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    M17Xr3 memory compatability questions

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by ailienwarem17xr3, Jul 9, 2011.

  1. ailienwarem17xr3

    ailienwarem17xr3 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I would like to upgrade my memory from 6 to 8 GB, at the same time, going up in speed. I have the stock 1333 crap dell shoves in every r3, but how fast will the motherboard let me go? how do get it to see this faster memory? I remember seeing a thread on here about this, but a search turned up nothing.
     
    ailienwarem17xr3, Jul 9, 2011
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  2. ailienwarem17xr3

    ailienwarem17xr3 Notebook Enthusiast

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    ha, dell says this computer will only go up to 1333MHz, lovely. is there anybody out there that knows if this is true or not?

    is there a significant difference between 10600 and 10666? is there a significant difference with a smaller cas latency number? timing?

    thanks for any feedback, I'm thinking this might not be worth doing. dell put the no name memory in my computer, if that helps.
     
    ailienwarem17xr3, Jul 9, 2011
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  3. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    Standard memory will only allow up to 1333mhz but XPM memory and changing to XMP in the bios will allow up to 1866mhz currently, I think it will go higher but the fastest XMP for laptops is 1866mhz right now.
     
    DaneGRClose, Jul 9, 2011
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  4. ailienwarem17xr3

    ailienwarem17xr3 Notebook Enthusiast

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    okay, so would there be a significant difference between the cheap mystery ram and 1866 kingston hyperx with a cas latency of 11? seems rather slow for "fast" ram, no? and what about the same ram in 1600 with a cas of 9?
     
    ailienwarem17xr3, Jul 9, 2011
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  5. DaneGRClose

    DaneGRClose Notebook Virtuoso

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    No, unless you're doing heavy benching or trying to game on the IGP there is very little difference at all even from 1333 to 1866.
     
    DaneGRClose, Jul 9, 2011
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  6. TostitoBandito

    TostitoBandito Notebook Evangelist

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    Short answer, no. You will see little/no real-world performance difference between 1333 and 1866+ RAM, regardless of timings.

    There are two applications where the expensive fast memory is worthwhile, signifcant overclocking with an unlocked processor (can't on m17x), or if you want to get more performance out of the integrated graphics.

    Otherwise, there are much better things to spend money on for more performance, like SSD's for example. If you've run out of things to upgrade, then yes by all means spend money on faster RAM. The price difference between 1333 and 1600 RAM is actually pretty small, but 1866+ is a complete waste of money for this laptop IMO.
     
    TostitoBandito, Jul 9, 2011
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