windows 7 - Laptop RAM upgrade: max out more than recommended?

I have a Dell Studio 1735...currently with 3GB DDR2 RAM...Max RAM is 4GB.

Currently have Windows 7 32-bit installed, want to upgrade to 64-bit...

Everything on this page is compatible with this laptop, for sure...

http://www.pcmemorystore.com/Dell-Studio_Laptops-Studio_1735-ram.htm

My question: can I make this laptop handle more RAM than 4GB, say by buying one 2GB stick, and a 4GB Stick and putting them in together? Is it possible?

Side/harmful effects? Bad idea? Hard on the laptop or shorten it's life?

Answer

Your exact question is answered in this question and this questions. However, my suggestion is to buy two identical sticks to get the most out of it if you do choose to try. Meaning make sure the ram speed between them the same since it is DDR2 ram. Here is post from Tom's Hardware form about mix matching ram. Here is another page with FAQ about memory upgrade.

Answers to your three questions

1. Side/harmful effects?
   
   
   
   
   
   • Side effects yes but not harmful. Worse case it will not work.
   
   


2. Bad idea?
   
   
   
   
   • Well, not the best idea unless you have money to waste if it doesn't work.
   
   


3. Hard on the laptop or shorten it's life?
   
   
   
   
   
   • No. Will not shorten its life.