M17X R2 memory upgrade help !

Hi all,
After reading several threads to upgrade memory on my Alienware M17X, I finally pulled a trigger and bought 16Gb (2 x 8 Gb) emory kit by Kingston KHX16S9P1K2/16, 16Gb DDR3 1600 CL9 204.
I believe mine is an Alienware M17X R2 because I have the aluminum case version.
I got them two days later from Tigerdirect. It should be PnP but after installed both sticks, and restarted, the power would go on but won't go pass the blank screen and the caplock light kept blinking. Took out both of the new memory sticks and put the original 2 x 2 Gb stick back on and computer starts just fine.
Can anyone here help pointing me in the right direction? Thank you in advance for all your help and suggestions.

Justin.

 

16GB IS supported by the R2.

What BIOS are you running? should be A10 (modded if preffered)
Keep in mind that your laptop will only support mem. speeds up to 1333MHZ so the 1600Mhz will not be achievable.
Perhaps the timings are too low for the system to properly work after downclock?

It would be more advisable to get a nice matched pair based on 1333MHZ

 

Open a Command Prompt window and type wmic csproduct get name, you'll get your laptops revision this way.

The maximum supported RAM configuration for the M17x R1 and R2 is 8gb @ 1333Mhz. You can install 16gb @ 1333Mhz in the R2, they won't be recognized in the BIOS but will be recognized and used properly in Windows according to other members who have tried this.

 

Ensure you have an M17x R2 the R1 had an identical body, but used Core2Duo processors, where as the R2 used first generation Core-i processors.

16GB May not work in the R1. Also any RAM over 1333MHz will be downclocked to 1333MHz.

 

After type in command, it says

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q900 @2.00Ghz 2.00Ghz

Another weird things I noticed is it's supposed to have 4 Gb memory ram
but information only displayed 2.00 Gb (1.75Gb usable)

I bought this 16Gb memory kit from Tigerdirect. Should I swab for the 1333 MHz? Not sure if I can since I already opened it. Thanks again, guys.

 

Looks like you have an R1 as all the R2's I have seen have the "i" series processors.

 

As stated above, Q9000 is Core 2 Quad so it means it is an R1 so the maximum RAM is 8 GB. I think several people have tried 16 GB without success.

 

Not to steal the topic but what memory would work better for the M17x R2:

This one or This one?
The 1600 should downclock right? (it would then also be more future proof...

 

Hi folks,

SUCCESS !!!
For years I was told 8GB is the maximum for Alienware M17x-R2. Now I am running 16GB RAM !

I was inspired by your discussion here. So today I dared to upgrade my Alienware M17x-R2 (German Jan-2010 model) from 8 to 16GB RAM. It works - having no problems. I am very happy with my 16GB (2x 8GB-selected Kit) Corsair CL10 Vengeance. The DDR3 1600MHz clock speed goes down automatically from 1600 to 1333 MHz. RAM is working correctly.
I paid only 85 EURO (something like USD 99) for the selected 16GB Kit.

Details:
Corsair 16GB (2x8gb) CL10 Vengeance Kit (CMSX16GX3M2A1600C10) SO-DIMM, DDR3-1600, PC3-12800S (selected), CL10
EUR 85.00 - with a local PC dealer.
Previous RAM: 8gb (2x 4gb SO-DIMM), Hynix 2x 4gb 2Rx8_PC10600S-9-10-F2 (HMT351S6AFR8C-H9 N0 AA)

Note:
I am not a gamer. But the Intel core i7 CPU inside M17x-R2 was quite important to me for server virtualization. Since Jan-2010 I use a lot virtualization as an IT trainer/consultant. The mobile form factor is important to me, because I am always on the road. These days I am running Win8-pro on 256gb-SSD(hdd0) + 720gb-SATA(hdd1). Using the Win8pro built-in Hyper-V for virtualizing machines like WinSrv2008-R2, WinSrv2012 and Linux RHEL-5/6. VMware-Player is for virtualizing BSD-based NetApp DataONTAP-rel.8 storage simulator.

With the 16GB RAM on the host all my virtualized machines can get more memory now, and I can run more VMs side-by-side.
Thank you all for this discussion thread.

Cheers & very happy
- Hyperwiz, Germany
___________________________________________
Alienware M17x-R2 (purchased from Dell Germany, Jan-2012)
CPU: Intel core i7 820QM, 1.72GHz, Socket-G(rPGA)
Clarksfield (45nm Nehalem-micro-architecture) Hyper-threading, Turbo Boost, Smart Cache.
Chipset: PM55, DMI
RAM: 16gb RAM (2x 8gb so-dimm), new since dec-2012
GFX: 1x ATI Radeon 4870 Mobility, 1GB
NIC: 1 Gigabit Ethernet, Intel 80577-LC (low power, consumer)
OS: Win8pro with Hyper-V, new since oct-2012
HDD0: SSD Samsung 470 series, 256gb, new since nov-2011
HDD1: SATA Seagate ST9750420AS, new since nov-2011
HDD2: external via USB-3.0: new since dec-2012
2 TB Seagate Baracuda ST2000DM001 (Sata-6g)
USB-3.0 ExpressCard-Adapter Trancend(p/n: PNU)

 

If by future proof you mean you can take the ram out and use it in another notebook down the road yes. That will work. But both will run at 1333MHz in the R2.

@ Hyperwiz, Glad you were able to upgrade. Sounds like for your work that will come in very useful.