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Dell XPS 8300 RAM - what's going on?

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I am looking at XPS 8300 desktop:

XPS 8300 Intel Core i7-2600 processor(8MB Cache, 3.4GHz)
12GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHZ, 2x4GB/2x2GB
ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024MB GDDR5
2TB Serial ATA 2 Hard Drive 7200 RPM
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English
Standard USB 2.0 + 10/100/1000 Ethernet
6X Blu-Ray Writer and 16X DVD+/-RW
THX TruStudio PC
Dell 1520 WLAN PCIe card with11n mini-Card and external antenna

2 year warranty.

I am confused about the way RAM is configured.

I think their motherboard doesn't support triple channel (correct me if I am wrong). Why does it use ddr3 RAM then (my understanding was that the only reason one uses ddr3 over ddr2 to get advantage of triple channel mode)? Also, I heard not so great things about using nonidentical RAM, which this configuration does use.

Also, I am concerned about 460W supply (especially if I want to upgrade in future). It seems like the case might have some cooling issues too.

What price do you suggest?

Usage: Programming (basically MS Visual Studio and SSQL Server), Video/audio editing, working in vmwares. Maybe play games once in a while.

I'm not building, because I had credit line in Dell, not in Newegg. (It's been long since I built something!)

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DDR3 is simply the ram type, it has nothing to do with the amount of channels. You could have single, dual, tri, or even quad channels with DDR3. (quad is the next one rumored to come out with the next Intel chips.) AMD and the newest i5/i7 chips use dual channel memory.

I wouldn't worry to much about the Dell PSU. They tend to use good ones and it can be replaced if you need more power.

The ram is configured that way because dell bought a ton of cheap ram and is trying to get rid of it. 2gig modules are on their way out, so dell is combining them with 4gig modules.

if you are able to customize the configuration, choose the lowest ram possible and purchase your own. its usually cheaper this way.

4745454b said:
DDR3 is simply the ram type, it has nothing to do with the amount of channels. You could have single, dual, tri, or even quad channels with DDR3. (quad is the next one rumored to come out with the next Intel chips.) AMD and the newest i5/i7 chips use dual channel memory.

I wouldn't worry to much about the Dell PSU. They tend to use good ones and it can be replaced if you need more power.


Yes, I realized that after some further reading.

But do you know whether Dell XPS motherboard is capable of triple-channel?
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It is depend on the chipset. In your case( i7-2600), it use the DDR3 dual-channel memory like 2X4GB or 2x2GB.
If other Dell XPS 8300 has the I7-900 series, it will use DDR3 triple-channel memory like 3X4GB.

cin19 said:
It is depend on the chipset. In your case( i7-2600), it use the DDR3 dual-channel memory like 2X4GB or 2x2GB.
If other Dell XPS 8300 has the I7-900 series, it will use DDR3 triple-channel memory like 3X4GB.


Yes, I realized that afer doing further reading.
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