Alienware M17x R3 BSOD after Ram Memory Upgrade

Hello Fellow Tech Gurus!

I am having a huge headache after upgrading the ram memory of my m17x r3.

First let me start by saying I have been experiencing issues with my current ram setup recently, and so i decided to replace the ram inside of my computer, thinking they had gone out on me. It originally came with x4 2gb memory sticks, and as I started to experience issue, I started to removed them, and I was down to 1 2gb stick. It seems to me ram slots 1 & 2 are not working properly as when I put ram memory into them I would get BSOD in 5-10 mins of computer usage after boot. So I am thinking the slots have gone out. I also tested each slot individually and still same effect.

So I went on the try out slots 3 & 4 under the keyboard, which seems to work just fine when I use only 1 ram chip in one or the other. But the problem occurs when I try and fill both ram slots in slots 3 & 4 under the keyboard with crucial 2x 8 gb of ram sticks, which total to 16gb total ram memory.

BSOD and freezing occurs like crazy. But if I use just one of the ram sticks in either slot, no problem.

I dunno if this is hardware or software. I am think that my motherboard is on its way out the door, but any suggestions you all have would be great. I have already clean installed win 7, and is currently running bios A10 (unlocked, I believe)

I would also like to note that my motherboards internal vga is not detected, and just noticed this a few days ago upon trying to figure out the ram situation.

other issues is my laptop battery is pretty much dead, and the only for my computer to cut on is if the AC adapter is connected

I would also like to know can 1x 16gb 1600 ram stick run in my computer? or is it not supported by my motherboard?

thanks!

Specs:

Alienware M17xR3 (2011 3D FHD ed)

Service Tag:
30W75Q1

Bios ver:
A10 (should be unlocked)


Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Processor
Intel® Core™ i7-2960XM CPU @ 2.70GHz

Chipset
Intel® 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family

Graphics
Nvidia GTX 680m

Audio
IDT High Definition Audio CODEC
High Definition Audio Device

Networking and I/O
DW1501 Wireless-N WLAN Half-Mini Card
Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20)
HMA TAP-Windows Adapter V9

Memory
Crucial 8 GB (x2 qty) DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.35V • 1024Meg x 64 •

(these only work under bay 3 or 4, but not dual 8gb at the same time, otherwise BSOD)

Configuration ID:
CT3283724

Storage
WDC WDBNCE5000PNC SSD (installed into bay 0)

 

sounds like you already know the answer.

 

Replacing the motherboard? anything but that lol

After doing extensive research online I have heard horror stories of alienware users replacing their motherboard to fix the ram issue but experience the exact same issues.
I guess you can say I'm hesitant to go through the work of gutting this God forsaken machine and adding a replacement

 

Your CPU supports 1600Mhz memory according to Intel:
https://ark.intel.com/products/5347...essor-Extreme-Edition-8M-Cache-up-to-3_70-GHz

I would start diagnosing the issue by testing all the memory first:
http://www.memtest.org/

One stick at a time in a slot that works fine. If all the sticks pass, you can start putting good known memory to other slots and see how it performs. Good stick to all the slots one by one first to test the slots. Then 2 sticks of the same good known memory to populate 2 slots for dual channel testing. It will take a while to test all the memory, but you will know the answer for sure if memory or mainboard is faulty.

When you populate 2 slots, memory should run in dual channel mode. Memory speed can be checked in Task manager's Memory tab or using something like CPU-Z.



Are you overclocking your memory? That might be causing BSOD.

According to Crucial 16GB stick will not work in your laptop. Here is their full memory compatibility list for M17x R3:
https://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Alienware/m17xr3

 

Thanks for your reply. I've already tested each stick in every slot. The two slots under the computer (slots 1 & 2) causes instability and bsod. The 2 slots underneath the keyboard (slots 3 & 4) seem to work fine with only one stick inserted in either one. But once I add both 8gb stick into both slots 3 & 4 I get crashes, freezes and bsod. Sometimes to the point where I won't even make it to the boot screen.

I am not sure if I am overclocking or not, are those settings inside the bios?

Because of I'm not mistaken, I do have unlocked bios I installed a few years back by svl7. The settings I am unsure of, as it has been a while since I tampered with them. I did reset them to default and save it though

 

Yes, it would be in bios under Advanced tab at the bottom (in stock bios). Probably in a similar place in the unlock bios version too.

 

Thanks. Is it under performance options? And what particular option would I have to change?

 

Overclocking feature is disabled under performance options actually. What's "extended IC" do?

Also my bios just froze on me when I went into one of these settings

 

I don’t have unlocked bios, other people using it would be more helpful with the settings.