Member Avatar for Piranha Pete

I would like to upgrade the RAM in my Dell Dimension 3000 from 1GB (2x516mb) to 2GB (2x1GB). Dell quoted me AUD$220 each! The only info they would tell me was "DIMM,1G,400M,125X64,8K,184"
So I got on the internet and found that Dell in Canada sell compatible Kingston KTD 8300/1G for CAD$75.99 each. In addition several Canadian sites sell the same RAM for around CAD$40 each. It seems that most of these sites will not ship to Australia. As yet none of them have responded to my emails regarding shipping to Australia. In Australia the same RAM is available for around AUD$120 each, 3 times the price in Canada. I consider this to be too expensive, but have been unable to find a company in Australia that comes near the price in US or Canada.

Further more, I ran Crucial System scanner and found that Crucial have compatible 2GB Kit (1GBx2), 184 pin, DIMM DDR PC3200 memory module for US$79.98 i.e. $40 each, which I consider to be a good price. Crucial claim that they ship RAM internationally. However, after I had completed checkout, I was confronted by the following message; "Due to trade restrictions, we are able to ship certain Crucial Gear products only within the US. You may remove these products and continue with your order, or change the shipping country to US".
Not a lot of help.

I am able to buy the correct RAM in Australia. However, it seems that I have to pay 3 times the price in US. Considering that I am also looking for 4GB of RAM for my Medion MD8088 I would be most appreciative if someone could direct me to a company that sells compatible RAM in Australia for a reasonable price.

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Short answer: there isn't one single reason — several predictable business costs and market quirks add up. Small local volume, regional distributor markups, warranty/after‑sales support, shipping and customs overhead, and deliberate regional pricing by manufacturers/retailers all push Australian retail prices above North American online prices. That helps explain why Dell's quoted price can look so high compared with an overseas retail listing. 's surprise at the gap is normal; 's suggestion to shop around is still on point.

Before buying from overseas, always calculate the landed cost (item price + international postage + insurance + broker/clearance fees + any taxes or duty + currency/CC fees). Australia now requires GST collection on many low‑value imports, so factor that in when comparing final cost. See the ATO guidance on GST for low‑value imported goods for how this works in practice. (https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/international-tax-for-business/gst-on-imported-goods-and-services/gst-on-low-value-imported-goods?anchor=Whenthisapplies)

Compatibility and stability tips you can apply right away:

  • Buy a matched kit (2x sticks sold together) rather than two random singles — it avoids timing/trace‑matching issues and reduces headaches with dual‑channel operation.
  • Match capacity, speed (MHz), voltage and CAS timings to your motherboard's supported specs. Check the system/motherboard manual for per‑slot and total limits before ordering.
  • After install, confirm BIOS/UEFI sees the new RAM and run a full memory test (bootable tools like MemTest86 are standard) to catch latent faults. (https://www.memtest86.com/)

Practical next steps: price local reputable stores (warranty and easy RMA often justify a small premium), use international vendors only when the landed cost plus reliable warranty still wins, or use a trusted freight‑forwarder after doing the math. If you import, keep receipts and seller details in case an RMA or customs query is needed. Finally, RAM is a commodity that moves fast — if the price is only marginally better overseas, local convenience and support often end up the better value.

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Member Avatar for Piranha Pete

Thanks I will try your suggestions. I am not that familiar with RAM compatability with my computers so I have to be specific. I am aware that there are different levels of quality. However, how does one explain the difference in pricing btw. US and Aus for the same product? Furthermore, Dell Australia won't even explain what I would be paying for.

Member Avatar for The New Normal

Explanation for pricing differences:

because they can (bastards)

seems to give a good explanation of ram for your puta.

Also:
THIS PAGE
and

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