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    L702X Pnp Memory: 1600mhz+?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Ta10n, Jul 30, 2011.

  1. Ta10n

    Ta10n Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey guys.

    I've already hunted around the forums (and google), and haven't been able to get a definitive answer on this. So, here's my question: If you put 1600 or 1866mhz PNP modules in the L702X will they run at full tilt?

    In other threads people have said they run at 1333mhz (due to a bios lock), but I've seen others claim to run 1866mhz modules at 1866mhz in this machine (and the L502X for that matter).

    I know the performance delta over 1333mhz modules is kind of minimal, but humor me :D
     
  2. Villosa

    Villosa Notebook Deity

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    Can't speak for the L702X but in my L502X it runs at 1866 in CPU-Z and in the BIOS.
     
  3. DougHo63

    DougHo63 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Can't speak for 1866, but 1600 PNP (Kingston) in my L702x shows up as 1333 (just double-checked on latest BIOS screen). I think it set lower CL8 but that was seen using some program I can't recall right now (and as you said it could be hard to notice much difference).
     
  4. krisinldn

    krisinldn Notebook Enthusiast

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    Guys quick question about this memory - Kingston KHX1600C9S3K2/8GX - what is your CL on 1333, 8 or 9?
     
  5. DougHo63

    DougHo63 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I don't have that memory, but my guess would be CL9 since Dell's BIOS just uses JEDEC timing which Kingston datasheet says is CL9. To be clear, my mention of Kingston 1600 PnP was a newer model which has CL8 JEDEC in the datasheet.
     
  6. Ta10n

    Ta10n Notebook Enthusiast

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    That's really interesting. 1866 In the l502, no 1600 in the l702x. While the bios differs between machines it seems stupid that Dell would lock down the 17" and not the 15". My next point of inquiry is if anyone has 1600 pnp in the l502x and if anyone has 1866 in the l702x. Could it be that 1600 is a no-no but 1866 is fine? I can't remember off the top of my head how the SB memory subsystem works and if that would be a possibility.
     
  7. Villosa

    Villosa Notebook Deity

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    Here are mine and my wife's BIOS readings.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Ta10n

    Ta10n Notebook Enthusiast

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    Crap. Well that pretty much confirms that the l702x is locked, and the l502x isn't. Which makes zero sense to me.
     
  9. Villosa

    Villosa Notebook Deity

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    Yeah seems a bit weird, hopefully Dell will release a BIOS update for you guys.
     
  10. Ta10n

    Ta10n Notebook Enthusiast

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    Indeed. I may end up going with the 1866mhz expecting an update (and if it doesn't come I can always enjoy the lower latencies). I wonder if anyone has asked Dell themselves about this yet.
     
  11. Villosa

    Villosa Notebook Deity

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    I doubt you'd get very far with Dell. They're often confused about what's being released.
     
  12. leavenfish

    leavenfish Notebook Geek

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    Don't bet on it. I think it is part of a strategry to steer would-be gamers toward theirmore expensive Alienware line.
     
  13. [-Mac-]

    [-Mac-] Notebook Deity

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    Maybe all in thread know this, but only i7-2720QM and i7-2820QM can run memory at 1600MHz.

    It's very strange, but reading forum only who have i7-2820QM can run memory over 1333MHz, there is some L502X owner with i7-2720QM that can run DDR3-1600 at 1600MHZ?