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49816
April 22nd, 2011 00:00
Alienware Aurora ALX Memory Upgrades -- Problems with XPM 1600 Profiles
I recently upgraded my Alienware Aurora ALX to 12 GB of Crucial Ballistix DDR3 PC3-12800 (6x2GB) memory that is suppose to have DDR3-1600 , 8-8-8-24 @ 1.65V capabilities with XMP profiles. when I lookup the specs via CPU-Z, it shows me the XMP-1600 Profile Timing Tables with all the correct settings (8-8-8-24 @ 1.65V , 800 MHz frequency), but I can only get this to run at the JEDEC #3 profile setting of (9-9-9-24 @ 1.5V) with 666MHz frequency. I have the latest BIOS revision 11 installed fine and when I select to enable the XMP profile, it will cause my system to blue screen everytime. The only way I can have my system run stable is if I leave everything on Auto in the BIOS.
Any suggestions or anyone else having similar issues?
morblore
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April 22nd, 2011 01:00
The Dell BIOS has been getting worse with each new update when it comes to the XMP profiles. They really messed it up. You need to go into your BIOS and set it yourself. You can leave the memory timings set to auto but you will need to change everything else to the specs of your DIMMs.
I'm running 1866 XMP memory.To get it to run at that speed I set the memory ratio to 14. 14 x 133 ( whatever your BCLK is) = 1867
Then I set the volts in the Overvoltage tab . I have 1.65v memory so I set it to that. Never ever go over 1.65 or you will fry it. You may be able to leave this on AUTO but since it can fry your CPU if its to high I like to make sure its at the correct volts. I dont trust this BIOS to do it for me.
Next I set the QPI and Uncore voltage to +200mv. This can very depending on what DIMM you are running. I had to call Corsair to find out what the volts for mine are and then I had to sell my soul to the devil to find out what Dell uses for its base volts. You need to know what volts you are adding that +200 to. If you search for posts iv made you can find all this info such as what Dell uses for its base QPI volts.. This is the main setting you will need to make it stable. It may be for your DIMMS you need more or less so I would try the +200 and if its not take it down one notch. If that doesnt do it take it one notch over the +200.
I leave the timings set to auto.
This gets me runnings at my 1866 speed with the correct timings and it's 100% stable.
eNIGMATICsquid
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April 22nd, 2011 03:00
Thank you very much for the detailed answer and I will definitely tweak around with all your suggestions tomorrow (Too late now, just got done with a Crysis 2 session). I'll let you know if I'm successful.
**I really wish Dell would fix this... It defeats the whole purpose of a XMP profile... It's funny too because one of the only additions / fixes on my latest A11 BIOS is XMP profile related.....**
BIOS A11:
2. Improved XMP experience including addition of XMP Profile 2 access... LOL J/k Good luck
morblore
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April 22nd, 2011 22:00
Did you get it working?
eNIGMATICsquid
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April 23rd, 2011 14:00
Not yet, I haven't had time to play with it yet. I believe my RAID Controller card went bad on my other dell computer and so I've been trying to get that up and running. I'm without my 14 TB SAN :(
Regicyde
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April 9th, 2013 10:00
Thank you for this. Saved me a lot of headaches seeing as I wouldn't have had a clue what to look for after upgrading my ram to 1600 mhz. Like the OP after enabling the XMP support I blue screened the second Windows loaded. Your tips worked that out nicely!
morblore
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April 9th, 2013 14:00
Your welcome