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Earlier I had upgraded my Dimension 4550 by adding 512Mb (to the original 256Mb), and then I discovered this article, quite by accident. I upgraded the BIOS to A08 (easy peasy), bought 2 Kingston 1Gb memory modules, installed them and I am now happily using 2Gb of memory on the old workhorse. Couldn't have been easier.
I upgraded my 4550 Bios to A08 as well, purchased 2 - 1 GIG PC3200 SDRAM DDR400 memory cards, installed them and got no reaction. Computer would not boot. These sticks show that they are compatable in this process and they clearly are not. I reinstalled my 2 -512 memory sticks and it went back to working normally at 1 GIG, just slow. I would caution those wanting to do the same that this theory doesn't always work, as I have proven.
I just want to report back of my success after reading this thread and installing a new 1GB PC2700 CL2.5 stick.
Dimension 4550 / FSB 533MHz; max memory frequency 333MHz;
1GB DDR PC3200 CL3 should work identical in such systems.
Be cautious that the high density DDR PC2700/PC3200 probably will not work for this model. And definitely don't use DDR2.
The high density DDR is much more cheaper, you can get about $12-20 for 1GB on eBay or after-rebate at Fry's.
The low density DDR cost about $35 for 1GB currently.
I would have by 2x 1GB, but the low density 1GB DDR PC2700/3200 is relatively expensive and I decided not to overspend for this now kids' computer.
I bought the system new with 128MB PC2100 /266MHz shipped. Immediately, I throw the 128MB/PC2100 out and put in one 512MB/PC2700 which was around beginning of 2003. As XP grew fatter with service packs and patches along the way, I added second 512MB/PC2700 probably around 2005. If I knew that the socket actually takes 1GB, I might have bought 1GB stick back then.
Both of my earlier 512MB modules are KVR333X64C25/512;
so I bought the 1GB from the same design family KVR333X64C25/1G
Again, I believe the key for success is probably to get low density DDR module.
#1- All I did was buy two new 1GB,DDR PC3200 (PNY) a total of 2GB and installed them. I did not change anything at all (BIOS still at A00) factory set from Dell, and it works like a champ. #-2- I also am going to install a P4 3.06 533FSB 478pin 512 Cache CPU (SL6PG) and all I've read was then to change BIOS to A08 for the HT. Will the BIOS setting for the SL6PG be correct set at A08 ? Thanks, Advenger