On 2026/6/7 5:53:3, Simon wrote:

My Computer currently has this memory (only 4GB as shipped by Dell with Ubuntu pre-installed)

[]

Type: DDR3
Type Detail: Unknown
Speed: 1600 MT/s
Manufacturer: Micron

[]

I now need to upgrade it to 8GB so I will need another module of 4GB. On eBay and Amazon I only see something like SODIM or something like that.

I think SODIMM just means small-outtline DIMM - usually the smaller ones commonly used in laptops, and what you've got anyway (the diagnostic
utility you used probably just identified it as a DIMM, as it can't tell electronically that it's the short size. Though the part number should).

Can somebody give me a hint of what should I be looking for. It is DDR3
on Dell Inspiron 3551, a very basic laptop that can run Linux Ubuntu
nothing special.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along in a minute, but in
the meantime: I've heard of memory manufacturer's websites that lead you
by the hand through what you need, and will then sell it to you, though
not the cheapest: I think Kingston and Crucial are names I've heard. You
might also try Dell itself.

I got the memory information in Ubuntu using the terminal. (sudo
dmidecode --type 17 ). I haven't opened the back cover yet because I
need to get the parts so I can upgrade it at the same time.

I don't know the model you mention, but a machine old enough to have
come with only 4G might well have a RAM (and a disc) panel as part of
the back cover, i. e. you might not have to remove the whole back cover.
Try putting something like "Dell Inspiron 3351 memory" into the search
box in YouTube: I'd be surprised if there isn't (probably several)
videos showing you what's involved. (Probably with commentary that takes
for ever to explain what it's doing, but if you can tolerate that,

Thank you.

You're welcome; hope the above helps, and that someone who knows more
will add something (and tell me if I've said anything that's actually
wrong anywhere).






--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Never be led astray onto the path of virtue.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 6/7/2026 12:53 AM, Simon wrote:

My Computer currently has this memory (only 4GB as shipped by Dell with Ubuntu pre-installed)

Handle 0x001C, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x001A
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 4 GB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_A
Bank Locator: DIMM_A
Type: DDR3
Type Detail: Unknown
Speed: 1600 MT/s
Manufacturer: Micron
Serial Number: 0E5FF8F5
Asset Tag: 0F150200
Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1
Rank: 1
Configured Memory Speed: 1333 MT/s
Minimum Voltage: 1.35 V
Maximum Voltage: 1.5 V
Configured Voltage: 1.35 V

I now need to upgrade it to 8GB so I will need another module of 4GB. On eBay and Amazon I only see something like SODIM or something like that.

Can somebody give me a hint of what should I be looking for. It is DDR3 on Dell Inspiron 3551, a very basic laptop that can run Linux Ubuntu nothing special.

I got the memory information in Ubuntu using the terminal. (sudo dmidecode --type 17 ). I haven't opened the back cover yet because I need to get the parts so I can upgrade it at the same time.

Thank you.

Strictly speaking, DDR3 is out of production and has been out of
production for at least two years.

You can Google the part number

Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1

if you wanted to find one that is nominally the same.

https://www.amazon.ca/Micron-MT8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1-PC3-12800-512MBX64-SODIMM/dp/B00RW9U5NO

Product details

Is discontinued by manufacturer ? : ? No <=== Micron lists it as EOL

In some cases, such things may be on Ebay, but then you do not
know the error status (if the item is not new).

Top down searches, are not going to work any more. Crucial has gone out
of business, and they were a source of inspiration for customers. Kingston
is unlikely to list any DDR3 on their site.

So it's Amazon, and hope the item isn't some bogus thing
shipping from China. It is more than passing-curious, how
virtually all the "old stock" seems to be hosted in China.
It would seem not much stock was kept on other continents.

I have experience with non-branded RAM (UTT chips with no branding
on the lid, which are not tested or certified as product). And those
would last on average about 1.5 years. The branded RAMs that have
really held up well, are the DDR3, DDR4, and DDR5. For example,
on an old computer which no longer works, I went through three
lots of DDR2, and all were from "reputable" suppliers. Whereas in past generations,
SDRAM, EDO and FPM, buffered and dampered memory, DDR400 memory,
UTT DIMMs, I had a "lot of fun" keeping stuff working. One
lot of eight DIMMs I bought, the chips have an "internal corrosion" problem, and when *storing* the computer, you unplug the DIMMs and keep them
in an antistatic bag. And that treatment has preserved the last three
of them that still work.

The modern stuff is a lot better than that. It's just I am
nervous when branded items are only available after a
30 day shipping-trip. Whether they are real goods or
frauds, it's hard to say.

On the one hand, I don't want to spoil your good time,
on the other hand, I hate to see people cheated.

I wanted two SODIMMs for my laptop, but... I haven't pushed
the button, because these are the things I see. For my processor,
I have been unable to get any info at all, about SODIMM capacity and
what the processor is actually rated for.

Paul



--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 07/06/2026 05:53, Simon wrote:

My Computer currently has this memory (only 4GB as shipped by Dell with Ubuntu pre-installed)

Handle 0x001C, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x001A
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 4 GB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_A
Bank Locator: DIMM_A
Type: DDR3
Type Detail: Unknown
Speed: 1600 MT/s
Manufacturer: Micron
Serial Number: 0E5FF8F5
Asset Tag: 0F150200
Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1
Rank: 1
Configured Memory Speed: 1333 MT/s
Minimum Voltage: 1.35 V
Maximum Voltage: 1.5 V
Configured Voltage: 1.35 V

I now need to upgrade it to 8GB so I will need another module of 4GB. On eBay and Amazon I only see something like SODIM or something like that.

Can somebody give me a hint of what should I be looking for. It is DDR3
on Dell Inspiron 3551, a very basic laptop that can run Linux Ubuntu
nothing special.

I got the memory information in Ubuntu using the terminal. (sudo
dmidecode --type 17 ). I haven't opened the back cover yet because I
need to get the parts so I can upgrade it at the same time.

Thank you.

Try CEX. They have DDR3 memory with a warranty for as little as œ1. [+postage].

Regards

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-07 08:39, Paul wrote:

On Sun, 6/7/2026 12:53 AM, Simon wrote:

My Computer currently has this memory (only 4GB as shipped by Dell with Ubuntu pre-installed)

Handle 0x001C, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x001A
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 4 GB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_A
Bank Locator: DIMM_A
Type: DDR3
Type Detail: Unknown
Speed: 1600 MT/s
Manufacturer: Micron
Serial Number: 0E5FF8F5
Asset Tag: 0F150200
Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1
Rank: 1
Configured Memory Speed: 1333 MT/s
Minimum Voltage: 1.35 V
Maximum Voltage: 1.5 V
Configured Voltage: 1.35 V

I now need to upgrade it to 8GB so I will need another module of 4GB. On eBay and Amazon I only see something like SODIM or something like that.

IME, it's unusual that you only have a single DIMM, in times of yore,
normally 4GB would have been supplied as 2 x 2GB, in which case, you'd
need 2 x 4GB DIMMs to bring it up to 8GB, BUT this is NOT true in your
case, see next section of my reply ...

Can somebody give me a hint of what should I be looking for. It is DDR3 on Dell Inspiron 3551, a very basic laptop that can run Linux Ubuntu nothing special.

I got the memory information in Ubuntu using the terminal. (sudo dmidecode --type 17 ). I haven't opened the back cover yet because I need to get the parts so I can upgrade it at the same time.

<https://www.google.com/search?q=Dell+Inspiron+3551+specs>

Inspiron 15 3551 Specifications <https://dl.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-15-3551-laptop_reference%20guide_en-us.pdf>

The Dell Inspiron 3551 is a budget-friendly 15.6-inch laptop released in
2015. It features an Intel Celeron or Pentium processor, up to 4GB of
RAM, integrated graphics, and a standard 1366x768 resolution display. It
is designed for basic day-to-day tasks like web browsing, word
processing, and media consumption.

Key Technical Specifications

Component Specification Details
[...]
Memory (RAM) Up to 4GB DDR3L (1x SODIMM slot, max 8GB)
[etc]"

So J.P.Gilliver was correct in his guess that you already have a SODIMM,
and the above shows that indeed there is only one slot, not the usual 2
or 4, which explains why you only have RAM in a single SODIMM.

Strictly speaking, DDR3 is out of production and has been out of
production for at least two years.

You can Google the part number

Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1

if you wanted to find one that is nominally the same.

https://www.amazon.ca/Micron-MT8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1-PC3-12800-512MBX64-SODIMM/dp/B00RW9U5NO

Product details

Is discontinued by manufacturer ? : ? No <=== Micron lists it as EOL

In some cases, such things may be on Ebay, but then you do not
know the error status (if the item is not new).

[...]

I wanted two SODIMMs for my laptop, but... I haven't pushed
the button, because these are the things I see. For my processor,
I have been unable to get any info at all, about SODIMM capacity and
what the processor is actually rated for.

Although in the interests of brevity I've snipped much of Paul's reply,
I share his concerns about cheap Chinese chow. However, I've had to
grasp the nettle. As previously described in other threads in other
places, I have 4 Dell Precision M6700/6800s all of which have 4 x max
8GB DDR3 slots, and have upgraded each of these PCs to 32GB using the following, and, although I hate to tempt fate, so far these have proved
fine for me (but will not do for you as you only have a single slot, see
last link in this post for what should suit you) ...

Motoeagle <https://www.amazon.co.uk/motoeagle-DDR3L-1600-PC3L-12800S-1600MHz-Unbuffered/dp/B08J3NGCMH/ref=sr_1_4_pp>

Timetec <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timetec-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook-Computer/dp/B01NAXBSIY/ref=sr_1_6>

... so, unless others reply adversely, I suspect that this will do for you:

Timetec 8GB DDR3L / DDR3 1600MHz (DDR3L-1600) PC3L-12800 / PC3-12800(PC3L-12800S) Non-ECC Unbuffered 1.35V/1.5V CL11 2Rx8 Dual Rank
204 Pin SODIMM Laptop Notebook PC Computer Memory <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timetec-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook-Computer/dp/B0145WDNI4/ref=sr_1_5>

--

Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 6/7/2026 6:53 AM, Java Jive wrote:

On 2026-06-07 08:39, Paul wrote:

On Sun, 6/7/2026 12:53 AM, Simon wrote:

My Computer currently has this memory (only 4GB as shipped by Dell with Ubuntu pre-installed)

Handle 0x001C, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x001A
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 4 GB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_A
Bank Locator: DIMM_A
Type: DDR3
Type Detail: Unknown
Speed: 1600 MT/s
Manufacturer: Micron
Serial Number: 0E5FF8F5
Asset Tag: 0F150200
Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1
Rank: 1
Configured Memory Speed: 1333 MT/s
Minimum Voltage: 1.35 V
Maximum Voltage: 1.5 V
Configured Voltage: 1.35 V

I now need to upgrade it to 8GB so I will need another module of 4GB. On eBay and Amazon I only see something like SODIM or something like that.

IME, it's unusual that you only have a single DIMM, in times of yore, normally 4GB would have been supplied as 2 x 2GB, in which case, you'd need 2 x 4GB DIMMs to bring it up to 8GB, BUT this is NOT true in your case, see next section of my reply ...

Can somebody give me a hint of what should I be looking for. It is DDR3 on Dell Inspiron 3551, a very basic laptop that can run Linux Ubuntu nothing special.

I got the memory information in Ubuntu using the terminal. (sudo dmidecode --type 17 ). I haven't opened the back cover yet because I need to get the parts so I can upgrade it at the same time.

<https://www.google.com/search?q=Dell+Inspiron+3551+specs>

Inspiron 15 3551 Specifications <https://dl.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-15-3551-laptop_reference%20guide_en-us.pdf>

The Dell Inspiron 3551 is a budget-friendly 15.6-inch laptop released in 2015. It features an Intel Celeron or Pentium processor, up to 4GB of RAM, integrated graphics, and a standard 1366x768 resolution display. It is designed for basic day-to-day tasks like web browsing, word processing, and media consumption.

Key Technical Specifications

Componentÿÿÿ Specification Details
[...]
Memory (RAM)ÿÿÿ Up to 4GB DDR3L (1x SODIMM slot, max 8GB)
[etc]"

So J.P.Gilliver was correct in his guess that you already have a SODIMM, and the above shows that indeed there is only one slot, not the usual 2 or 4, which explains why you only have RAM in a single SODIMM.

Strictly speaking, DDR3 is out of production and has been out of
production for at least two years.

You can Google the part number

ÿÿÿ Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1

if you wanted to find one that is nominally the same.

ÿÿÿ https://www.amazon.ca/Micron-MT8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1-PC3-12800-512MBX64-SODIMM/dp/B00RW9U5NO

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Product details

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Is discontinued by manufacturer ? : ? Noÿÿ <=== Micron lists it as EOL

In some cases, such things may be on Ebay, but then you do not
know the error status (if the item is not new).

[...]

I wanted two SODIMMs for my laptop, but... I haven't pushed
the button, because these are the things I see. For my processor,
I have been unable to get any info at all, about SODIMM capacity and
what the processor is actually rated for.

Although in the interests of brevity I've snipped much of Paul's reply, I share his concerns about cheap Chinese chow.ÿ However, I've had to grasp the nettle.ÿ As previously described in other threads in other places, I have 4 Dell Precision M6700/6800s all of which have 4 x max 8GB DDR3 slots, and have upgraded each of these PCs to 32GB using the following, and, although I hate to tempt fate, so far these have proved fine for me (but will not do for you as you only have a single slot, see last link in this post for what should suit you) ...

Motoeagle <https://www.amazon.co.uk/motoeagle-DDR3L-1600-PC3L-12800S-1600MHz-Unbuffered/dp/B08J3NGCMH/ref=sr_1_4_pp>

Timetec <https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timetec-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook-Computer/dp/B01NAXBSIY/ref=sr_1_6>

... so, unless others reply adversely, I suspect that this will do for you:

Timetec 8GB DDR3L / DDR3 1600MHz (DDR3L-1600) PC3L-12800 / PC3-12800(PC3L-12800S) Non-ECC Unbuffered 1.35V/1.5V CL11 2Rx8 Dual Rank 204 Pin SODIMM Laptop Notebook PC Computer Memory
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timetec-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook-Computer/dp/B0145WDNI4/ref=sr_1_5>

This site has some info, in a convenient form.

It shows a picture of two SODIMMs, but the text shows the machine
only has the one slot, as you note. Apparently the machine
starts life with a 2GB stick. And I guess you could achieve such a
cheesy result, by using x16 chips, four of them, to make a rank.

https://www.memorystock.com/memory/DellInspiron153551.html

Sad, really.

A good catch on your part. My apologies, for not doing a more extended search. I wasn't really expecting to find any model-specific info any more.

Since the machine already has a 4GB in it, and the claim is it only
takes 4GB, then that might be the end of it, no further upgrade possible.

Page 9

https://dl.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-15-3551-laptop_reference%20guide_en-us.pdf

And from Currys

https://business.currys.co.uk/catalogue/computing/laptops/windows-laptop/dell-inspiron-15-3551-15-6-intel-celeron-n2840-4-gb-ram-500-gb-hdd-uk/P220358P

Processor - Intel Celeron N2840 / 2.16 GHz ( 2.58 GHz ) / 1 MB Cache

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/82103/intel-celeron-processor-n2840-1m-cache-up-to-2-58-ghz/specifications.html

Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type) 8 GB
Memory Types DDR3L 1333
Max # of Memory Channels 2 <=== they can use just one channel, and the address size (RowAddr/ColumnAddr/BA)
may not have sufficient bits to operate an 8GB SODIMM.

This machine may have the same processor N2840, and they're claiming
it will accept an 8GB stick.

https://www.memorystock.com/memory/ASUSX551MAV.html

Memory Upgrade for ASUS X551MAV Laptop

8GB 2Rx8 DDR3-1600 SODIMM $24.95

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/264971471082

ASUS X551M 15.6" Intel Celeron N2840 2.16GHz 4GB RAM

Summary: Still a bit sketchy on whether it has the RAS/CAS/BA for an 8GB stick.
But at least I can see evidence some people have tried it.

Paul

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-07 20:44, Paul wrote:

On Sun, 6/7/2026 6:53 AM, Java Jive wrote:

On 2026-06-07 08:39, Paul wrote:

On Sun, 6/7/2026 12:53 AM, Simon wrote:

My Computer currently has this memory (only 4GB as shipped by Dell with Ubuntu pre-installed)

Handle 0x001C, DMI type 17, 40 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x001A
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 64 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 4 GB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: DIMM_A
Bank Locator: DIMM_A
Type: DDR3
Type Detail: Unknown
Speed: 1600 MT/s
Manufacturer: Micron
Serial Number: 0E5FF8F5
Asset Tag: 0F150200
Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1
Rank: 1
Configured Memory Speed: 1333 MT/s
Minimum Voltage: 1.35 V
Maximum Voltage: 1.5 V
Configured Voltage: 1.35 V

I now need to upgrade it to 8GB so I will need another module of 4GB. On eBay and Amazon I only see something like SODIM or something like that.

IME, it's unusual that you only have a single DIMM, in times of yore, normally 4GB would have been supplied as 2 x 2GB, in which case, you'd need 2 x 4GB DIMMs to bring it up to 8GB, BUT this is NOT true in your case, see next section of my reply ...

Can somebody give me a hint of what should I be looking for. It is DDR3 on Dell Inspiron 3551, a very basic laptop that can run Linux Ubuntu nothing special.

I got the memory information in Ubuntu using the terminal. (sudo dmidecode --type 17 ). I haven't opened the back cover yet because I need to get the parts so I can upgrade it at the same time.

<https://www.google.com/search?q=Dell+Inspiron+3551+specs>

Inspiron 15 3551 Specifications
<https://dl.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-15-3551-laptop_reference%20guide_en-us.pdf>

The Dell Inspiron 3551 is a budget-friendly 15.6-inch laptop released in 2015. It features an Intel Celeron or Pentium processor, up to 4GB of RAM, integrated graphics, and a standard 1366x768 resolution display. It is designed for basic day-to-day tasks like web browsing, word processing, and media consumption.

Key Technical Specifications

Componentÿÿÿ Specification Details
[...]
Memory (RAM)ÿÿÿ Up to 4GB DDR3L (1x SODIMM slot, max 8GB)
[etc]"

So J.P.Gilliver was correct in his guess that you already have a SODIMM, and the above shows that indeed there is only one slot, not the usual 2 or 4, which explains why you only have RAM in a single SODIMM.

Strictly speaking, DDR3 is out of production and has been out of
production for at least two years.

You can Google the part number

ÿÿÿ Part Number: 8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1

if you wanted to find one that is nominally the same.

ÿÿÿ https://www.amazon.ca/Micron-MT8KTF51264HZ-1G6E1-PC3-12800-512MBX64-SODIMM/dp/B00RW9U5NO

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Product details

ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Is discontinued by manufacturer ? : ? Noÿÿ <=== Micron lists it as EOL

In some cases, such things may be on Ebay, but then you do not
know the error status (if the item is not new).

[...]

I wanted two SODIMMs for my laptop, but... I haven't pushed
the button, because these are the things I see. For my processor,
I have been unable to get any info at all, about SODIMM capacity and
what the processor is actually rated for.

Although in the interests of brevity I've snipped much of Paul's reply, I share his concerns about cheap Chinese chow.ÿ However, I've had to grasp the nettle.ÿ As previously described in other threads in other places, I have 4 Dell Precision M6700/6800s all of which have 4 x max 8GB DDR3 slots, and have upgraded each of these PCs to 32GB using the following, and, although I hate to tempt fate, so far these have proved fine for me (but will not do for you as you only have a single slot, see last link in this post for what should suit you) ...

Motoeagle
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/motoeagle-DDR3L-1600-PC3L-12800S-1600MHz-Unbuffered/dp/B08J3NGCMH/ref=sr_1_4_pp>

Timetec
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timetec-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook-Computer/dp/B01NAXBSIY/ref=sr_1_6>

... so, unless others reply adversely, I suspect that this will do for you:

NO! The following is for 1600MHz RAM, but, as Paul points out below, I
missed the fact in the specs PDF that the two models covered have
different requirements:

Memory
Inspiron 15-3551 Inspiron 15-3558
Slots: One SODIMM slot Two SODIMM slots
Type: DDR3L Dual?channel DDR3L
Speed: 1333 MHz 1600 MHz
Configurations supported: 2 GB and 4 GB 2, 4, 6, 8 GB

If the specs document is to be believed, as you have the 15-3551 model
in the left hand column and already have 4GB, then you can't upgrade it further, and if you wish to try, then I think you'd need 1333MHz RAM,
NOT the 1600MHz I linked below in my previous post:

Timetec 8GB DDR3L / DDR3 1600MHz (DDR3L-1600) PC3L-12800 / PC3-12800(PC3L-12800S) Non-ECC Unbuffered 1.35V/1.5V CL11 2Rx8 Dual Rank 204 Pin SODIMM Laptop Notebook PC Computer Memory
<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timetec-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook-Computer/dp/B0145WDNI4/ref=sr_1_5>

This site has some info, in a convenient form.

It shows a picture of two SODIMMs, but the text shows the machine
only has the one slot, as you note. Apparently the machine
starts life with a 2GB stick. And I guess you could achieve such a
cheesy result, by using x16 chips, four of them, to make a rank.

https://www.memorystock.com/memory/DellInspiron153551.html

Sad, really.

A good catch on your part. My apologies, for not doing a more extended search.
I wasn't really expecting to find any model-specific info any more.

Since the machine already has a 4GB in it, and the claim is it only
takes 4GB, then that might be the end of it, no further upgrade possible.

Page 9

https://dl.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-15-3551-laptop_reference%20guide_en-us.pdf

Yes, I overlooked that, thanks for pointing this out.

Summary: Still a bit sketchy on whether it has the RAS/CAS/BA for an 8GB stick.
But at least I can see evidence some people have tried it.

Guess it's down to whether the OP wants to chance wasting his money.

--

Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-07 22:20, Simon wrote:

I have seen these two on eBay (4gb and 8gb) but I will open the back
cover to see if there are two slots or only one slot.

<https://postimg.cc/rK4RNcsV> <https://i.postimg.cc/yYQhB8zZ/2026-06-07-22-07-52.png>

<https://postimg.cc/ykTsHrr3> <https://i.postimg.cc/15ktDkGB/2026-06-07-22-08-56.png>

If the laptop has only one slot then I will get the 8gb version;
otherwise 4gb.

Note that both those are 1600MHz, whereas the machine spec is 1333MHz.
I was uncertain as to whether 1600MHz would work in a 1333MHz machine
and had my doubts, but this suggests it should work:

<https://www.google.com/search?q=can+1600MHz+RAM+work+in+a+1333MHz+machine>

However, as AI sometimes lies, hopefully Paul or A N Other will
contradict it if it's happening here.

--

Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Java Jive wrote on 6/7/2026 5:01 PM:

On 2026-06-07 22:20, Simon wrote:

I have seen these two on eBay (4gb and 8gb) but I will open the back
cover to see if there are two slots or only one slot.

<https://postimg.cc/rK4RNcsV>
<https://i.postimg.cc/yYQhB8zZ/2026-06-07-22-07-52.png>

<https://postimg.cc/ykTsHrr3>
<https://i.postimg.cc/15ktDkGB/2026-06-07-22-08-56.png>

If the laptop has only one slot then I will get the 8gb version;
otherwise 4gb.

Note that both those are 1600MHz, whereas the machine spec is 1333MHz. I
was uncertain as to whether 1600MHz would work in a 1333MHz machine and
had my doubts, but this suggests it should work:

<https://www.google.com/search?q=can+1600MHz+RAM+work+in+a+1333MHz+machine>

However, as AI sometimes lies, hopefully Paul or A N Other will
contradict it if it's happening here.

I've never had a problem using ram that is faster than the device
requires, but I don't have his particular laptop, so I hope he does OK.

The only additional advise I would give is to check the bios and be sure
it is flashed with the latest version that dell issued for this old laptop.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-07 23:31, Simon wrote:

On 07/06/2026 23:21, Hank Rogers wrote:

The only additional advise I would give is to check the bios and be
sure it is flashed with the latest version that dell issued for this
old laptop.

This is the problem Dell doesn't provide bios for Linux systems. They
have for Windows but not for Ubuntu. The exe file can't work in Linux
unless you know a work around.

I upgraded the BIOSs of my 4 Dell Precisions to be the latest for each
model, the M6700s were one Axx number and the M6800s a later Axx number.

It was a while ago since I did it, and I'm getting old and my memory is
less retentive than it used to be, but AFAICR, Windows is only needed at
most to write the USB to be used, possibly not even that. For the BIOS upgrade itself, the PC boots from the USB into the USB's own onboard
Windows PE Environment, and the BIOS upgrade runs in that.

So, if my recollection is correct, you only need to get to write the USB somehow, either on another PC running some fairly recent version of
Windows, W7 or any later would probably do, or perhaps using dd within a
Linux terminal prompt.

--

Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Simon wrote on 6/7/2026 5:31 PM:

On 07/06/2026 23:21, Hank Rogers wrote:

The only additional advise I would give is to check the bios and be
sure it is flashed with the latest version that dell issued for this
old laptop.

This is the problem Dell doesn't provide bios for Linux systems. They
have for Windows but not for Ubuntu. The exe file can't work in Linux
unless you know a work around.

Most old dells were typically flashed by booting a dos floppy or usb
stick with the flash file copied onto it, and simply executing that
flash file from a dos command prompt. Freedos works too. Either can be generated using the rufus program. Then copy your flash file on it,
boot from it and run the flash.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-07 23:16, Simon wrote:

On 07/06/2026 22:49, Java Jive wrote:

NO!ÿ The following is for 1600MHz RAM, but, as Paul points out below,
I missed the fact in the specs PDF that the two models covered have
different requirements:

Memory
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Inspiron 15-3551ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Inspiron 15-3558
Slots:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ One SODIMM slotÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Two SODIMM slots
Type:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ DDR3Lÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Dual?channel DDR3L
Speed:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 1333 MHzÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 1600 MHz
Configurations supported: 2 GB and 4 GBÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 2, 4, 6, 8 GB

If the specs document is to be believed, as you have the 15-3551 model
in the left hand column and already have 4GB, then you can't upgrade
it further, and if you wish to try, then I think you'd need 1333MHz
RAM, NOT the 1600MHz I linked below in my previous post:

Actually, it seems that you can use this RAM, as it can run at the
slower speed of your PC.

It's all Greek to me! This video shows 8 GB of RAM: <https://youtu.be/qgquebWd81I>.

IMPORTANT! Note at 1:57 in the message on the mobo:
ONLY DDR3L

<https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+difference+between+DDR3+and+DDR3L+RAM>

"The main difference between DDR3 and DDR3L is their operating voltage. Standard DDR3 operates at 1.5V, while DDR3L is a dual-voltage module
that runs at 1.35V (but can also support 1.5V). The "L" stands for "Low Voltage," making DDR3L more energy-efficient, cooler, and longer-lasting
for battery-powered devices."

The message on the mobo suggests that the PC runs at 1.35V, so you need
a DDR3L/PC3L module, a DDR3/PC3 module won't do. As we now know that
there is no problem running a 1600MHz module on a 1333Hz machine, the
Timetec module I linked previously, and here again, will do:

<https://www.amazon.co.uk/Timetec-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-Notebook-Computer/dp/B0145WDNI4>

BTW, a couple of criticisms of that video:

- The presenter started dismantling the PC before removing the
battery. The generally accepted procedure is first disconnect from the
mains; second remove the battery; third press and hold the on-off button
or switch for a second or two to discharge any residual charges left in
the system's capacitors; then proceed with dismantling.

- Some would say that he ought to be using a wrist strap to earth
himself, though I confess I don't always do that myself.

Such is life with Dell. They seem to sell machines with different specifications in different countries.

And machines with very similar names and only slightly different model
numbers can vary widely in specs as well. It's a confusing PITA. The machines themselves, with exceptions of certain models, are mostly quite
good though.

Either in the BIOS or on a sticker on the bottom there should be a Dell
Sevice Tag which is an alpha-numeric code, usually 7 characters long.
On the Dell website, you can enter this code to look up the exact specs
of the PC when it was manufactured, and download the correct drivers,
manuals, etc. It's not absolutely foolproof, for example occasionally
some drivers are not found and you have to search the site with the name
of the hardware for which drivers are not installing to find driver
downloads to try, and also they remove all support around 10-15 years
after the model was discontinued, but it's still quite helpful.

I bought this a few years ago to try Linux, and the price was right, so
I bought it. Recently, I installed Ubuntu 26.04 on it, but with only 4
GB of RAM, it is very slow. The minimum requirement for Ubuntu 26.04 is
6 GB, so I thought upgrading the machine would work. Otherwise, I can install Windows 8.1 on it, but only if it has 8 GB of RAM. I have an 8.1 retail licence, so I am hoping it will still activate.

Well it's entirely up to you whether you wish to risk wasting your money
in trying to upgrade the RAM from the alleged maximum of 4GB to the 8GB
you want - I guess if others have tried it with exactly the same model
- in other words you can be sure that it was an Inspiron 15-3551 and
not an Inspiron 15-3558 which we know can go up to 8GB - then it
should work for you also. Another possibility would be to buy a more
recent model of PC and sell your old one on eBay.

--

Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-08 01:34, Hank Rogers wrote:

Most old dells were typically flashed by booting a dos floppy or usb
stick with the flash file copied onto it, and simply executing that
flash file from a dos command prompt.ÿ Freedos works too. Either can be generated using the rufus program.ÿ Then copy your flash file on it,
boot from it and run the flash.

AFAIAA, Rufus is a Windows only program, and not available in Linux.

--

Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Sun, 6/7/2026 6:16 PM, Simon wrote:

On 07/06/2026 22:49, Java Jive wrote:

NO!ÿ The following is for 1600MHz RAM, but, as Paul points out below, I missed the fact in the specs PDF that the two models covered have different requirements:

Memory
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Inspiron 15-3551ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Inspiron 15-3558
Slots:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ One SODIMM slotÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Two SODIMM slots
Type:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ DDR3Lÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Dual?channel DDR3L
Speed:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 1333 MHzÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 1600 MHz
Configurations supported: 2 GB and 4 GBÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 2, 4, 6, 8 GB

If the specs document is to be believed, as you have the 15-3551 model in the left hand column and already have 4GB, then you can't upgrade it further, and if you wish to try, then I think you'd need 1333MHz RAM, NOT the 1600MHz I linked below in my previous post:

It's all Greek to me! This video shows 8 GB of RAM: <https://youtu.be/qgquebWd81I>.

Such is life with Dell. They seem to sell machines with different specifications in different countries.

I bought this a few years ago to try Linux, and the price was right, so I bought it. Recently, I installed Ubuntu 26.04 on it, but with only 4 GB of RAM, it is very slow. The minimum requirement for Ubuntu 26.04 is 6 GB, so I thought upgrading the machine would work. Otherwise, I can install Windows 8.1 on it, but only if it has 8 GB of RAM. I have an 8.1 retail licence, so I am hoping it will still activate.

( https://youtu.be/qgquebWd81I )

OK, so it's not bodging in DDR3L RAM, it's
a second generation piece of hardware.

You can run 1.35V RAM in a 1.5V computer.

If you attempt to run 1.5V RAM in a 1.35V computer
then it won't work properly.

The "DDR3L only" label tells you it runs at 1.35V
and will work with a 1.35V stick.

It's really a question then, of how flexible the N2840 is,
and whether Asus designed theirs the same was as Dell
did theirs. Maybe the only design possible, is a 1.35V one.

https://www.memorystock.com/memory/ASUSX551MAV.html

Memory Upgrade for ASUS X551MAV Laptop

8GB 2Rx8 DDR3-1600 SODIMM $24.95

Maybe the problem with the MemoryStock item, is the advert
isn't labeling it properly. They seem to know, in the body
of the text, the job calls for

Memory Type & Info

DDR3L PC3L-12800 1600MHz SODIMM

# On the right...

Memory Specs: 8GB 2Rx8 DDR3 PC3L-12800 204pin CL=11 DDR3-1600 1.35V SODIMM
MemoryStock Part# 896ms-896

Using the info as it stands now:

1) Processor likely has an addressing limit of 8GB.
When you plug in an 8GB stick, some could go missing as address space for video.
It won't register as 8192MB.

2) The 8GB SODIMMs were created, in years after the N2840 shipped, so the
supported RAM tables (any that are available) have not been updated.

3) The RAM seems to be DDR3L as the PC3L alludes to. The other (ordering) page
has more "L's" in it :-)

https://www.memorystock.com/order-memory/orderitem.asp?it=896ms-896&MnfId=12&MdlId=8111047348

So it's not a first gen machine, it's a second gen, and the
only crime it committed, is it is a "Celeron" and they have to give
it an unnecessary RAM limit to protect their margins on more
expensive processors at Intel. It has enough row/column/bank address
bits to handle an 8GB module. If it had been a 1.5V DDR3 with no "L"
spec machine, you could plug a DDR3L into it and DDR3L will run
at 1.5V, and then the only issue would be (like my laptop) not
having enough row/column/bank address bits to address 8GB.

Using the flimsiest of rationales and seeing (in various places),
people stuffing in an 8GB, I would guess it would work.

*******

On the 3551, the "DDR3L-only" label hints it is a second generation system,
and there is a very good chance the BIOS is perfectly ready
for the 8GB stick. I could find one picture of an N2840 with an
8GB stick in a memtest picture, but the picture has poor contrast
and is hard to read. The thread where the picture was attached,
was a discussion with a memtest developer, about failures happening
in what could be an "unmarked" reserved area. The BIOS has a call that
masks off places that memtest must not touch. The memtest people
rely on the accuracy of that BIOS call, and unnecessary "errors"
show up, if memtest writes to a reserved area. This does not
happen, very often...

My laptop has no such label, it is a 1.5V system, I can stuff a DDR3L
in it if I want, but my laptop hardware will lack enough row/column/bank
bits to report extra-large SODIMMs properly. Which is why I have to be
careful to buy first generation SODIMMs for it.

Paul


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-08 00:16, Simon wrote:

On 07/06/2026 22:49, Java Jive wrote:

NO!ÿ The following is for 1600MHz RAM, but, as Paul points out below,
I missed the fact in the specs PDF that the two models covered have
different requirements:

Memory
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Inspiron 15-3551ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Inspiron 15-3558
Slots:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ One SODIMM slotÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Two SODIMM slots
Type:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ DDR3Lÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Dual?channel DDR3L
Speed:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 1333 MHzÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 1600 MHz
Configurations supported: 2 GB and 4 GBÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 2, 4, 6, 8 GB

If the specs document is to be believed, as you have the 15-3551 model
in the left hand column and already have 4GB, then you can't upgrade
it further, and if you wish to try, then I think you'd need 1333MHz
RAM, NOT the 1600MHz I linked below in my previous post:

It's all Greek to me! This video shows 8 GB of RAM: <https://youtu.be/ qgquebWd81I>.

Such is life with Dell. They seem to sell machines with different specifications in different countries.

I bought this a few years ago to try Linux, and the price was right, so
I bought it. Recently, I installed Ubuntu 26.04 on it, but with only 4
GB of RAM, it is very slow. The minimum requirement for Ubuntu 26.04 is
6 GB, so I thought upgrading the machine would work. Otherwise, I can install Windows 8.1 on it, but only if it has 8 GB of RAM. I have an 8.1 retail licence, so I am hoping it will still activate.

Is it using a rotating rust hard disk, or an SSD?

If it has a traditional hard disk, upgrade to an SSD, and the machine
will be faster. Use Swap.

--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES??, EU??;

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Mon, 6/8/2026 3:58 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2026-06-08 00:16, Simon wrote:

On 07/06/2026 22:49, Java Jive wrote:

NO!ÿ The following is for 1600MHz RAM, but, as Paul points out below, I missed the fact in the specs PDF that the two models covered have different requirements:

Memory
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Inspiron 15-3551ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Inspiron 15-3558
Slots:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ One SODIMM slotÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Two SODIMM slots
Type:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ DDR3Lÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Dual?channel DDR3L >>> Speed:ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 1333 MHzÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 1600 MHz
Configurations supported: 2 GB and 4 GBÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 2, 4, 6, 8 GB

If the specs document is to be believed, as you have the 15-3551 model in the left hand column and already have 4GB, then you can't upgrade it further, and if you wish to try, then I think you'd need 1333MHz RAM, NOT the 1600MHz I linked below in my previous post:

It's all Greek to me! This video shows 8 GB of RAM: <https://youtu.be/ qgquebWd81I>.

Such is life with Dell. They seem to sell machines with different specifications in different countries.

I bought this a few years ago to try Linux, and the price was right, so I bought it. Recently, I installed Ubuntu 26.04 on it, but with only 4 GB of RAM, it is very slow. The minimum requirement for Ubuntu 26.04 is 6 GB, so I thought upgrading the machine would work. Otherwise, I can install Windows 8.1 on it, but only if it has 8 GB of RAM. I have an 8.1 retail licence, so I am hoping it will still activate.

Is it using a rotating rust hard disk, or an SSD?

If it has a traditional hard disk, upgrade to an SSD, and the machine will be faster. Use Swap.

The U2604 OS is a porker. And the sad part, is after the install is finished, it re-downloads some SNAPs. That makes it a glutton on bandwidth.
While it is installing, it's also trying to do updates. How bourgeois.
The install time of this, is quite possibly longer than any
other Linux.

Name: ubuntu-26.04-desktop-amd64.iso
Size: 6,518,974,464 bytes (6216 MiB) <=== a rather large ISO by Linux standards
SHA1: 9FD52C962C2823DC3D5379B18C189B468B4D6D1B

In the picture, it is using 1997.7MB of RAM while booted from an install.
So half your 4GB RAM stick is left. Ubuntu and the Linux Mints, do not
differ all that much on RAM. They're all 2GB roughly.

[Picture] U2604-RAM-Usage.gif

https://postimg.cc/0znC26Wx

https://imgur.com/a/2CHagac

It's quite possible it isn't entirely a RAM problem.

The N2840 is weaker than the reference processor I use, the E8400.
(I have the E8400 in the Optiplex 780 refurb. That's
my "weak computer" for Win10. It can't run Win11.)

The N2840 seems a seriously weak processor.

Intel Celeron N2840 @ 2.16GHz (62%) 582 NA

Intel Core2 Duo E8400 @ 3.00GHz (65%) 1,221 $23.03* <=== my old Core2 Duo CPU for reference
43W of power, versus 7W on the other one
You can get all sorts of info from the site.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/single-thread/page5
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/multithread/page6

# Example. 4930K 6 Core on which the U2604 install picture was taken (ring bus interconnect on cores)

4930K singlethread 1961 multithread 9384 ratio = 4 (wow, it's worse than my measurement!)
(if the processor was ideal, ratio = 6)

Maybe a Linux like this is worth a try. I installed
Firefox as a separate item in this, and the shocking part
was, it worked.

https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=tinycore

I am lacking in a benchmark collection. For example,
any decent browser benchmarks are no longer supported
or have disappeared. Maybe we can use this:

https://webglsamples.org/aquarium/aquarium.html

As you punch up the sample size, the FPS rate drops.
And that's how you record some sort of "result".
60FPS is the refresh of my monitor, and you could
use, say, the number of fish that causes 30FPS as a bench.

[Picture] Linux-Mint-Comparison.jpg

https://postimg.cc/BjmMG77P

https://imgur.com/a/qUQIBz2

The benchmark does not tell us much. The OS that had the video driver,
could load and run an awesome number of aquarium fish. The others,
not so much. This tells us, a weak computer had better have a video
driver that actually has the hardware acceleration for WebGL working.

The menus aren't easy to compare without actually using them.

One of the OSes does not put disk icons on the desktop. Not good.

Memory consumption is roughly the same (as collected under similar conditions). No big savings as a function of a different DE choice.

*******

TinyCore as an OS, would be a lot more spartan than this.
It would only be for evaluation, as a web browser only environment maybe.
All depends on how the video driver thing, works out or not there.

Paul

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Mon, 6/8/2026 3:14 PM, Paul wrote:

TinyCore as an OS, would be a lot more spartan than this.
It would only be for evaluation, as a web browser only environment maybe.
All depends on how the video driver thing, works out or not there.

Paul

"Linux saves an Intel Celeron N2840 laptop - Acer Aspire E14, 2GB Teardown and upgrade"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF_flOmYsgA

The presenter is using Zorin as a test OS.

Zorin is derived from Ubuntu.

I was hoping to see what kind of graphics driver was provided.

The only thing I want noted at first, is the speed it is
booting Zorin. And that's the concern with the project,
is the processor just doesn't seem to have the oomph needed.

At 23 minutes, he adds a 4GB stick to replace the 2GB stick.
The machine might be a single SODIMM type. And the OS boots
a little faster with the additional RAM. the memory is a 1Rx8
and a 2Rx8 would be two ranks of chips and the same "chip density"
as what he used.

It's probably got an Intel driver for Linux, when the
options for Windows drivers for the iGPU on that thing
might not be as good. Intel has experimented on occasion
with "foreign" iGPU materials, for which there was only
the one driver offered by the company doing GPUs. There was
seemingly no maintenance contract for Intel to be getting
driver updates. In that case, the iGPU would have been
more familiar to a smartphone owner. Most of what Intel
makes, they're Intel iGPUs and the driver situation is better.

But the playing around he is doing, suggests there might
be some acceleration in the iGPU. Which can make or break
a machine this weak. If the iGPU cannot do the work, the
dual core CPU is not really equipped to "fill in" for it.

The video is not a slop-machine video, but parts of it are
a bit slow :-) I could at least read the labels on the
SODIMMs as they went by. And it seems the various companies
who made OEM laptops, they all liked their screws. Something
like 17 screws in the bottom of that one. And it still needs
a spudger to pry it apart.

Paul

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-06-09 10:17, Paul wrote:

And it seems the various companies
who made OEM laptops, they all liked their screws. Something
like 17 screws in the bottom of that one. And it still needs
a spudger to pry it apart.

Yes, sounds very like the Dell Precision M?300 series, for example the
M6300s! The HD, RAM, and WiFi and optional mobile cards, were simple
enough to access, but everything else, most importantly the fans, were a
toil. IIRC, first remove the screen - 2 aerial connectors, ribbon
connector for the display, then 4 screws - then 5 or 6 screws holding
the top, the palm rest, to the bottom, turn it over, another 12 screws
holding the bottom to the top! Only then could you get at the innards,
for example just to change a worn-out fan.

By contrast, the Dell Precision M6700/6800s are much better in this
respect. Remove the battery and 2 screws holding the bottom plate, and everything, except 2 of the 4 memory slots, is there. The remaining 2
memory slots are under the keyboard, which has a clip in surround and
about 4 or 5 screws.

--

Fake news kills!

I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk


--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)