m11x DDR3 Question

I just ordered an m11x for $600 (yay! =D) and I was wondering if I'm able to switch out the DDR3 RAM with my DDR2 RAM.. is that possible or is it not?

EDIT: Yea nevermind got the answer to this question new question down there

 

No it's not possible.

You would likely not want to even if it was.

 

what captain means is that the max the m11x can run its ram is at 800 mhz (so if you put anything higher it will be throttled down or w/e you call it). unless if you have more gb of ddr3 than ddr2, i wouldn't bother (and if you already have 4gb of ram in your m11x, i wouldn't bother also... you probably won't use more than that).

 

It's not possible. DDR2 and DDR3 use a differently shaped slot.

 

No, you cannot. DDR2 and DDR3 use different shaped slots, different pin configurations, and different voltages. It is not simply a matter of speed, as another poster on this thread suggested.

 

Would this work on it?
Newegg.com - WINTEC 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Laptop Memory Model 3AMD31333N-8G2K-R

 

I will show you a few tricks here. If you head to Dell.com down to tech support. and Scan the manuals of your laptop.

Alienware: Online Documentation

The other trick is to open up the laptop look at the memory. See what it key at. You can type in Memory type and everything and it will give you all the info you need.

 

I dont have the laptop yet. It'll be coming this week. I want to get it ahead of time though..
Anyways, I read pg. 63 and I saw it says.. "Your laptop is equipped with a configurable memory unit. The industry standard JEDEC PC3-8500/PC3-10600 (DDR3) SODIMM memory module connectors are available for memory upgrade.." This means that one I stated would work correct? Since it's PC3 10666? =]

 

Just wondering....why would you even bother switching those DDR3 modules out?

 

Yes, you can put faster or slower DDR3 SODIMM (204 pin) memory in, but it will either reduce your performance or at the very least not improve it.

Our motherboard runs at 800MHz so theoretically ddr3 1600MHz would be the fastest memory that wouldn't get down clocked. The actual frequency is doubled because of Double Data Rate (ddr). That being said, some users have reported stability issues when overclocking with fast memory.

To go with faster memory, or more memory for the purpose of rendering graphics, running virtual machines, databases, etc.

I would encourage both of you to read up on DDR3, frequencies, latency, etc.

 

There are a few inaccuracies in your post.

 

Well.. the m11x I ordered has 2GB DDR3 RAM so.. I'm thinking of getting 8GB DDR3. The one I posted (Wintec) is 1333mhz right?

EDIT: So 1333mhz is still better than 1066mhz though right..?

 

Yes, the one you posted (Wintec) is 1333Mhz.

In the case of the Alienware M11x, 1333Mhz is not better than 1066Mhz. No matter what memory you buy, it will run at 800Mhz in the Alienware M11x.

As for 8GB - you can certainly buy 8GB, but be aware that there will likely be no performance difference for you if you bought a 4GB kit (2x2GB) or an 8GB kit (2x4GB). The only people who realistically use over 4GB of RAM are people who do professional photo editing, run databases, or run virtual machines on their laptop. Everyone else who just runs applications, web browsers, and games will find that 4GB is more than enough memory for them.

Having said that, there is no downside to buying 8GB... just that you may be paying for extra RAM capacity that you will never use.

 

Well will 2GB vs 8GB be noticeable? xD

 

Absolutely, yes.

2GB is really too small if you plan on running any games. Technically, you'd probably use a max of around 3.0GB - 3.5GB of RAM at any one time... which is why 4GB is a good amount for most people. But if you like 8GB, and you are willing to pay for 8GB, then by all means go for it. You won't be hurting anything by going 8GB vs 4GB.

 

Bleh I ordered it with 2GB.. now its a must for me to buy this new RAM >_<

 

You can get a 4gb RAM pretty cheap. 4gb will do

 

Since your replies were quoted in my quote I can't respond to them without work that I'm simply not willing to do.

Everything I have read on the subject indicates that clock speeds on DDR3 memory is doubled. The theoretical bandwidth is not, which allows the math to work.

DDR3 SDRAM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Digital-Daily: DDR3 memory: late 2008 | CPU & Memory
[Solved] G.SKILL DDR3 RAM Frequency - Memory - Motherboards-Memory
Discussion How do you Calculate total memory Bandwidth?

Now it could be that every source I've read is incorrect, and you are not... but to believe that I would require a third party or OEM white paper considering that on page four of this datasheet by Samsung they indicate that

Note the "or more memory" for all of the things you suggested having "more memory" for. Also, I still think your frequency / bandwidth calculations are incorrect.

Finally, I'm not sure that I appreciate your lack of formatting making my reply that much more difficult. I don't appreciate the un-necessary bold text. I really don't appreciate the patronizing tone. If you had addressed your doubts via PM and not here on the public forum the response would have been far more positive. I'm curious why you felt the need to make the points you've made in the way that you've made them, given the style of you posts in the past.

I'll extend this offer once, and only once: delete the post and continue this dispute in PMs and I'll do the same.

 

I think you're misinterpreting a bit of what I'm saying, and taking it as an insult. If you were offended by my post, then I want you to know that it was not my intention to offend.

Having said that, I think that the very purpose of a forum like this is to discuss technical matters out in the open.
I suggest that we stick to the topic of discussing memory and its impact on laptops, and leave it at that.

 

Very well, I disagree with your frequency calculations. The above links show to the math that I have understood to be correct for some time.

In a discussion with the user ultimablade earlier this week about his 8gb g.skill 1333 memory he related to me that his stable overclock dropped from 166 to 156 after the installation of the new memory, hence my stability comment.

Cpu-z reports that my memory is running at 501.1MHz and I'm overclocked to 166. The SPD tab reports that I'm using PC3-10700 memory and that it's running at 667MHz. I suspect that the difference is the overclock.

 

Kent's calculations are correct, and you only have to go to the JEDEC standard table in your own Wikipedia link you provided earlier to confirm. You're just reading it wrong.

CPU-Z reports 501.1Mhz because of the overclock to 166 (at 135 with no OC CPU-Z would report 400Mhz). The SPD tab that shows 667Mhz is the I/O bus clock rated for your PC3-10700 memory without the underclocking from the m11x. The actual clock is being reported correctly by CPU-Z in the first tab.

 

Wait wait this side discussion is confuzzling me.. So is it a BAD idea to get 8GB (PC3 10666) instead of 4GB or 8GB (PC3 8500)??

 

No, it makes no difference. Both will be downclocked to 400Mhz (DDR3-800/PC3-6400) speeds.

 

Is there anyway to force it higher or something? sorry im such a computer noob.. =[

 

Yes, by overclocking the CPU. Maximum FSB OC is 166Mhz, so that will achieve a bus clock of 500Mhz for your memory - so it will be almost like having DDR3-1066 memory.

 

It doesn't matter what speed you get, 1066, 1333, 1600 - it's all the same once you put it in the m11x. Personally, I would just go with the best deal you can find on a well known brand (Kingston, Corsair, OCZ, Patriot, Crucial, Mushkin, etc), if for no other reason than their respective reputations and excellent warranties. Also, make sure you buy a paired kit, otherwise dual-channel might not work.

 

I bought this and it worked nicely:

Newegg.com - Kingston 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 Laptop Memory Model KVR1333D3SO/4GR

Of course, dell is cheap and gives you 2 x 1GB, so now i'm running with 5GB. Unless you're doing crazy 3D rendering or something like thatm, 5GB should be fine.

It's really lame that Dell marks up their memory and HD upgrades so much. I ordered a 640GB HD and 4GB of memory at NewEgg for $99.50 - it would have cost me around $300 on the Dell website.

 

With 1GB in 1 slot, and 4 GB in another, your memory is likely not running in dual channel mode. Some motherboards will allow mismatching and dual-channel will work for the smallest unit (ie/in your case that would be 2GB in dual-channel, and leaving 3GB in single channel mode), but I don't know how the m11x behaves. I suspect everything is in single channel mode. Either way, mismatching is not ideal.

 

What can you do to ensure your memory is running in dual channel mode, or is this automatic if the hardware supports it?

Pretty sure speccy reports my memory running at 400MHz, but I'd have to validate that when I get home.

 

The memory tab in CPU-Z will tell you. And it should be automatic unless it's been disabled in the BIOS.

 

Some things I've been reading recently about the Core i7's casts doubt on everything that everyone has been saying. I'm going to start a new thread for this discussion as it's clear we're confusing the OP.

(will edit later with a link)

 

No point in starting a new thread if most of the discussion is already here tbh.

 

IMHO it's an entirely new discussion and I'd like to see it filled with references and benchmarks.

In any case, the thread is here. Admins feel free to split, merge, etc.

 

Sorry but.. how do I overclock the CPU? >_<

EDIT: NVM I found it. It's easily done in the BIOS menu hahaaa