RAM but it's not "official."
http://www.kahlon.com/rm610812_Gatew...DDR400%29.html

It's a Gateway 500XL she bought in 2003 with a 2.6G Intel 4 processor. From what I can tell, all it needs is a RAM boost, a new hard drive, and DVD drive (for her purposes).

From what I can tell from Googling, other RAM can work in it, such as pc2700 @ 333. So my question is, am I reasonably safe to stick with PC3200@400. I plan to upgrade her to a total of 2G of RAM.

It looks like this computer has two slots for DIMMs, or two slots for RIMMs, (which I have absolutely no experience with.) but I'm pretty sure I can only use one or the other. Is it possible I can go to 4gb with RIMMs but only 2 or 1gb with DIMMs, or some similar situation?

I'd like to get it done right the first time; she lives several hours from me.

To get the proper specs & to know for certain go to the SUPPORT page on the Gateway website & type in the model # of the pc. From there navigate to the manual or specs page & all the technical info should be there.

Gateway apparently has no information about the 500XL on their site. That's one of the first places I checked.

Other forms of support they offer:
That link leads me to a page not found.

I click on their Accessory store link, I get three options for models: Netbook, Notebook, Tablet.

Oho, when I click the "Answers by Gateway" link from their main SUPPORT page, the link is not as dead as when I click it from their CONTACT page.

Oh, but it looks very expensive to get Answers by Gateway. I love the irony, however, the answers are by third-party folks.

For as little as $19.99, I may get an answer to my question.

I've searched the knowledgebase for "500XL" and get no results returned.

Models listed do include the 500 series, but that series doesn't appear to include the 500XL, I gather that would fall under the XL series, as other series they have listed are SX, GM, LX, ZX, etc.

I did look at the manual when I was at my mothers, no indication of RAM type, or the MAX which can be installed. It mentioned the specs could be retrieved by using HelpSpot software installed on her computer, but I didn't see HelpSpot installed on her computer. I already know the type currently installed anyway from looking at the sticker on the chip already installed. I guess I don't know if it's ECC or Non-ECC buffered.

I did a quick search & that PC is a consumer grade unit so no it wouldn't take ECC Ram. As far as an upgrade to the RAM I read from one source that it will take a maximum of 1GB.

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While ram is cheep
Those OLD ram cards ARE NOT !!!
expect to pay $100+ for 1 gig for "new" old stock that is in storage on a shelf

used ??? who knows on price and quality

I've actually had pretty good luck with used RAM. Depending on return policy I don't mind going for used. No, I wouldn't pay $100 to upgrade RAM on this computer. She might not even use it after April; depends on if she's willing to try a Linux-based desktop when XP reaches EOL.

It occurred to me I might find the specs by searching for the motherboard specs. I didn't write that down when I had her computer opened, but I'm reasonably certain from sites which have reviewed it, it's a i865G Based Motherboard. And consistently I'm finding that board support 4GB of RAM in dual channel mode.

This fellow here says he's got 4GB of RAM on his Desktop setup.

http://computerhelpforums.net/thread...ng-else.32602/

From what I gather, there are many 500XL models with different CPUs. His is also a 2.6.

If I can't get something concrete before I work on her computer again, I'll take along a set of 1G and 2G from my desktops at home, and if they work in hers, replace them in mine.

On ebay, people are selling 2G of RAM for a Gateway 500XL w/ a 2.66Ghz cpu, so I've asked if they know if it'll work in the same model with a 2.60 cpu. If they sound confident it'll work and willing to let me try and guarantee they'll let me do a return if it doesn't work, that's a reasonable option for me.

There is a lot of Gateway '500 XL' models around.

I dont believe that yuo have a i865G chipset....sure, the link you provided has someone lse witha '500 XL' but look at the other parts speced, in particular 'Nivida 7600 AGP'. That is several generations on from the GF 4MX440.

I think this is probably the exact system you have, if not its very close-

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/gat...-20070836.html

845PE chipset with max RAM of 2GB. 533MHz FSB/DDR 333.

There is an outside chance that its an even earlier/low speced model with SDRAM and from what I've seen on at least one site, a 1.5GB limit.

http://www.buycomputermemory.com/mem...MemoryRAM.html

From the limited experience I've had with gateway systems, they arent as bad as some for not working without the 'correct' RAM (compaq is the worst for this in my expereince). But it could be a case of needing to play around with various brands of stick to find something that wil work....

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I don't know where you buy your hardware, but those prices don't seem to be true: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rder=BESTMATCH

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I think I'll be safe taking some sets I have available at home already and trying those. I'll post back in a couple weeks with the outcome. Hopefully I'll get lucky and be able to mark the thread solved. Thanks for all the insight and input, folks.

The used RAM I ordered off ebay worked flawlessly. I attached a pic if anyone's interested in more specifics.

The RAM was labeled Crucial Technologies (a division of Micron). For numbers see the attached pics.

Also included one of the system board I installed them in (before I finished cleaning it). So this computer took two 1G sticks and two slots open (the black ones adjacent to the white ones). So at this point I assume this computer could take a max of 4GB.

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