Optiplex 7010 Mid tower able to use low density RAM?

The Optiplex 7010 uses Non-ECC dual-channel 1333 or 1600Mhz DDR3 SDRAM - the 2GB chips are configured 256X64, refresh rate 8K.

If the DIMMs you have don't meet these specifications then I doubt they will work (although it's always worth a try!)

I would also recommend you make sure the BIOS is up to date before trying:

www.dell.com/.../driversdetails

Thank you for the BIOS download link.  I will check that out.

Meanwhile, can you verify the RAM shown in the attached photo is correct?  Shown are both sides of the sticks.  I'm not quite sure how to tell if they are 256x64 or if the refresh rate matters since I will be swapping out the existing RAM for 4 x sticks of these.

That looks like a match to me. Let me know how you get on.

Thanks

That ram is too slow for a 7010

You need DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.5V • 256Meg x 64 •
That ram is MT16JTF25664AZ-1G4G1 2GB DIMM 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Dell/optiplex-7010-%28desktop%29

Not likely.  Low Density has never been a problem.  High Density is always a problem with INTEL chipsets.  This is a it either works or it does not depending on the FSB of the specific cpu installed. As you go up in size aka 4 gig dimms they need to be 1.35v and DDR 3 1866.

http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/optiplex-7010-%28desktop%29/CT3464802

 DDR3 PC3-14900 • CL=13 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1866 • 1.35V • 512Meg x 64 •

I know it is slower than 1600MHz, but I have it on hand.  Will it work?