Alienware Area51-M XMP Settings Locked Out Due to Different Mobos

Hi,

I've been on the phone/emailing Dell Support regarding why the XMP settings are missing from the BIOS and how to enable it. It has sent me down a rabbit hole with a potential answer/truth that we will NEVER be able to have XMP profiles unless you purchased the faster ram directly from Dell during your initial purchase.

1. They advertise on the product page that XMP is enable for up to 64GB Ram at 2800Mhz: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-17-area51m-laptop

2. The service manual states that XMP settings for 64GB do not exist: https://www.dell.com/support/manual...7064b8-2eb4-49ec-88a8-43b102e42417&lang=en-us

Their website clearly indicates their product is able to utalize XMP ram and the service manual even states: "NOTE: : The computer is shipped with these default configurations. You can also configure the memory according to the supported memory per slot."

So when I pressed Dell Tech Support regarding this issue, they stated the following: Depending on the Area-51M you ordered, it will come with a different motherboard with the memory frequency locked from the factory. That is why we cannot change the frequency of the RAM. They literally lock it in BIOS and ship with different motherboards depending on your initial purchase. I am escalating this higher up to get a solution that doesn't involve a refund but it's pretty disappointing that they are clearly lying about the PC's performance. Has anyone experienced this or found a workaround?

 

I thought initially the Ram will run on certain speed depending the ram modules.

I doubt that dell have different motherboards for different ram frequency.

 

I've spoken to several techs who have told me they flash the BIOS with ram speeds directly from the factory. Even though they state that a user can do it, there's literally no XMP setting inside the BIOS during bootup. I was able to swap my i7 9700 with i9 9900K no problem, but when I installed XMP certified RAM, they still run at the default setting. They won't produce official documentation stating you're locked out but they did state this: Dell will provide support to the computer's BIOS as it is released. BIOS configurations is set at Dell's discretion. Modifications to the BIOS is not supported.

 

What happens when a new BIOS is released will the faster RAM speeds disappear?

 

They already released a new BIOS and apparently it just sees whether or not you have Dell OEM ram from ADATA then it automatically changes the ram frequency. But it's 100% locked out to the user.

 

In theory the 8GB I got from them back in September should run at 2666mhz?

 

Here is what they are telling me: https://imgur.com/a/ZOsHzO5

 

Hi, i'm on the latest Area 51m 1.9.3 BIOS firmware and the release notes state:

*Enhancements:
- Supports ADATA XMP modules.

Does this have anything to do with what your referring to??

https://www.dell.com/support/home/u...wt64a&productcode=alienware-17-area51m-laptop

 

Theory and practice is two different things

 

That's literally their own ram modules they already install in people who have upgraded their laptops from factory. IE: Doesn't do you any good as the people who would be able to take advantage of it already have the XMP enabled. I guess now you can buy Dell's upgrade kits and DIY but they're overpriced.

 

Not to mention going from 2400 to 2666 is hardly worth bothering with. That was impressive back in 2015, but certainly, nothing to get excited about based on today's status quo.

There is absolutely no legitimate excuse that anyone that wants to can't run the RAM in their Area 51M with zero effort at 3000 or 3200 like everyone else with the equivalent CPU and chipset.

If I remember correctly, Brother @Johnksss has run the memory in his P870 at 3400 or 3600, (can't remember exactly,) so roughly 1GHz faster than what the Area 51M is capable of.

That's really a damned shame.

 

So can people buy the 3200 modules and upgrade now and get the faster speed?

 

So far only people who have bought the faster configuration from Dell have managed speeds above 2400mhz as I understand it. Apparently BIOS 1.8.1 when it was released enabled XMP but no one here managed to get it to run memory faster than 2400mhz. Then it was suggested by Umar (I think) that you had to have specific memory with a specific die that seems to be almost impossible to find outside of the Dell warehouse.

 

What was that update then about XMP?

 

It likely did enable XMP but only for a set die on Adata RAM. I'd imagine if anyone could get their hands on this RAM, then they probably would get the faster speeds.

 

hmm no more info about it, anyone have a link or serial number or something for this magical ram?

 

In the owners forum someone posted this - https://www.alternate.co.uk/ADATA/SO-DIMM-16-GB-DDR4-3000-RAM/html/product/1611698 as the RAM that Dell may potentially be using but I haven't seen anyone confirming it by testing.

 

On the website it wont let you get the higher speed ram unless you get a K processor, I just got the regular 9700 non k, I wonder if that would make a difference.

 

Thats probably just Dells way of saying they want more money from you. The motherboard should support it regardless of the processor.

 

Dell offer +2666 ram support for their sub $900 Jokebooks and you can use whatever ram you want, to run it at that speed. Just order a ram set with 2666 specs on the web and it will works. The problem is the cheapo made Area-51m motherboard, not that they want more money from you! It's a flawed design.

 

I was referring to the fact that Dell wouldn't allow @G46VW to configure faster RAM unless the 'K' processor was selected bro. Regardless of the processor, they should allow you to configure it with the faster RAM if that's what you want.

 

You can go on dells site and see it for yourself, if you try to add the faster memory the site will let you know you cant proceed without choosing one of the K processors which seems odd to me, why not just say you need to select something other then the base processor. It makes it sound like the memory wont work unless you have that processor.

 

I tend to think Dell is erring on the side of caution just in case of weak traces or IMC to the detriment of those buyers who want to buy and possibly tweak better memory. The "new and improved" Dell is all about continuing to cut costs (I'm looking at you AW 18 and your mosfets) and minimizing end user repairs and potential problems even if it means neutered performance.

Realistically, the vast majority of 51m owners are going to unbox, open up, load games and play not even realizing the true potential their systems have and be happy. That is Dell's goal.

Clevo is better, but even they need @Prema magic to really stretch their wings (I realize this even more last night as I'm trying to fine tune / sort out some Corsair 3600 sticks which are showing themselves to be duds) and they're regressing a bit even more so lately.

 

So this link that was posted, https://www.alternate.co.uk/ADATA/SO-DIMM-16-GB-DDR4-3000-RAM/html/product/1611698, why do we think this might work in the area51m? Is it even worth trying?

 

i am surprised that non of the xmp adata ram are sold here in the united states.

maybe someone cab buy it if they live where it is available and try.

 

If I remember right it was the only Adata memory available in DDR4 with speeds above 2400mhz. Umar from Dell stated on Twitter that the memory that was capable of going above 2400mhz in the Area 51m was from Adata.

 

Well I ordered standard 16gb sticks and I got 2666mhz Samsung model. I wonder what options I have to make it run at rating speed.
I got my board late December , I can share you my mono revision if that helps.

last question though, what’s the performance increase of 2666mhz over 2400 MHz

 

16GB at 2666mhz , is it running at that speed?

 

sadly 2400 MHz,, but I’m sure this mono can ha dale extra 200mhz if not more

 

Doesn't matter what options you choose, currently all motherboards are locked to 2400mhz. So unless someone has a picture of 2666mhz. I ordered a k CPU with 16gb 2666mhz but only have 2400mhz in cpuz

 

One member here re-flash his XMP Ram (G. Skill) to run at 3200mhz. He changed all the profile to specs at an ADATA XMP Ram settings.

 

Also interesting and I haven't found it mentioned anywhere is that the A51M (at least the one I have) ships with Hynix 2666 CL11 RAM and as we know, runs at 2400... but what no one mentions is its also running at CL17. :|

That's some slow-ass RAM config.. it could be so much better.

I also notice that whatever problem the R1 mainboard has, the R2 is fixed.. offering 3200mhz RAM out of the box. I assume its also unlocked to config in the bios.

 

I am willing to try this. Can you offer details? Or if the person can help mei can make a guild once I am success full.

Many thanks

 

Ther guide is in the Alienware Area 51M owners lounge in one of the 2000 pages lol. I don't know which post. Maybe @Papusan can help locating the post that have the guide and you can go from there.

 

Start from here.... http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-owners-lounge.826831/page-2312#post-11040092

***And many of the pages*** is sad reading.

 

Yes , the entire year is sad..

 

The 2 big problems you need to solve are:
1. A51mR1 Motherboard revision 2.0 (there is a label on this on the motherboard itself)
2. A laptop or computer that, when starting a Thaiphoon Burner will not report the inaccessibility of recording in RAM profiles.
If you have solved these two problems, then there is no problem to flash the RAM profile to work on 2800-2900 +
P.S. It doesn't matter what profile you flash or what timings your RAM supports. BIOS will always run those profiles that were written to it in DELL