Upgrading RAM of XPS 15 L502X

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Mahesh Abnave

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I bought my Dell XPS 15 L502X laptop almost 18 months ago. It has 4GB RAM and am thinking to upgrade it.
Processor: Intel 2nd Generation Core i7 2630QM
According to processor specifications, it supports upto 16GB of DDR3 RAM at dual channel and at 1333MHz.
Currently I have 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM RAM from Samsung and another single free slot. Running CPU-Z shows that it is a Single Channelimage


    ■ Can I add 8 GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM from Corsair, so that it will become total of 12GBs?
    I am concerned because
    * the specs on the same page says Memory Configuration : Single Channel while at the same time says it is SO-DIMM. If it is a DIMM then it must be able to work in dual channels with others right? Does Single Channel means I will receive 1x8GB which I can dual channel with any other compatible DIMM?
    * if I can setup RAM modules from two different manufacturers together in dual channel
    * and are of different size 1x4GB + 1x8GB. [/list]
    I also realized that the above mentioned RAM also has the same CAS latency as the one currently installed: 9-9-9-24.

    ■ This post says that 2x8GB (total of 16GB) DDR3 1333MHz Corsair RAM worked on the same laptop model. Also in this video, the guy installs 2x8GB RAM in the same system. So I guess mine will also support RAM more than 8GB, despite the fact that the max official supported RAM size (as responded on dells forum setup guide page 94) is 8GBs and the max size of supported DIMM is 4GB.

    ■ From processor specifications, I know that max supported RAM speed is 1333MHz, can I benefit from buying 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM from Corsair? Can I use it in dual channel with my current 4GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM? Will I need to do any configuration for that?

    ■ What is the different between these two similar RAMs from Corsair, since they have different price tag? Second one specifies Memory Configuration : Single Channel in specs sheet, but the first one specifies none such parameter. Does that mean the first one can be used in dual channel with other DIMMs while second one cannot be?

Will like to get the answer in the same pointwise way in order to avoid confusion.
 
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C12Friedman

C12Friedman

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Before getting into an answer here, I'm going to question the need for more than 8GB of ram. Also, mixing and matching ram is not recommended due to possible compatibility issues - not saying it won't work, just that it is a possibility.

1) You can attempt to add a single 8GB module but you will not get dual channel function natively doing that (if it works)
2) I will suggest sticking with Dell's recommendation of 8GB (2x4GB) which is what I would suggest as an upgrade (purchased as a dual channel kit)
3) Although you can run 1600MHz ram (Corsair Memory Finder Tool even links to a 1600MHz kit), you will not be able to get 1600MHz throughput. You would not be able to run in dual channel if adding ram of a different frequency
4) The primary difference is CAS latency (timings) - both kits will do 9-9-9-24 at 1333MHz according to Corsair so for all intents and purposes, there really is only the price and pretty sticker as a difference. As far as dual channel vs single channel, any single module will be represented as single channel - the reason for that is that in order to assure dual channel functionality, the modules are matched by the manufacturer, then sold as 'kits'. The manufacturer is guaranteeing that those modules will play nice together in dual channel function (no guarantees if adding only one module even if identical to the first).
Hope I covered your questions
 
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Mahesh Abnave

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What do you mean by natively? Are there different ways to make modules work in dual channel. Even if my laptop detects it as 12GBs, how can I ensure it is properly dual channelled? In fact am not aware if there is any such thing as proper dual channelling? So let me ask other way, what may be the possible behavior of improper dual channelling?

 
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C12Friedman

C12Friedman

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By natively I mean there are tweeks that can be done to attempt to get the ram to play nice but no guarantees. Assuming you add one 8GB module of 1600MHz ram to your system, first you will need to lower the frequency (if it isn't done automatically) of the 1600MHz to 1333MHz and then match the timings of the current kit 9-9-9-24. At this point, if the ram likes each other and wants to cooperate, you will find that you are (should be) running 8GB in dual channel mode while an additional 4GB is running in single channel mode - again, assuming it works.
If the ram does not want to play nice with the existing module, there are a myriad of issues which may present themselves from failing to boot to BSOD's, stuttering, freezing, dropped frame rates in games to simply not wanting to run in dual channel at all - ram issues can be interesting which is why I'm sorta pushing purchasing the ram as a dual channel kit (should prevent those issues)
 
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Mahesh Abnave

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I have upgraded my RAM. I have answered all the details you must consider while upgrading the laptop RAM superuser.stackexchange: http://superuser.com/a/593213/144021
Find better formatted answer there. Just copy pasting the same (without formatting):


After finding as many as 7 to 8 mentions about XPS 15 L502X supporting 16GB RAM on various forums and even in the RAM reviews on Flipkart and Amazon and a video here, I decided to go for it.

But on safer side, I tried to contact XPS support, they initially told me that it supports 8GB RAM max. After couple of days I got call back asking if am considering upgrade. I discussed the online mentions to the support crew. She forwarded the call to her supervisor and finally I got the needed response:

The XPS 15 comes up with various processor options and also OS options. It is sold with various models of i3, i5 and i7 in different countries. Mostly 2nd gen i7 supports 16GB RAM, whereas most 2nd gen i3 and i5 doesnt. On the other hand, most 3rd generation i5 do support 16GB RAM. Its better to check if your processor supports 16 GB RAM or not in the processor specification sheet on the Intels' site. For example here is the specification sheet for my processor Intel Core i7 2630QM and it very clearly says that it supports maximum 16GB. Also the Windows 7 that comes pre-installed on laptop may be 32 bit or 64 bit and with different editions. We can find physical RAM supported by these variations of OS here. To be on safer side Dell officially states that it will support 8GB RAM for sure and does guarantees the same. The motherboard of L502X is perfectly capable of handling 16GB RAM and if you have got processor and OS that supports more RAM you can go for bigger upgrades, however Dell will not be responsible for anything that goes wrong with RAM upgrades more than of 8GBs. The person finally very confidently said that you can go without any hesitation and RAM will work for sure.

After that response I have bought the RAM and now I run 4+8 = 12 GB RAM in dual channel mode.

The only problem that you may face is increase in processor temperature since extra DIMM puts a bit more pressure on processor. However this is common issue across all laptop RAM upgrades and is not specific to this laptop.

While buying RAM you have to ensure that

the RAM is as same data rate (DDRx) as your currently installed RAM. My original 4GB RAM was of DDR3. This also depends on processor.
Also ensure that the CAS latency of the RAM matches. You can find the CAS latency of currently installed RAM using CPU-Z as can be seen in screenshot posted in original question. So for mine it is 9-9-9-24.
Also ensure same operating frequency. For me it is 1333MHz. This also depends on processor. My i7 supports 1333MHz max.
Better also check other specs like pin count and memory module type. For me it is 204 pin SO-DIMM.
You can ignore

The vendor. My original RAM is from Samsung and I have now bought Corsair 8GB DDR3 1333MHz 24 pin SO-DIMM with CAS latency 9-9-9-24 from here
You can ignore size. 4GB DIMM can very well dual channel with 8GB DIMM. Modern motherboards and processors are capable enough to do that.
 
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