Alienware Aurora R4 - Installing new RAM problem

Question

Two weeks ago, I bought myself the Corsair Vengeance 2 x 8 GB DDR3-2133 - PC3-17066 - CL10 (CMZ16GX3M2A2133C10) memory for my one-year-old Aurora R4.

When I try to install them and boot up the computer, I get nothing more than just a black screen, fans are working but no start-up beep. I can't even enter the BIOS. I tried the trick with the CMOS battery but it didn't help. When I put the original RAM (4 x 2 GB DDR3-1600mhz) back in, the computer starts up with no problems.

Some people told me that i'm supposed to turn on the Extreme Memory Profile in the BIOS, so I went into the BIOS (while my old RAM was installed) but I couldn't find the XMP option, and I know where it should be because I saw other people do it with their system. And yes, I updated all of my drivers and I have the latest BIOS version (A07).

So, I contacted Dell support about this issue. Although very friendly, they gave me the same options that i've already tried. I told that to them and they said that the motherboard is NOT the problem and that they wouldn't give me any more support about the RAM issue since I didn't bought it from Dell. (acceptable for me, because it was already stated on the site that they wouldn't support non-Dell RAM).

Last friday I mailed Corsair about this, they told me that my motherboard (07jnh0) doesn't support 2133Mhz and gave me a link to an external website:

http://www.findlaptopdriver.com/mainboard-alienware-07jnh0-specs-5h48372011/

(Please note: the external website says that the motherboard is the a00 version, I have the a02 version but can't find any specs about it)

My question is: Is Corsair support right or am I still doing something wrong?

Computer Specs:

Motherboard: Alienware 07JNH0 (A02)

BIOS version: A07

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium

Processor: Intel Core i7 3820 Quad Core @ 3.60Ghz

Memory: 8GB (4 x 2 GB) DDR3 RAM @ 1600 Mhz

Graphics: 2GB GDDR5 AMD Radeon HD 7870

Milena M458 · Answer

Hello Timo_schepers! According to our manual that motherboard will support. Quad Channel DDR3 1600 MHz Quad Channel DDR3 2133 MHz XMP You can test one by one to see if maybe one of them is damage.

Timo_Schepers · Answer

Ok I tried, but none of them seems to work, the computer just stays in and endless cycle of turning on and off after a few seconds.

But can you please explain why my system does NOT have a XMP option when I check the BIOS?

Milena M458 · Answer

I was checking on the corsair website for the validated systems and I didn't find the Aurora R4, this might the reason why the computer is not posting with those memories.

You can check on the dell website or in the Kingston one for validated memories for your computer.

Timo_Schepers · Answer

'But can you please explain why my system does NOT have a XMP option when I check the BIOS?'

Milena M458 · Answer

You will be able to see the option Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P) Enable or disable on the BIOS version A07, when you install validated memories that are XMP.

Timo_Schepers · Answer

So my original memory does not support XMP, how am I ever gonna be able to turn on XMP if the new RAM requires it?

Milena M458 · Answer

Yes your original memory might not support XMP that is why you are not able to see it, and at the moment that you install validated memories the XMP will be enable.

morblore · Answer

I think I may have found the solution. According to Corsair, my i7-3820 Processor requires quad channel memory.

Can you confirm this please?

Also, will it work if I combine 2 dual channel kits?

No, they won't work. Well they probably would if you bought the correct speed and size but you never want to buy 2 sets of memory like that. You want to buy a matching set, one that has been tested verifying that all 4 DIMMS work together. So buy 1 matched and tested set of 4 DIMMS for the quad channel.

According to the manual you need to install 4 sticks of ether 2gb or 4gb capacities equaling ether 8gb or 16gb in total. That is what the manual says the board supports. However I do know the system supports up to 32gb but only at 1600mhz speed.

When you install just two sticks it will operate at dual channel. One stick is single channel, three is triple channel and so on. Since it has a quad-channel memory controller you will want to buy 4 sticks of whatever you run in it.

If you want to run 2133mhz memory then you will want 4x2gb sticks that total 8gb. If you want more memory then don't go over 1600mhz. So something like 4x8gb sticks of 1600mhz is fine. However it may work at 4x4gb at 2133 but I can not confirm that.

For the two matched sticks you have you would use DIMM slots 1 and 2 which are the 2 slots to the left of the CPU. Do not try separating them but use the fist 2 slots. For a single stick you would use the 1 DIMM slot. If it doesn't boot to allow you into the bios then there is nothing else you can really do. The 2x8gb 2133 sticks you have are to fast for 8gb and are not supported. They will need to be returned.

It would most likely boot with 1 or 2 sticks of 1600mhz memory at the 8gb size but yours is 2133 and that is most likely the issue. Even if you had 4 of them the system would still fail to boot. Wrong capacity for that speed.

If it was my system I would go with 8gb ( 4x2GB sticks ) of the 2133mhz memory. 8gb is more then enough for gaming and I am unsure if 4x4gb at 2133 will work.

Something else to keep in mind is even if the memory is not/was not XMP memory it would still give you the option of entering the BIOS which would allow you to manually overclock them. Since you are not even getting that far then it's almost 100% the speed/size that you have and not anything else such as the XMP profile. You would always get the BIOS option if the memory was good and the correct size/speed. Most of the time it will drop the speed to something like 1066/1333 and you would go into the bios and overclock them manually or with the XMP. If it fails with XMP on then you would disable XMP, set the memory multiplier and the board volts manually. Leave the rest of the settings on auto. That is all XMP does anyway.

Dell validated memory is memory they have tested to work with the system. However you can use other brands that have not been tested so long as you keep within the correct speeds and capacities. At worst what happens is the XMP profile may not work and you would need to set them manually. Lot's of us go this route because of the incredible price differences.

Going from the Left DIMM slot to the Right the DIMM slot numbers are 1,2,4 and 3.

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Timo_Schepers · Answer

I think I may have found the solution. According to Corsair, my i7-3820 Processor requires quad channel memory. Can you confirm this please? Also, will it work if I combine 2 dual channel kits?

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Alienware Aurora R4 - Installing new RAM problem

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