Ram help please

So I just purchased an Alienware m17x r3 with the stock 4 gb ram. I really didn't want to pay 200 dollars for 8 gb. I was hoping someone could link two sticks of 4gb ram that would work well with the system. I also would like it to be 1600MHz. Also would using the ram that comes with the system work with the new ram or should i just leave the old ram out.

I'm kinda new at this so any help you guys can give me would be awesome.

 

here u go, this is what i'm using

Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 HyperX Plug n Play Laptop Memory Model KHX1600C9S3P1K2/8G

 

Ill probably go for this one as well, the only other option would be 1866MHz one from HyperX, but some say that its in fact slower and the advateges would than limit to maybe some better battery life (or so Ive read) when using the integrated GPU as it would benefit from it greatly

 

I don't think the 1333mhz stock ram installed together hyper x 1600mhz will work. They have diff timings.

You will not see any noticeable difference between 1333 and 1600 ram. Only in benchmark you will see the difference. What i did was just buy an extra 8gig ram 1333 and installed it with stock ram making my system ram to 12gig but hyperx will sure make your system looks cool

 

I'm using the exact same HyperX 1600 PnP (8GB). Works great. Remove the old; insert the new. Highly recommended.

 

Ok thanks everyone. I'll get the hyperx from the link

 

Doesnt the system just downclock the faster memory to run at the speed of the slower memory?

Either way...I agree, you really dont see much real life difference between the 2 speeds.

 

Always enjoy what The Revelator has to say! "Remove the old; insert the new" just that simple.

 

ram will only run as fast as the slowest module in the system

anything faster as 1600mhz is mainly just to score points on the benchmarks but barely have any effect on gaming.

gl

 

i just want to add to this...you have to make sure that your cpu supports the faster memory or it will be wasted.

For example...the i7 2630 only supports up to ddr3 -1333. If you get ddr3 1600, it will run at 1333 so you're just wasting cash.

Intel® Core? i7-2630QM Processor (6M Cache, 2.00 GHz)

 

Actually, you can utilize DDR3 1600 (@1600) in the R3 with a 2630qm by using XMP profiles (XMP 2) in the BIOS. This subject has been addressed numerous times in the forum. For example, http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/568214-what-best-ram-2630qm.html and references therein. Also http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/559613-best-aftermarket-ram-m17x-r3.html.

 

The issue is that the memory controller is located on the processor (i7 2630 in this case) and it sets what speed the ram can run at. The memory controller on the i7 2630 is set to only accept 1066/1333 ddr3 so i dont' know how setting something in the bios is gonna override those settings. Intel has not unlocked this feature in the 2630 or have they?

*UNLESS...it is overclocked. So it may be possible to overclock the ram speed so it goes to 1600...hence, you run your 1600mhz ram at 1600

I assume that owners of 1600mhz ddr3 have benched the ram to make sure that it is actually running at 1600mhz

 

^^ You need to dig a little deeper, my friend. It's true that the 2630qm only provides native support up to 1333, but that is not the end of the story. The threads referred to in the prior post are a good starting point, but a Google search will provide reams of information supporting the proposition and explaining the whys and hows of XMP memory profiles.

 

yes, i have been diggin a little