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    Which RAM and why M17x R3

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Arseassin, Jun 20, 2011.

  1. Arseassin

    Arseassin Notebook Guru

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    Ok so I'm sure its buried in the forums somewhere but someone can probably answer this really quickly:

    Newegg is offering 10% off on all laptop ram purchases for 72 hours right now, so I'm gonna go ahead and jump on it as I'm running 4g stock 1333 from alienware.

    I'm wondering simply the difference between

    Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model KHX1600C9S3K2/8GX
    8gb hyperx (blue) 109.99

    and

    Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 HyperX Plug n Play Laptop Memory Model KHX1600C9S3P1K2/8G
    8gb hyperx (grey) 110.99

    Both are 1600, one is plug and play one is not, I'm not sure what difference this makes.

    btw I'm on 2720, ty
     
  2. codesx100

    codesx100 Notebook Consultant

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    honestly i go with the gray ones, they just got released with the DDR3 1866 ones. So for a $1 more your getting newer technology.

    (PS i dont think it matters, ive seen the blue ones used but still i personally would go with whats newer)

    EDIT:
    Support Intel XMP (Extreme Memory Profiles) on the blue IDK what this is but it may be something to look into

    Also The Gray are made for Sandy Bridge CPUs
     
  3. Arseassin

    Arseassin Notebook Guru

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    Well the XMP looks good on paper, but is there really any advantage to one over the other?
     
  4. inap

    inap .........................

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    any reason for getting new ram????
     
  5. Arseassin

    Arseassin Notebook Guru

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    Because its 10% off, and im running 4gb right now, no reason not to upgrade to 8gb and bump up to 1600 from 1333 if its only 100$
     
  6. codesx100

    codesx100 Notebook Consultant

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    Since you have sandy bridge, the Plug and play one is designed for SB. i dont think there is much advantage btw. So go with the PnP
     
  7. zero2005

    zero2005 Notebook Consultant

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    if you do get one or the other, let us know. would be great info to know which works for sure. i was just lookin at buying 2x4's for the other 2 slots, but they were 1333 and 70-80$. wonder if the difference is worth it... edit: g.skill also has similiar for 90$
     
  8. NateN34@gmail.com

    [email protected] Notebook Consultant

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    Doesn't the little heat spreader on the HyperX RAM cause issues with the RAM fitting inside properly?
     
  9. zero2005

    zero2005 Notebook Consultant

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    i wouldnt think so. i've seen a couple other people with sig's that have the same ram?
     
  10. fjc2

    fjc2 Notebook Consultant

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    It fit perfectly fine in my M17xR3 despite the heat sinks.
     
  11. Arseassin

    Arseassin Notebook Guru

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    Ok well I ordered the grey PnP version (2nd link)

    I'll let you guys know how everything works out when they get here.
     
  12. scottiemon

    scottiemon Notebook Geek

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    Yeah, no issues with the heat sinks. At least on the underside of the computer. Under the keyboard, I am not so sure.
     
  13. NegLet

    NegLet Notebook Guru

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    Really? Where does it say that? I am only finding the sale to be for desktop memory at 15% off...

    I would recommend the Plug and Play version; others have already said that it's designed for Sandy Bridge models. From what I understand as well is that all you do is simply place them in and have to do little else to get them up and running.
     
  14. Dionisios

    Dionisios Notebook Guru

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    I have 16GB of the PnP 1600mhz RAM installed and there are no issues with installing it- it fits perfectly in all 4 RAM slots. :)
     
  15. iPhantomhives

    iPhantomhives Click the image to change your avatar.

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    From what I know Hyperx 1866 ram , it give few fps like 1-5fps more in games and help in benchmarks , also will increase your wei score.
     
  16. TraptPatriot

    TraptPatriot Notebook Consultant

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    Where is that discount? Only seeing it for the desktop memory...
     
  17. NateN34@gmail.com

    [email protected] Notebook Consultant

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    Yeh, I don't think there is one.
     
  18. NegLet

    NegLet Notebook Guru

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    Well that's a bummer...oh well, I suppose I'll just continue to save up money then.
     
  19. Arseassin

    Arseassin Notebook Guru

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    The discount was in an email they sent me offering 10-20% off on various components as a thank you for purchasing an OEM W7 pro copy from them :p

    Only had 72 hours to use it so I had to jump on it.
     
  20. TraptPatriot

    TraptPatriot Notebook Consultant

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    What the heck man! Gotta be more specific. I was all excited and now I'm sad.

    Also, that's pretty garbage. I bought W7 last year and never got any discounts for it! Soooo jealous lol
     
  21. Dionisios

    Dionisios Notebook Guru

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    Can you provide a source?

    I don't think 1866mhz ram makes any difference in gaming- maybe 1-2 fps (and not in every game), but this is not something that you can't perceive while playing. That's been my understanding...the advantages are minimal to nothing over stock 1333 RAM.
     
  22. inap

    inap .........................

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    don't know how reliable this is but here is a small write-up about the 1866ram, in most cases there is little difference, and in some case it actually does worst.

    Quick Look: Kingston HyperX Plug n Play DDR3-1866 SODIMM
     
  23. Arseassin

    Arseassin Notebook Guru

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    Sorry for the long delay before a response.

    I got my 8g of the HyperX PnP 1600 in a few days ago and havent had a lot of free time to test it, but after installation I didnt have to do any bios adjustments, everything auto set itself to proper timings so that is a +

    Its definitely faster than 4g of stock 1333 that comes with it, boots up quickly and after logging in takes about 5 seconds to load everything (stock software + xfire/steam/daemon tools