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    XPS 17" - upgrade to 16GB RAM?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by chamade, Apr 8, 2012.

  1. chamade

    chamade Newbie

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    Hello, I recently bought an XPS 17" with the 2670QM CPU, 1080p screen (non 3D) and 8GB RAM.
    I use it mostly for Maya+Zbrush+Photoshop and am hitting max memory usage from time to time. I have noticed that when I launch the Dell support center it says that the machine supports 16GB so my question is if anyone can tell me what are the mem module specs that I need to buy in order to upgrade to 16GB?

    I hope that there are 2 more free memory slots in the machine, instead of swapping for 2x8GB.

    Thanks.
     
    chamade, Apr 8, 2012
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  2. homank76

    homank76 Alienware/Dell Enthusiast

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    Go to crucial.com and do run the system scanner for the computer. It'll let you know right away.
     
    homank76, Apr 8, 2012
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  3. leavenfish

    leavenfish Notebook Geek

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    Note: When purchased, mine and others was a 8 GB max...it apparently requires a BIOS upgrade. I still don't know what BIOS is required for my XPS L702X system and some of the BIOS upgrades are apparently dodgy...my scanstill says 8 GB.
     
    leavenfish, Apr 8, 2012
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  4. homank76

    homank76 Alienware/Dell Enthusiast

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    Not true, when it scans your computer it'll tell you what memory you currently have and how many slots you have available.
     
    homank76, Apr 8, 2012
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  5. chamade

    chamade Newbie

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    Thanks...it says I do have 2 free RAM slots (double checked with CPU-Z) and suggests some 2x4GB kits for 45$....not bad.
     
    chamade, Apr 9, 2012
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  6. homank76

    homank76 Alienware/Dell Enthusiast

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    Wait, is that total slots or two actually free? It can be a little confusing.
     
    homank76, Apr 9, 2012
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  7. chamade

    chamade Newbie

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    4 total slots, 2 free. Both the Crucial site and CPU-Z show that.
     
    chamade, Apr 9, 2012
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  8. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    I know you ordered already, but I do however suggest you opening up the bottom plate and checking, because there ARE two slots under there, however nothing will fit in there. (U.S. model) I have the same specs as you.
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 9, 2012
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  9. homank76

    homank76 Alienware/Dell Enthusiast

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    If it's anything like my M18x you'll also have to remove the keyboard to get to the other slots.
     
    homank76, Apr 9, 2012
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  10. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    it's not at all, just open up the lid from the bottom and stare at your memory slots.
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 9, 2012
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  11. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    op you have 2 ram slots not 4 no matter what cpu z says. Non 3d models have 2 and 3d models have 4. End of.
     
    Sam_A_1992, Apr 9, 2012
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  12. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    that's what I thought sam, I just needed someone to confirm, thanks!
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 9, 2012
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  13. kopap

    kopap Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you got a non 3D system the chances are that you have only 2 DIMM slots.
    Crusial and cpu-z gave me the same result, that i have 4slots but when i open my laptop i only had 2. I got 2x8GB crusial mem for 100euro from Amazon
     
    kopap, Apr 9, 2012
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  14. homank76

    homank76 Alienware/Dell Enthusiast

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    @Kopap Member since 2009 and your first post?
     
    homank76, Apr 9, 2012
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  15. kopap

    kopap Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yeap its my first!!!!!! Well i always found everything by searching in thes forum...and i was without a laptop for the last 2years.Got my Xps on february
     
    kopap, Apr 9, 2012
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  16. chamade

    chamade Newbie

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    Ah great, so I guess I'll have to return it since I already ordered.
     
    chamade, Apr 9, 2012
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  17. Threshold

    Threshold Notebook Consultant

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    One other thing to keep in mind is that while the models with the 3D screen have the 4 RAM slots, they don't have Optimus enabled on the video card (while the non-3D screen/2 RAM slot models do). I don't know if that's something that's relevant for you, but I thought you should know, as it's what made me decide not to get one a few months back.
     
    Threshold, Apr 9, 2012
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  18. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    Not trying to make fun of you or anything, but next time you should open it, JUST to make sure. Since these systems are pretty much universal, they are a pain in the behind to determine what it has 100% through software.
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 9, 2012
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  19. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, i would still go for a non 3d model. Especially as 8gb sticks are becoming more popular and dropping in price.
     
    Sam_A_1992, Apr 9, 2012
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  20. leavenfish

    leavenfish Notebook Geek

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    By the way, the best I have been able to figure out is that it's the A14 BIOS that is needed to be able to use the 8BG sticks. Don't hold me to that though.
     
    leavenfish, Apr 9, 2012
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  21. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    are our laptops THAT sensitive to install 8gb ram modules in there?
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 9, 2012
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  22. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    Why would the bios effect if we could use them or not?
     
    Sam_A_1992, Apr 10, 2012
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  23. madmattd

    madmattd Notebook Deity

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    Pretty sure I've seen people with A08-era BIOS running the 8GB sticks. Could be wrong, but I really doubt it. The CPU and chipset support it, that's all that ought to matter.

    On my old laptop (Inspiron 1150), Dell said it was impossible to put more than 512MB chips in it (they said it would not POST at all). Until a year ago when I got my XPS, it was happily running with 2x1GB sticks for over 2 years :D Just because Dell says it doesn't support it doesn't mean it won't work.
     
    madmattd, Apr 11, 2012
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  24. Double 0

    Double 0 Notebook Geek

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    I planing on buying these :D

    My XPS is a BEAST!!
     
    Double 0, Apr 11, 2012
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  25. ximinez

    ximinez Notebook Consultant

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    They work great in my XPS 15 :D
     
    ximinez, Apr 11, 2012
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  26. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    Anyone know if we can get these in the uk?

    Edit: we can but their £109 from scan!!
     
    Sam_A_1992, Apr 12, 2012
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  27. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    pricey =\

    I'll wait for the price drop, ram's always dropping in price nowadays, last week I saw DDR3 16gb set for $40 :(
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 12, 2012
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  28. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    dam you should of grabbed that ;). Not that i need 16gb of ram anyway lol, but if it comes down to that price then i might aswell max it out!
     
    Sam_A_1992, Apr 12, 2012
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  29. xxgokouxx

    xxgokouxx Notebook Evangelist

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    lol Sam, i'll most definitely post it up in the XPS 17 forums, i mean 40 bucks, if it doesn't work.... RETURN IT! LOL, will keep everyone posted in that thread if possible :)
     
    xxgokouxx, Apr 13, 2012
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  30. Glownut

    Glownut Newbie

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    So what youre saying is that the L702 with 2 slots can and will take 2x8GB sticks without a problem? I would really like to update to 16 gigs but I need to be 100% sure.
     
    Glownut, Sep 2, 2012
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  31. Sam_A_1992

    Sam_A_1992 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes it can, lots of people have done this.
     
    Sam_A_1992, Sep 3, 2012
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  32. Glownut

    Glownut Newbie

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    Thanks for confirming this for me. Now I can buy em without worrying.
     
    Glownut, Sep 3, 2012
    #32