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    RAM Recommendation...

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Na8331, Nov 17, 2011.

  1. Na8331

    Na8331 Notebook Consultant

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    Hey guys,

    I'm looking to upgrade the ram for my M17x R3

    I currently have 4Gb of 1600MHz CL 11 Ram.

    Would it be a better upgrade if I purchased 16Gb of 1600Mhz CL 9 or 8Gb of 1866Mhz CL 11?

    By better upgrade I mean what is going to give me better performance overall (speed/fps increase/less lagtime/etc) and will I notice it...

    I run a lot of photo editing programs but I feel as though 8Gb would probably suffice for me but I also feel like it wouldn't hurt having extra just in case to make it 16Gb.

    Price does not matter. And I am also referring to the HyperX series for the RAM.

    Thanks :)
     
    Na8331, Nov 17, 2011
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  2. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    in games, you will not notice a single thing...going from 4gigs 1600 cl11 to 16gigs 1600 cl9. Maybe in a benchmark, but not in a game. You *might* gain 1-2% going from cas 11 to cas 9 in games so that means if you were getting 30fps before, you're now getting 30.3 - 30.6 fps

    From a cost perspective, i'd get 8 gigs of ddr3 1600 for a grand total of 12gigs. Keep them paired evenly to remain in dual channel so leave your 2x2gig sticks you have now and add 2x4gig sticks

    The hyperx are popular...the hyperx ddr3 1600 2x4gig pnp kit was on sale yesterday for $63.99 shipped so you have to keep your eyes open
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 17, 2011
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  3. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    Get the cheapest RAM you can... going from 1066HMz CL9 to 2133MHz CL9 gives you a 1% increase, in some games, if you're lucky.

    Synthetic Benchmarks : Tom's Ultimate RAM Speed Tests

    Fast RAM is just useless. Complete marketing bollocks, and nothing else. Save yourself $100 - which you can put toward an SSD, which bloody-well will show improvements, everywhere - and just get this.

    Newegg.com - CORSAIR 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Laptop Memory Model CM3X8GSDKIT1066 G
     
    Serephucus, Nov 17, 2011
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  4. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    you say the truth brother! Smartest thing i've heard all day :D... rep+
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 17, 2011
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  5. ravenite72

    ravenite72 Notebook Consultant

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    I wouldn't recommend getting 1866 Ram; I had several BSOD's a day till I replaced it with 1600
     
    ravenite72, Nov 17, 2011
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  6. Na8331

    Na8331 Notebook Consultant

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    Really? Did you try to put 16Gb in? I've heard that 16Gb of 1866 could be unstable....
    What was the reason you chose 1866 to begin with vs the 1600?
     
    Na8331, Nov 17, 2011
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  7. aznpos531

    aznpos531 Notebook Evangelist

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    Don't mean to jack the thread but is 16GB the most the R3 can take? Will I be able to install 32GB (8GB x 4)?

    Thanks.
     
    aznpos531, Nov 18, 2011
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  8. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    Serephucus, Nov 18, 2011
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  9. ravenite72

    ravenite72 Notebook Consultant

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    I only installed 8GB of 1866;kept getting BSOD's and everytime I ran the Diagnostic tool in the boot menu options when it tested the memory and I got several error messages.So I switched to HyperX 1600 and it's been stable ever since. I guess that's why Dell doesn't offer 1866 as an option.
     
    ravenite72, Nov 18, 2011
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  10. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    its about 50/50 for those reporting system instabilities with 1866ram and those that plug them in and say they run great via XMP profiles
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 18, 2011
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  11. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    just to add to the link that Serephucus posted...

    Just be aware that the first 16 gigs is dual channel, but the next 16 might be single channel depending on your cpu
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 18, 2011
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  12. ravenite72

    ravenite72 Notebook Consultant

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    I bought my 1866 at Amazon and they gave me a full refund plus a prepaid shipping label. If you really want to try it get it from them cause they are great about refunding.
     
    ravenite72, Nov 18, 2011
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  13. Na8331

    Na8331 Notebook Consultant

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    yeah i would do that but i want to but I wanna know what the intended benefit is from having a faster set of memory (with a higher CL) than one that is slower (with a lower CL).

    If its not a big deal then ill just get the 1600 and save myself the trouble.
     
    Na8331, Nov 18, 2011
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  14. SlickDude80

    SlickDude80 Notebook Prophet

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    The only real benefits would be faster speeds in the Intel Integrated graphics, and if you're overclocking, as you bump the bclk, the ram runs faster also. However, on a sandy bridge, this is a moot point as you can't raise your front side bus much (i.e., to ~105 or less)

    Save your cash and go with the 1600s
     
    SlickDude80, Nov 18, 2011
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  15. Na8331

    Na8331 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for all the advice. I think ill get 16Gb of hyperx 1600. Now I just hope i dont break the plastic thing around the keyboard when I try pulling it off -_-
     
    Na8331, Nov 18, 2011
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  16. Serephucus

    Serephucus Notebook Deity

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    Since no-one else has asked this: Why the hell do you want 16GB of RAM anyway?
     
    Serephucus, Nov 18, 2011
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  17. Na8331

    Na8331 Notebook Consultant

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    well like i said i do alot of photo editing and some other things that would require some extra ram.
     
    Na8331, Nov 18, 2011
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  18. ahuizotl

    ahuizotl Notebook Geek

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    I would like to thank you for being willing to purchase high profit low use products. It funds my future toys. Thank you again. ;) +1 for hyperx 1600
     
    ahuizotl, Nov 19, 2011
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