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    How to upgrade your M1530 to 6GB of RAM

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Rhodan, Sep 4, 2008.

  1. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    The friend is coming over for dinner on (let me check my calendar) tuesday the 16. I'll post results later that night. :)

    We need more peeps to promote the BIOS update to allow 8GB in the M1530!

    http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/10092149/8GB_Capacity_on_M1530__Make_it_so
     
  2. pimpmycode

    pimpmycode Notebook Enthusiast

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  3. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    Yes that's exactly the modules I bought. Can't help you about purchasing this in the UK though.

    And yes 1x4GB and 1x2GB will work together for a total of 6GB.


    One more time!!!
    We need more peeps to promote the BIOS upgrade on ideastorm.
    http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/10092149/8GB_Capacity_on_M1530__Make_it_so
     
  4. 7oby

    7oby Notebook Evangelist

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    I did write an e-mail to all german G.Skill dealers present on the webpage and received different answers:

    . One gave me the article no. under which I'l soon find it in their shop
    . Another told me that G.Skill distributors (germany has two of them) will start launching this product in october and didn't see demand for these kind of modules so far.

    To the second one I wrote back basically this:
    . The only 4GB modules imported to germany are the kingston ones with a price tag of US$ 938,- (street price US$ 780,-):
    http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator_new/PartsInfo.asp?root=us&LinkBack=http://www.kingston.com&ktcpartno=KVR667D2S5K2/8G
    . Those modules result in a streetprice of EUR 700 - 800 in Germany:
    http://geizhals.at/deutschland/a337878.html
    . If the G.Skill modules are US$ 339,98 for a pair of two:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231202
    . Then the conclusion is that G.Skill 4GB modules would skyrocket since the price tag is much more compatitive regardless of how much the distributors and end customer dealers will earn with these kinds of modules.
    . The second reason that sales will quickly raise are: The currently most available notebook platform Santa Rosa got with recent BIOS updates 6GB and 8GB capability for many professional and consumer notebooks. Last but not least the many Vista 64-Bit enthusiasts want to show there muscles.

    @pimpmycode: You link to 2x2GB modules. There's nothing special about those.
     
  5. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    Thanks for noticing... I missed it completely when I replied.

    That's expensive... Time to put some on ebay for international buyers perhaps... :)
     
  6. Signal2Noise

    Signal2Noise Über-geek.

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    The short answer is no.

    But Dell will send out a free 64-bit Vista installation DVD provided your laptop is still under warranty. I just got my disc three days ago, a day after placing the order. But Dell will tell you that you're on your own for drivers and they will offer zero support. Doesn'tmatter really since there is a great 64-bit guide here on NBR. If something goes wrong with the laptop and needs to be sent in for repair then 32-bit needs to be reinstalled.

    However, there is a rumour circulating that Dell are in fact working on 64-bit drivers for the m1330/1530. Apparently will be released within the next two months.
     
  7. 7oby

    7oby Notebook Evangelist

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    Do it! You have a second one, which is currently not used. Put in on ebay with earnings for you. If some international buyer picks it up, then you can buy more 4GB modules ...
     
  8. weiser

    weiser Notebook Enthusiast

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    Excuseme if where asked somewhere else, but i cant find it, does m1530 supports 800mhz memory modules?? like 2x2gb 800mhz??? thanks in advance.
     
  9. 7oby

    7oby Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes and No:

    Yes, it supports it, but runs it at DDR2-667 speed and will never run it at DDR2-800 Speed (Chipset limitation of PM965). Centrino2 Chipsets do support DDR2-800 and DDR3.

    Some people buy DDR2-800 because it has CL4 timings in SPD programmed at DDR2-667 speed. If you don't know what that is then forget it.
     
  10. weiser

    weiser Notebook Enthusiast

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    yes i do, tyvm :)
     
  11. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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  12. MexicanSnake

    MexicanSnake I'm back!

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    ****, I cant buy the holy module... Newegg doesnt ship to other countries... And the other ebay seller is crazy $254USD for a module plus $59 for shipping...
     
  13. Signal2Noise

    Signal2Noise Über-geek.

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  14. I♥RAM

    I♥RAM Notebook Deity

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    Anyone looking for DD2-667 4GB sticks at $170 a pop? They're on newegg.
     
  15. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    Sadly the shipping part is accurate. The seller needs to be able to supply a proof of delivery which for international delivery only comes with express services. I just did a quote on Canada Post and it would cost $54 to ship to Germany excluding packaging. :(
     
  16. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    `
    Aren't you in Calgary? If so you could order from NCIX.com for ~$165 each. My total cost for 2 module was around $380...

    LOL :D
     
  17. MexicanSnake

    MexicanSnake I'm back!

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    I dont know why is always expensive to ship things to other countries from the USA, I pay like $30USD to send things to the south pole...

    Anyway I should sit and wait because theses prices are crazy as hell.
     
  18. Signal2Noise

    Signal2Noise Über-geek.

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    Yes I am. Thanks for the tip. I will certainly order them up! Normally I shop thru my LCS (Memory Express, best prices) but don't have 4 giggers in yet. I'll check Tiger Direct as well.
     
  19. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    The M1330 is here and I have the Ubuntu 64 bit live CD... We'll keep you posted... :D
     
  20. rflcptr

    rflcptr Notebook Consultant

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    Rhodan, could you please post a screenshot of the Task Manager's Performance tab, as well?
     
  21. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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  22. rflcptr

    rflcptr Notebook Consultant

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    Did you get a screenie of the Task Manager with your setup?
     
  23. pimpmycode

    pimpmycode Notebook Enthusiast

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    Sorry about that, corrected my link.
    For anyone in the UK thats interested, www.memoryc.com can get the 4GB module on special order for about £89.00

    Sooo tempted, is it worth it?
    I mostly use my machine for running virtual machines with SAP in so the extra RAM is always welcome.
     
  24. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    This is great news for the peeps in Europe. At £89.00 a piece it's priced around the same as in North America. :)
     
  25. rflcptr

    rflcptr Notebook Consultant

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    Rhodan:
    I just want to make sure what's being reported to the OS (found in the Properties screenshot you posted) is actually what is being utilized (what appears in Task Manager).
     
  26. pimpmycode

    pimpmycode Notebook Enthusiast

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    Would be good to see, i am ordering a 4GB module for myself.
     
  27. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    There you go, sorry for the delay.


    [​IMG]
     
  28. rflcptr

    rflcptr Notebook Consultant

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    That's all I needed to see, I'll be ordering a 4GB module soon. Thanks!
     
  29. pimpmycode

    pimpmycode Notebook Enthusiast

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    @Rhodan: Thanks mate
     
  30. 7oby

    7oby Notebook Evangelist

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    One thing that comes to my mind: The mainboard has to have the northbridge address pins 33-36 physically connected the CPU. I've read in another place that this is not always the case for notebook mainboards.

    I don't know whether this is an issue here. I kind of doubt it since if 6GB run then 8GB should run as well. But maybe it's an issue for the M1330, which doesn't support >4GB yet.

    But maybe it's just a BIOS issue. Dell and time will tell...

    --

    One more thing: User fatcat posted here on 28th May:
    http://www.ideastorm.com/article/sh..._Dell_you_already_offer_it_in_Precision_M6300

    I don't know if that's fixed in subsequent BIOS releases, but it's interesting to know that the M6300 also had a 6GB barrier.
     
  31. 7oby

    7oby Notebook Evangelist

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  32. basskiddanny

    basskiddanny Notebook Evangelist

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    Sorry I didn't have time yet to read the full thread, but do all 4GB modules work or just the Gskill ones? I have 3 gb now (1x 1gb and 1x2gb) and wouldn't mind upgrading to 6gb,as it hardly seems worth bothering with just going to 4GB
     
  33. pimpmycode

    pimpmycode Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks Rhodan for this thread, got my RAM today and upgraded :D
     
  34. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    I have no idea if other modules will work. The G.Skill are the cheapest so far so why go with something else? Unless availability is an issue... :)
     
  35. Rhodan

    Rhodan NBR Expert of Nothing

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    6GB is sweet, can't wait for 8... :D You're welcome!
     
  36. hotrent1

    hotrent1 Notebook Consultant

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    My xps m1530, now has 6 gb of ram, thanks to Rhodan. There are different ideas on ideastorm for particular series of dells computers to run 8gb of ram. I have promoted them all. Please promote this idea. it is for dell to write bios for any computer to allow maximum ram supported by chipset.

    http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/10092756/Bios_upgrade

    thanks
     
  37. hotrent1

    hotrent1 Notebook Consultant

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    just a note on unmatched ram.as in this setup.
    Cpuz shows that this is run on dual channel, dual channel mode is Symmetrical. I am assuming this is the flex mode that is supported by this chipset. Some posts on this forum are saying it(unmatched pair) will only run Asymmetrical.
     
  38. hanime

    hanime Notebook Evangelist

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    Rhodan, this is an awesome thread for XPS M1530 owners who want to take their laptop(s) to the limit, like myself. I'm tempted to upgrade to 6GB RAM. I wish Dell would do something about the 8GB. :)
     
  39. karene999

    karene999 Newbie

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    Where did you get the 64 bit OS, Dell is telling me that you can not get the M1530 with a 64 bit OS.

    I am looking at buying a new laptop and figured I might as well go all out and upgrade to 6.0 GB Ram at the same time.

    Do you think this would work on any computer that has a 64 bit OS and multiple ram slots?
     
  40. I♥RAM

    I♥RAM Notebook Deity

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    Just search this forum on how to get 64-bit dvd's, as far as I know, Greg and I both have threads on this (+ theres a ton more from others).

    It's all basically one solution: Contact that Chris_M guy at Dell's idea storm forum and as long as you're entitled to it legitly, he'll hook you up as policy states :p
     
  41. tuffCookie

    tuffCookie Notebook Geek

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    is there any other type of ram i could use?

    the G. Skill is discontinued... :mad:
     
  42. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Almost every major manufacturer has 4GB DDR2 SODIMMs. Try Corsair, Crucial or Kingston - to name a few.
     
  43. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    Any brand will do, as long as it's 667MHz. You can get 800MHz if you want, but it will probably be more expensive and it will be underclocked to 667 anyway due to chipset limitations.

    Kingston, Corsair, Crucial, Mushkin, Patriot, OCZ, and PNY are all trustworthy brands for memory.
     
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