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197804
April 4th, 2011 22:00
New XPS 8300
Just bought a new XPS8300.
New motherboard version, (0Y2MRG code) and everything so far seems to work great!
Crossing my fingers as this is the first Dell computer I've ever owned.
Two questions that I'm hoping someone can answer:
1. What is the maximum amount of memory that can be upgraded on this computer?
I've read 16Gb. It appears the current installed 8Gb configuration is (4 slots) with 2Gb sticks. Not sure if these are dual channel matched sets or not?
Could not find that anywhere in the Service Manual or specs.
So, in order to upgrade this to the 16Gb max (if that is true), you would need to remove all 4 original sticks and replace with (4) 4Gb sticks?
Is it possible to install dual channel 8Gb sticks for 32Gb? If not why is there a 16Gb max?
2. I need to add a PCie Firewire 1394A/B card to this computer, I was told this computer had Firewire IEEE1394 from Best Buy salesperson, but if it has one I haven't found it yet and I've check the manual and the entire box to no avail!
So, is there any particular PCIe FW card that would be "best" to add to this computer that will work properly in Win7?
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Scrotos
12 Posts
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April 16th, 2013 13:00
Dell's maximum supported RAM for this system is 16 GB. However, it works fine with 32 GB of RAM. I used this memory kit in mine:
Corsair XMS3 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 1333 MHz (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory (CMX32GX3M4A1333C9)
Probably other ones will work fine, too. The only caveat is that most Dells would have come with Windows 7 Home Premium installed and that will only allow access to 16 GB of RAM. You need to have Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate to access the full 32 GB of RAM. You can do the Windows Anytime Upgrade to buy Win7 Pro if you want to go that route, basically it magically makes your existing install into Win7 Pro so you don't have to reinstall anything.
If you put more than 16 GB in a Home Premium system, when you right-click on Computer and go to Properties, you'll see the memory listed as something like 32 GB (16 GB usable). So the OS will see it all, it just won't let you USE it all. Harsh, ya?
I had looked this question up and not gotten anything solid for an answer so I tried it myself and am posting about my success.
fireberd
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April 5th, 2011 04:00
I can't answer all of your questions but when buying a firewire card, get one with the T.I. firewire chipset as it will allow the best interface compatibility. Most pro audio equpment requires this because most use the Dice II firewire chipset in the equipment.
djmukilteo
9 Posts
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April 5th, 2011 09:00
Thanks fireberd:
I was looking at this:
SIIG FireWire 2-Port PCIe (NN-E20012-S2)
I don't know if this has the TI chipset but I will see if I can find that out.
I am trying to get my RME FF800 audio interface to work with the XPS 8300 so that is good info to know!
It all seems to be about the "chipsets" these days....
mousemanb
2 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 08:00
Hi,
Just bought a refurbished XPS8300 with the same mobo (0Y2MRG) and had a similar question to yours. Mine came with 8GB of memory (4 x 2GB DDR3 PC3-10600 1333MHz). I'm also looking to upgrade my memory to 16GB, but I can't seem to find anywhere what the fastest supported memory speed is for this mobo. Do you happen to know?
From what I've seen, the mobo can only support 16GB of memory. I don't remember where I found that, as I've done a lot of searching. Probably the Crucial Memory Scan... If I find something different as I continue looking around, I'll let you know!
fireberd
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June 19th, 2011 09:00
The Crucial site is usually up to what it will handle. Dell PC"s have a history of compatibility with some brands of memory and for that reason most of the Techies here recommend Crucial since it's guaranteed to work in Dell's. The newer models do not seem to have as much problem with non-Dell memory but we still suggest Crucial.
The Dell manual for the 8300 is no on line so I can't check the listed Specs in the manual.
ProtectTheUser
14 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 10:00
I hope the Kingston HyperX memory (2x4Gb) sticks I just bought from Newegg work fine in this rig. They're sitting there waiting for the bustle of Father's Day to die down before I can get to installing them.
Happy Father's Day to everyone!
djmukilteo
9 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 10:00
The memory that I have in mine are made by Samsung, All four slots filled with 2Gb sticks. Which I'm sure is the same as yours.
The DDR3 as far as I know is the fastest memory you can use with this...1333Mhz!
Newegg has Samsung dual channel 8Gb sticks which are DDR3 PC3-10600. (2 x 4Gb) They have the same timing as the original 2Gb sticks (9-9-9-24) which is important.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147086
These are about $95 per set so around $200 for 16G. You would need to make sure you install them in the slots in dual channel sets.
The thing is you have to remove all four original sticks and replace with four new ones to get 16G.
So it's not possible to get to 16Gb using any of the existing sticks.
Crucial is also a good source....same timings 9-9-9-24 but a little cheaper than the Samsung.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148420
It is still not clear why the manual on the XPS 8300 say max 32Gb and yet other info I've found says Max 16Gb!
Also don't know if it can use dual channel sets or not.
32Gb is probably the absolute max supported by the controller and motherboard and 16Gb is the Dell recommended max.
I don't know if you can even find DDR3 in a 4 x 8Gb configuration. Using four 8Gb sticks is the only way you could get to 32Gb and the timings would still need to be the CAS 9 unbuffered non-ECC etc etc...
djmukilteo
9 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 11:00
Which model Kingston did you get?
ProtectTheUser
14 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 11:00
Grabbed a set of these: www.newegg.com/.../Product.aspx
Will likely pick up another set soon if the 8 Gb turns out stable and crank the system configuration up to 16 Gb! I'll post back results on compatibility shortly.
djmukilteo
9 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 12:00
I hope those work because those are not PC3-10600 (1333Mhz).
djmukilteo
9 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 13:00
And those were PC3 12800 1600Mhz?
Why only 12Gb
ProtectTheUser
14 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 13:00
Just installed them and worked like a charm. I had 6 Gb initially when I ordered the system, took out the 2x1 Gb memory, popped these in for a nice 12 Gb bump!
ProtectTheUser
14 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 13:00
This was an 8 Gb memory kit that I ordered. I had 6 Gb, took out the 2 x 1 Gb sticks, leaving 2 x 2 Gb sticks still in the system (= 4 Gb) and adding the Kingston 2 x 4 Gb sticks (= 8 Gb) thereby providing 12 Gb total memory.
The specs on the Kingston Hyper X sticks are:
8 Gb DDR3 - 1600 CL9 240 pin DIMM kit
I will likely be purchasing another set of the Hyper X sticks tomorrow once I run through this set today to see if there are any existing issues with some of the games I've got installed (Crysis 2, Duke Nuke'em Forever).
djmukilteo
9 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 14:00
So the 6Gb configuration was (2) 1Gb sticks and (2) 2Gb sticks then!
I was wondering how they got 6Gb!
Well that should prove that not only can you use mixed configurations but different memory speeds and the system isn't limited to the stock PC3-10600 @ 1333Mhz.
Were the original sticks PC3-10600 1333Mhz?
If this works well then the XPS 8300 appears to be able to use PC3-12800 then!
Can you list the CAS 9 timings of the Kingston...are they 9-9-9-24?
Do you have system description software that reports the statistics on the memory?
I'll have to go back and look at the specs on the MB and memory controller and see why Dell uses the slower speed sticks!....maybe it can handle even faster speed PC3's!
djmukilteo
9 Posts
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June 19th, 2011 14:00
Interesting...so these are supposed to be able to use up to 2133Mhz chips...
Good articles on this
www.bit-tech.net/.../1
techreport.com/.../20377