Question: Alienware Aurora Memory Speed Limitations?

Moving this thread to the Alienware Owners Club Forum, here:

 http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/default.aspx

Bev.

Anyone have input on this?  Just wanting to make a purchasing decision this month.  Thanks

Hi doctor_tiki, what is the model of your Alienware computer? I can provide you with the memory tipe, speed and the maximum recommended for it.

You're welcome.

The Aurora-R4 supports the Quad Channel DDR3 2133 MHz XMP memory and up to 32GB, if we currently don't have that option on the website then most likely is because we don't have it on stock right now, so we took it out to avoid causing a delay on your order.

Hello thanks for the reply, although from my original post I am looking to make a new AlienWare purchase so I'm not too sure what my existing model has to do with it.   It is an Aurora, which is also what I am looking to purchase.

My question was regarding the fact that the only memory speeds available were 1600mhz for current models, which seemed extremely slow compared to what is available on the market for cheap. 

I saw no area when customizing where I could choose RAM with higher speed, only more of the same slow RAM.  Is this something you offer but have to manually request on the phone when ordering, or are there no options at all for memory speed on new machines? 

Since I was going to splurge on a new gaming machine I wanted to use all the latest technology and this is very far behind.

Thank you

Thanks for the answer, I will keep monitoring the website for when they have the 2133Mhz memory as an option.  I haven't seen any options in the past 6 months though aside from the memory size itself.

Thanks for the reply, although I think the only confusion is that I mentioned I currently had an AlienWare computer haha. 

I am looking to buy a NEW AlienWare as a REPLACEMENT for my old AlienWare from 2010.  I am NOT trying to upgrade the memory of my old machine.  I saw no ability to customize memory speeds on the AlienWare website and that is where my question came from.

Straight from the main AlienWare website I click 'Gaming Desktops' and am brought to http://www.alienware.com/Landings/desktops.aspx.  From there I chose the most expensive option and attempted to customize it. 

Am I missing something?  I've been watching it on and and off for the past few months in anticipation of my purchase and have never seen an option to change RAM speed, only size.

doctor_tiki,

Let me jump in here. The confusion is that we released four revisions of the Aurora. You mentioned, "Mine is from 2010". So that is either the Aurora-R1 or the Aurora-R2. Neither of those support 2133MHz ram.

Aurora-R1
* 6 slots (2/1,4/3,6/5)
Maximum 24GB 1066MHz PC3-8500/1333MHz PC3-10600
Maximum 12GB 1600MHz PC3-12800 XMP

Aurora-R2
* 4 slots
Maximum 16GB 1067MHz PC3-8500/1333MHz PC3-10600/1600MHz PC3-12800 XMP

The Aurora-R3 came out in 2011. The Aurora-R4 came out in 2012. Only the R4 can use 2133MHz ram. I hope this clears up any confusion.

This answer could be understood that one can install 32 GB (4 x 8 gb) of 2133 MHz memory in the R4, but I seem to remember reading other posts on this site stating that there are limitations to the ram speed the R4 will support, depending on the number and size of the modules installed.  For example, I thought I had read that that the R4 will not support speeds over 1600 MHz in quantities over 16 GB.  Maybe this is incorrect?

I know that there are limited ram options available when configuring a new R4 on the Dell website, but this does not necessarily mean that the R4 will only support those quantities and at those speeds.  I, too, had the same question as the OP when purchasing my R4.

Would an Alienware support tech please clarify what speed ram is supported, and in what quantities? 

Thank you!