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    Dell XPS 17 ram/memory question??

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by billytk03z, May 4, 2012.

  1. billytk03z

    billytk03z Newbie

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    Can all of the Dell XPS 17 laptops be upgraded to 16gb of ram/memory... from what I have gathered there is 2 types of mother boards that ship with the XPS 17. One mother board (L701x) has 2 dimm slots and the other (L702x) has 4 dimm slots. Regardless of which motherboard I recieve can they all be upgraded to 16gb of ram/memory? either by 2 x 8gb = 16gb or 4 x 4gb = 16gb
     
    billytk03z, May 4, 2012
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  2. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

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    If you ordered the 3D-screen system with the 555m graphics card, you get the 4-slot board. Otherwise, you get a 2-slot board. Period.

    That said, 2x8GB has been confirmed to work, though Dell does not support it. But if you buy your own RAM they don't support it anyway...Now that 8GB laptop RAM chips are well-priced (just over a year ago, if you could even find one it would run you about $800/stick! Compare that to $30-$40 and easily found today) it is a good option.

    In short, you can run 16GB on the XPS 15/17 no sweat.
     
    madmattd, May 4, 2012
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  3. billytk03z

    billytk03z Newbie

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    What?????????????????????????????????

    The XPS 15 can support 16gb of RAM????

    IS this confirmed and absolutely positive? :eek:
     
    billytk03z, May 4, 2012
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  4. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

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    It's the same chipset as in the 17" XPS...just a different board layout. I can't remember seeing people here doing it or not, but since the 17" can I'd be shocked if the 15" couldn't. It would have to be 2x8GB of course.

    EDIT: Well see this post in the l502x (XPS 15) thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/564192-dell-xps-15-r2-l502x-owners-lounge-341.html#post8435716
     
    madmattd, May 4, 2012
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  5. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    Just a question for your 16gb ram owners.... What in the world do you utilize all this extra memory for?
     
    xxgokouxx, May 5, 2012
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  6. billytk03z

    billytk03z Newbie

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    I am into music producing and I run a lot of vst's, external midi's and soundcards which are huge memory hogs...........................
     
    billytk03z, May 5, 2012
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  7. F.Q. KrapBag

    F.Q. KrapBag Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'll be adding the 2 8Gb sticks to my replacement when I get it.
    I do alot of video editing and rendering is taking forever with the 8Gb
     
    F.Q. KrapBag, May 5, 2012
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  8. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

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    Most who ACTUALLY need more than 8GB are running multiple VMs and such. I've been rocking 8GB on my desktop for nearly 4 years myself and never run into a case where I needed more. The laptop is in the same boat. But it is nice to know it is possible at least :D
     
    madmattd, May 5, 2012
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  9. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    lol, i guess.... but like you, i find 4GB honestly good enough, anymore is just overkill....
     
    xxgokouxx, May 5, 2012
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  10. leavenfish

    leavenfish Notebook Geek

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    I'll probably switch to 2 8GB's because of a chess playing engine that is a memory hog.

    Do note that you have to upgrade your BIOS in order for the extra memory to work on your XPS 17...and I have not found out exactly what BIOS this starts working with. I bought my XPS 17 about August of last year.
     
    leavenfish, May 5, 2012
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  11. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    only choice is the A17 and A11 lol
     
    xxgokouxx, May 5, 2012
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  12. leavenfish

    leavenfish Notebook Geek

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    Ah - thanks! Where did you find that at? I searched for a good hour a while back and could not find anything definite.
     
    leavenfish, May 5, 2012
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  13. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    Ohh i meant on the A17 and A11 are on the dell website, that's your only DL choices.... What I believe is A17 and A14 are the possible 16GB ram choices.
     
    xxgokouxx, May 5, 2012
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  14. w.a.y.n.e

    w.a.y.n.e Notebook Guru

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    Just a note on updating the BIOS - it is recommended by Dell that you install A11 then A17 if your current BIOS is pre-A11

    (at this point i'll hide while gokou reads my system specs lol)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 8, 2015
    w.a.y.n.e, May 20, 2012
    #14
  15. leowaqqas

    leowaqqas Newbie

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    leowaqqas, Sep 15, 2012
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  16. Ronbo696

    Ronbo696 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm running 16G on AO16 which also works fine
     
    Ronbo696, Sep 17, 2012
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  17. Squeeker the Cat

    Squeeker the Cat Notebook Consultant

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    how is it that a11 and a17 are on the site? i have a12 but its not on the site? weird how a11 would be there since its older than a12
     
    Squeeker the Cat, Sep 20, 2012
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