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    M17x (R1) memory upgrade issue

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by tyranus7, Jun 21, 2014.

  1. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi everybody,

    So long since I was here. The thing is I buught a 2x4GB DDR3 1333 Mhz pack, the problem is the laptop won't boot, I get a BSOD in windows loading screen. In the official Customer Service manual Dell states that the M17x supports up to 8GB running at 1333 MHz:

    Captura.JPG

    [​IMG]

    So why is the Corsair 8GB (2x4GB) RAM DDR3 SODIMM Memory CMSO8GX3M2A1333C9 not compatible?

    Anyhow I can sell those ram cards. But what 1333 MHz memory is compatible with the M17x R1.?
     
  2. V3curonium

    V3curonium Notebook Geek

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    Did you try to boot with 1 stick? You could run memtest too.


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  3. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well I tried all configurations, with two sticks , with only one stick, with the other stick only and always got the BSOD. Plus the sticks came new mint in sealed box, so I think this is some kind of incompatibility issue.. though I don't know what's the root of the problem.
     
  4. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    So, it may have nothing to do with the memory?
     
  5. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Run memtest on both sticks overnight.
     
  6. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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  7. V3curonium

    V3curonium Notebook Geek

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    Seems the answer is in that thread :)


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  8. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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    That thread implies that the M17x R1 does not support 1333 MHz sticks, though some member in the same thread states that he was running sticks @ 1333 MHz, plus Dell states that the M17x R1 supports 1333 MHz RAMs. :confused:
     
  9. V3curonium

    V3curonium Notebook Geek

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    Do a memtest first. That rules a RAM problem out


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  10. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Try each stick by itself and manually set the timings.
     
  11. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't have the option to set timings in BIOS, the only thing I can do about RAMs is to change the clock rate.. I tried downclocking the ram to 1066 with no success
     
  12. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    With both sticks each running by themselves they behave the same?
     
  13. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Not exactly the same:

    RAM1 + RAM2 => Windows freeze at starting windows screen (stays freeze forever)

    RAM1 only => Windows go to BSOD at starting windows screen

    RAM2 only => Windows go to BSOD at starting windows screen

    As an aditonal informatin I tried an Ubuntu live cd and I get an error before Ubuntu go to the desktop, I guess is the linux equivalent to the windows BSOD.
     
  14. tyranus7

    tyranus7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Well I went to a local store and bought a couple of 4GB sticks. A 1333 MHz samsung and a 1600 MHz kingston, and it works!!! Now I have 8 GB of RAM memory running at 1333 MHz.. :D

    It seems like corsair doesn't really work well on this machine.
     
  15. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Well that's why motherboards try to test out specific RAM modules (QVL) and only say XX or YY RAM is supported. The Corsair in "theory" should have worked but sometimes machines can just reject certain brands/models of RAM.