Unsolved

This post is more than 5 years old

2 Posts

29165

August 15th, 2013 09:00

Getting my 1866Mhz memory to run at 1866Mhz on Alienware M18X R2

So, just a week ago I received my brand-new Alienware M18X R2.  When I placed the order, I asked for and received this memory:

1   319-1142    16GB,4X4G,1866MHz,DDR3

This isn't third-party stuff; it's one of the choices you get when you configure your Alienware.

However, the memory is only running at 1333Mhz.  I can go into the BIOS and set the speed to 1867, but it still only runs at 1333.  I must have rebooted fifty times trying various settings in the BIOS, and the memory only ever runs at 1333.

Finally, I figured it out.  There's something called the XMP Profile in BIOS.  You use it to set the memory timings so that it will run at a speed greater than 1333.  In fact, there's a preconfigured profile in the BIOS for 1866 Memory called "XMP Profile 2".

However, the BIOS refuses to use this profile.  In fact, it refuses to use *any* profile other than "Default".  If you choose another profile and "Save and Exit", it reverts the profile back to "Default".

Subsequent reading has uncovered the fact that this is *by design*.  Alienware doesn't want anyone "overclocking" their memory, so has locked out the overclocking functions in the BIOS.  Nevermind that I'm not overclocking my 1866 memory, I'm simply trying to get it to run at its designed specifications.

I don't understand why Dell would sell me 1866Mhz memory if it wasn't going to actually let me run it at 1866Mhz.

Is there anything that can be done?  I don't want to void my warranty by downloading an "unlocked" BIOS.

11 Legend

 • 

87.5K Posts

 • 

321.3K Points

August 15th, 2013 09:00

The memory speed is set by the CPU you have installed as much as anything else - what CPU do you have?

2 Posts

August 15th, 2013 09:00

JRN101Processor, I7-3740QM, 2.7, 4C, IVY, E1, P

And yes, I've already considered that the CPU is only rated for 1600 MHz.  However, I've ready many, many example of people getting 1866 memory working just fine with the 3740.

However, I'm willing to settle for 1600 - except I can't increase the memory speed to 1600 either.  That's "XMP Profile 1" in the BIOS, and if I select that profile and set the memory speed to 1600, it *still* reverts to the "Default" XMP profile and the memory still only runs at 1333.

Has anyone had any success having memory run at any speed faster than 1333 in an Alienware laptop without "unlocking" the BIOS?

No Events found!

Top