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Aurora R8, not able to enable Intel XMP in BIOS
Hey! This is my first post and admittedly I am not overly familiar with all the technicalities of Intel XMP memory but I figured it would be a straightforward process.
First, I'd like to mention all drivers and BIOS are up to date (1.0.1). I have recently purchased two Aurora R8's (built the same except for Windows as one has Pro and one has Home, I will list at the end) which came with the stock DDR4 RAM. One of the two R8's arrived first and I immediately put in 2 X 16GB of Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4 2666MHz (into slots 1 + 3) which obviously supports Intel XMP. I was able to go into the bios and simply "enable XMP memory". I have even added a 3rd 16GB (into slot 2) stick the same memory/brand and Intel XMP is still enabled.
The second Aurora R8 arrives and I do the same procedure, update drivers, bios, windows updates, etc. I swap out the stock DDR4 2666MHz memory for three sticks of the same Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4 2666MHz and turn the computer back on. It's just a black screen. I eventually figure out it via reading forums it's a memory issue and I begin thinking the memory is faulty but I want to test it first. I leave one 16GB HyperX Fury in Slot 1 and turn the computer on, it states there is a memory change, I click continue, it boots into Windows and everything works. I restart and it still will not let me enable "XMP memory". I keep checking each memory stick individually in Slot 1 and each time the computer boots correctly. So, I then go add another stick into Slot 3 and the computer boots up to tell me the memory config has changed. I click continue and onto Windows we go. Still the BIOS will not let me enable Intel XMP. So, I then try to add 3rd Kingston HyperX stick back into slot 4 this time and same thing when I reboot - black screen and restart. I turned the computer and then I go and take a Kingston HyperX RAM stick out of the other Aurora R8 and stick one in slot 2. I now have all 4 RAM banks filled with 16GB Kingston HyperX 2666MHz sticks. I turn the computer back and get the message that the RAM amount has changed. Great! However, when I then restart I still cannot enable XMP. Why?! :) On the first R8, which now has 2 X Fury HyperX 2666MHz sticks in slots 1 + 3 I can enable/disable at my leisure. There is no difference between these computers. Can someone please offer some guidance?
The only difference between the two is R8 #1 has Windows 10 Home and R8 #2 has Windows 10 Pro regardless before I upgraded to Pro on R8 I could not enable XMP as all the steps mentioned above pre-date the upgrade to Windows Pro. :)
Specifications are identical on both Aurora R8 except for Windows:
Intel Core i7-9700K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
256GB SSD PCIe NVMe- Boot drive
2TB 7200 RPM - Storage
850 Watt Liquid Cooled
Killer Wireless
Windows 10 Home on Aurora R8 #1
Windows 10 Pro on Aurora R8 #2
Ricketts65
4 Posts
0
April 12th, 2019 06:00
Hello:
Sorry for asking this but I saw your post. I just got a R8 and the sound quit working. How do you get into the BIOS to look at the configurations? Thanks Paul
Alienware-Eimy
3 Apprentice
3 Apprentice
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4.4K Posts
0
April 12th, 2019 10:00
Hi @Ricketts65
Power on the system.
Tap the F2 key to enter System Setup when the Dell logo appears. If you have trouble entering Setup using this method, press F2 when the keyboard LEDs first flash.
Try not to hold down the F2 key as this can sometimes be interpreted as a stuck key by the system.
Use your arrow keys to navigate BIOS.
nathantheoak
1 Message
0
August 11th, 2019 19:00
BUMP - I am having the same problem as OP.
r72019
6 Professor
6 Professor
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5.3K Posts
1
August 11th, 2019 20:00
Couple things to note.
(1) The Kingston Hyper X Fury sold by Kingston runs at a different voltage (1.2V) than the Hyper X Fury manufactured by Kingston and sold by Dell in the R8 (1.4V) so they would not be "matched."
(2) Ideally, to avoid these types of compatibility issues, you would want to run match pairs of RAM sticks in dual channel mode - that means sticks sold as a set (e.g, 2 x 16GB = 32 GB set).
(3) If you contact Kingston they will probably tell you to clear CMOS to reset BIOS and try again.
(4) For RAM sticks not purchased as a matched set, different manufacturing revision numbers may impact compatibility among RAM sticks sold even by the same manufacturer - Kingston can tell you, based on the manufacturing numbers on your RAM, if the sticks are essentially "identical."
oreobro
16 Posts
1
June 24th, 2020 19:00
I just installed 4x16gb hyper x fury 3200mhz and went in to bios after noticing alienware command center already showed 3200 mhz and noticed xmp 1 enabled itself. Works like a charm
cubicfang
53 Posts
1
June 27th, 2020 08:00
@magyarmv
I think Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4 2666MHz just does not have XMP mode. They would run at 1.2V as the stock memory modules. If you get HyperX Fury DDR4 3200MHz, you can go to BIOS and enable XMP for sure, the memory will run at 1.35V.
r72019
6 Professor
6 Professor
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5.3K Posts
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June 27th, 2020 14:00
The entire Kingston HyperX Fury retail lineup comes with 2 canned extreme memory profiles (XMP1 and XMP2) ready to be selected. If it cannot be selected in BIOS the problem is due to a reason other than XMP profiles not being there. The aurora is notoriously picky with RAM so it doesn't surprise me to read from the OP that the exact same RAM works with XMP enabled in one R8, and doesn't work with XMP enabled in a different R8 with the same bios version.
https://www.hyperxgaming.com/unitedstates/us/memory/fury-ddr4
speedstep
9 Legend
9 Legend
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47K Posts
1
June 27th, 2020 18:00
Must have Ram with XMP profile in SPD
XMP is available for unlocked processors only, such as the i7-8700K.
Not all CPU allow overclocking.
https://www.kingston.com/dataSheets/HX426C15FBK4_16.pdf
JEDEC/XMP TIMING PARAMETERS•
JEDEC/PnP: DDR4-2666 CL15-17-17 @1.2V
DDR4-2400 CL14-16-16 @1.2V
DDR4-2133 CL12-14-14 @1.2V
XMP Profile #1: DDR4-2666 CL15-17-17 @1.2v
https://www.kingston.com/dataSheets/HX432C16FB3A_16.pdf
DDR4-3200 at a low latency timing of 16-18-18 at 1.35V
The SPDs are programmed to JEDEC standard latency
DDR4-2400 timing of 17-17-17 at 1.2V.
Each 288-pin DIMM uses gold contact fingers.
electrical and mechanical specifications are as follows:
Default (JEDEC): DDR4-2400 CL17-17-17 @1.2V
XMP Profile #1: DDR4-3200 CL16-18-18 @1.35V
XMP Profile #2: DDR4-3000 CL15-17-17 @1.35V
oreobro
16 Posts
0
June 27th, 2020 18:00
Yeah i was shocked when i installed the ram ,turned on my.pc and xmp automatically enabled itself in the bios. I bought and installed 4x16gig of kingston hyperx 3200mhz xmp ram from amazon.
speedstep
9 Legend
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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June 27th, 2020 19:00
It is important to know that XMP is available for unlocked processors only, such as the i7-8700K.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/extreme-memory-profile-xmp.html
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/resources/overclocking-xtu-guide.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_Yt4vSZKVk
https://www.hyperxgaming.com/unitedstates/us/memory/fury-ddr4
FURY DDR4
FURY DDR4 RGB
Predator DDR4
Predator DDR4 RGB
CAS 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
Voltage 1.2V, 1.35V, 1.4V, 1.5V
Speeds 2400, 2666, 3000, 3200, 3333, 3600, 4000, 4266, 4600, 4800
r72019
6 Professor
6 Professor
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5.3K Posts
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June 27th, 2020 20:00
This is not correct. XMP can be selected even if you have a locked CPU. I have happily run both HyperX XMP profiles with a locked 8700 in an Alienware Aurora. RAM overclocking is entirely different from a CPU overclocking. The K means the CPU core multiplier is unlocked and that has nothing to do with the RAM being locked/unlocked. The XMP profiles are canned settings in the RAM set by the RAM manufacturer and usually selected by the user in BIOs.
r72019
6 Professor
6 Professor
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5.3K Posts
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June 27th, 2020 20:00
Alienware Aurora with locked 8700 and XMP1 enabled (under advanced/performance in BIOs) using Kingston HyperX Fury RAM:
cubicfang
53 Posts
0
June 28th, 2020 08:00
@r72019
Thanks for the clarification. I hope you are right. I am about to do some upgrade to my R8 system with a I9-9900 and some HyperX CL16 3200 MHz ram. I will see if the new memory can have XMP profile activated.
oreobro
16 Posts
0
July 4th, 2020 10:00
That's funny I installed hyperx 3200 XMP Ram 64 gigs when I first installed mine I turned on the computer had a black screen. I then turned it off with the power button and then turned it back on and it was fine XMP enabled itself when I check the BIOS it was already enabled XMP one and in the Alienware Command Center it showed 3200 megahertz. I don't know what kind of ram you installed but the one that I installed said Intel XMP right on the ram Packaging
cubicfang
53 Posts
0
July 4th, 2020 10:00
@r72019
I installed new RAM today. First boot was not successful. I got an all black screen with the power button flashing amber twice (service manual says that means RAM error or no RAM installed). I then powered off my R8 by pressing and holding the power button, and powered it on again moment later. I got the same black screen, but this time I pressed F2 to access BIOS, which was immediately on and displayed correct RAM info. XMP profile can be loaded there. From there I was able to save the BIOS settings and get the computer to work normally.
I don't get that Aurora desktops just make RAM upgrade so tricky. It seems that you have to manually verify RAM parameters in BIOS to complete the upgrade.