Adding RAM and HDD to M17xR3

This may have been answered in other threads but I cant seem to find the information I need. I'm pretty noob with computers as this M17xR3 is going to be the first decent notebook/pc that I have ever owned. Please forgive me if these questions are general knowledge.

1. I read something about triple channel ram working better in multiples of 3. Would 6gb/12gb be better than 8gb/16gb?

2. If I keep the stock 2x2gb samsung ram, would it be okay to add another 2gb stick from a different brand? Or is it a must to replace the stock ram with 3 sticks from the same brand.

3. When adding another HDD to the laptop, do I need to reinstall everything on the laptop eg. windows? Or is it essentially like adding an external hard drive where I see the HDD pop up in my computer, ready to use.

I favorited posts that covered the installation of these before but I cant find them now for some reason. I've found some helpful videos on youtube though. Thanks for all the help.

 

1: No 8/16gb > 6/12gb
2: its ok to add a different brand if it has the same speed / latency
3: you do not need to reinstall windows if you want to use it as a storage drive.

 

Thanks a lot! Cleared up all of my questions. Same speed/latency would be like 1333hz right? Or are there 2 things I have to look for.

What if I add a 4gb stick to 2x2gb ram?

 

Its ok to add any size to the 2x2. As long as the ram has 1333Mhz speed and CL9 latency.

On my desktop I have 2x 4GB HyperX 1600MHz CL9 and 1x 6GB Corsair 1600MHz CL9.

 

One important note - M17x R3 doesnt have tripple channel, so I would recommend 2 or 4 ram modules. Speed is not so important, you can have 2 1333 MHz modules and 2 1600 MHz modules, when plugged in together, they will all run at 1333 MHz. I have for example 2x4 GB 1600 HyperX RAM and 2x4 GB 1333 stock RAM, but I am using only those HyperX modules as I prefer 8GB 1600 over 16GB 1333.

 

Can you tell without opening the laptop if the stock RAM is underneath the keyboard or on the underside of the laptop? I want to see which side I need to open, rather not have to take off my keyboard and find that those slots are already full.

 

They put the ram in the bottom slots if you only have two modules. Anyways, you would have to open the bottom first to be able to remove the keyboard.

Here is how you change the RAM modules. Alienware M17X R3 Swapping RAM

Thanks to Joebarchuck for the great video.

 

Ah so aircutie if I'm understanding correctly, if I use 1x2gb and 1x4gb, It will work better than if i use 3x2gb?

 

two of those modules can run in dual channel while in 3x2gb, so it should be slightly better. it will be just more complicated as you will need to get to ram modules beneath the keyboard (which is however quite simple, i did it already twice without problems). if you want dual channel, your best option is to buy two same modules in a pack.

 

Still a little unclear.

So are u saying the 3 modules of 2gb will be better than the 2 modules of 2gb and 4gb?

 

Just get 4 sticks, each from a dual channel kit and each the same ram amount.

It is dual channel, with 4 total slots.

So, you closest would be 4x2gb.