El lute,
I have put all kinds of different RAM in Dell computers along with many other Dead End Computer Maker's machines.
Dell uses stripped down Motherboards with some features to keep you from putting the motherboard in non Dell cases and from being able to change to a non Dell Power Supply, but that is about it.
If you told us which Motherboard is in your Dell, we could tell you which RAM to get.
Take Care,
Richard