I need to know what type of ram to buy for my Dell Latitude C500.?

Question

I just bought a used Latitude C500 with Windows XP Pro. I want to buy 256MB of ram to upgrade from the original 64MB of ram. Dell told me that I need SDRAM, and I confirmed this from this website:
http://www.edgetechcorp.com/store/productdetails.aspx?product_id=2215

The ram on the website that has guaranteed compatibility with my laptop. The ram is PC-100, and has 144 pins. I don't want to buy ram from the website because of the price, but when I go onto eBay or NewEgg, I need to know if I have to get PC-100 with 144 pins, or if I can get whatever as long as is 512MB or under?

I also checked Crucial's website. http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Latitude+C500+Series
The Crucial Site says I can use PC133, while the other site says I can use PC100. What is the difference, and does the number of pins matter?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I would go with the PC100. Here are the specs that I see:

System Specs
Type of system: Laptops
Bus Architecture: PC Card (PCMCIA)
Native OS: Windows 98/NT/2000
CPU Type: 900MHz Intel Mobile Celeron
Comments: 100MHz FSB
System Memory
Standard Memory: 64 MB (removable)
Maximum Memory: 512 MB
Maximum Expansion: 2 sockets
Comments: PC100/133 SDRAM SODIMMs

I check the price at http://www.CoastMemory.com
256MB is $69.00

Go for it.

Good luck and Happy Computing!

Answer 2

Your laptop is originally designed to work with PC100 memory but can also accept PC133 since number of pin is similar. PC133 memory is faster than PC100 memory but when installed in yr laptop the DIMM PC133 would work at PC100 speed AKA 100MHz.

Both will work in yr laptop.

But if you really want to feel any improvement, you'd better buy 2 x 256MB DIMM memory either PC133 or PC100.

good luck