RAM upgrade fail: Dell Studio XPS 7100

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dg27

dg27

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I wanted to max out the memory on my wife's Dell Studio XPS 7100. It had 8 GB (2 GB X 4). I intended to replace all four sticks.

I used the Crucial Adviser tool and it recommended 4 GB X 4.

I've installed RAM in the past and am certain it was seated properly, etc., but I just get 4 beeps, amber light and no boot.

Here's the specs of the orig RAM (from speccy)


Memory
Type DDR3
Size 8192 MBytes
Channels # Dual
DRAM Frequency 665.0 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL) 9 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD) 9 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 9 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 24 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (tRC) 33 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 2T
Physical Memory
Memory Usage 37 %
Total Physical 8.00 GB
Available Physical 5.01 GB
Total Virtual 16 GB
Available Virtual 13 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules 4
Slot #1
Type DDR3
Size 2048 MBytes
Manufacturer Hyundai Electronics
Max Bandwidth PC3-10700 (667 MHz)
Part Number HMT125U6BFR8C-H9
Serial Number 1A8819DC
Week/year 37 / 10


and the RAM that I attempted to use:

Crucial Ballistix Tactical 16GB Kit (4GBx4) DDR3-1600 UDIMM
CT2793210
Brand: Ballistix
Form Factor: UDIMM
Capacity: 16GB kit (4GBx4)
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Specs: DDR3 PC3-12800 • 8-8-8-24 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.5V • 512Meg x 64

Should this be compatible?

I admit that I am not very familiar with RAM specs.

Any advice would be appreciated. This RAM upgrade was part of an overall upgrade to this machine (installed a Samsung 850 Pro 512 GB SSD yesterday; I expected the migration for that to be a hassle and for this to be easy. That was perfect.

dg
 
Solution
Jonas Dixon
Yeah, i can confirm that the motherboard only supports frequencies up to 1333 MHZ so that's why the RAM isn't working. My recommendation would be to contact the vendor that you bought the new ram for and ask if it's possible to switch it out for 1333 MHZ RAM.
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Jonas Dixon

Jonas Dixon

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Well, there's one thing that strikes immidietaly hits me and thats the DRAM frequency, the first ram you had has a frequency of 665.0 MHZ and the new RAM has a frequency of 1600 MHZ. This in particular doesen't mean that the RAM is incompatible it's really about if the motherboard supports 1600 MHZ ram. If you can find out what type of motherboard you have i can probobly confirm that this is the problem, also if you now how old the computer is that would help me as older computer very rarely support 1600 MHZ.
 
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dg27

dg27

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Thanks for your reply.

The machine is from 2010.

Here's the motherboard specs, from speccy:

Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model 05DN3X (CPU 1)
Version 00
Chipset Vendor Intel
Chipset Model X58
Chipset Revision 13
Southbridge Vendor Intel
Southbridge Model 82801JR (ICH10R)
Southbridge Revision 00
System Temperature 40 °C
BIOS
Brand Dell Computer Corporation
Version A04
Date 10/21/2010
Voltage
+12V 12.725 V
CPU CORE 1.512 V
VIN3 1.632 V
VIN4 0.924 V
+3.3V 2.248 V
VIN6 1.788 V
VIN7 1.656 V
VIN8 1.656 V
 
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Jonas Dixon

Jonas Dixon

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Yeah, i can confirm that the motherboard only supports frequencies up to 1333 MHZ so that's why the RAM isn't working. My recommendation would be to contact the vendor that you bought the new ram for and ask if it's possible to switch it out for 1333 MHZ RAM.
 
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Solution
dg27

dg27

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Thanks. Jonas. This is a big help.

One more question: Is 1333 MHz RAM still widely available? There were 43 "compatible" upgrades on the Crucial site; none were DDR3-1333. (I'm thinking I should try NewEgg, but I'm leery of that because I'm not very savvy with RAM specs.) I got this RAM from Crucial and can get a refund.
 
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dg27

dg27

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OK! Thanks again for all your help, Jonas.
 
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dg27

dg27

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I did some research. Here's specs at Dell's site for a compatible upgrade:

RAM memory
Capacity

4 GB

DDR3 SDRAM - DIMM 240-pin

Non-ECC

Speed 1333 MHz ( PC3-10600 )

Unbuffered

4 GB


DDR3 SDRAM
Form Factor

DIMM 240-pin

Non-ECC
Features
Unbuffered


512 x 64

1 x memory - DIMM 240-pin

It looks like Crucial doesn't have anything that's 1333 MHz.

I found these on NewEgg:


G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Model F3-10666CL7Q-16GBXH

DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Timing 7-7-7-21
Cas Latency 7
Voltage 1.5V

***

G.SKILL Ares Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Model F3-1333C9Q-16GAO

DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Timing 9-9-9
Cas Latency 9
Voltage 1.5V

****

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Model F3-10666CL9Q-16GBXL

DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Timing 9-9-9-24
Cas Latency 9
Voltage 1.5V

****

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Model F3-10666CL9Q-16GBRL

DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Timing 9-9-9-24-2N
Cas Latency 9
Voltage 1.5V

****

The two specs I'm unsure of are latency and timing (I don't see those listed on the Dell specs). Would any of these work?

Thanks for any advice.

dg


 
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Jonas Dixon

Jonas Dixon

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All of these should work as long as there DDR3-1333, the timing shouldn't be a problem at all since it doesen't make them incompatible with the motherboard. The lower timing the better so when choosing the ram you should choose the ones with lower timing. Otherwise any of these should be fine.
 
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dg27

dg27

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Thanks again. I guess this one would be best (lowest timing), right?

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
Model F3-10666CL7Q-16GBXH

DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Timing 7-7-7-21
Cas Latency 7
Voltage 1.5V
 
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dg27

dg27

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I appreciate it greatly I have more experience with hard drive and Win 7 issues; RAM has always been a big black hole for me.

Best wishes for the holiday season.

 
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dg27

dg27

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Went with two of these (for 16 GB total) and it worked out fine:

CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1333C9

Thanks!
 
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