XPS 8300, memory help

Question

Hello everyone,

New to the board as I am trying to figure out an error with memory installation.

I purchased "16GB (2x8GB) Kit 8GB 2RX4 PC3-10600R 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM" from Amazon. Followed the instructions manual, and installed the 2x8GB memory in the motherboard slots. When I start it up, I get an orange light on the power button and it makes a clicking sound causing the XPS 8300 not to start up.

I left the original 2GBx2 memory in slots 3 and 4 and only replaced the 2GBx2 memory in slots 1 and 2.

What am I doing wrong? I have Windows 10 Home installed as well. So it should be able to support it based on the other threads that I came across that stated 20GB RAM installed with Windows 10.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated! I searched plenty of threads prior to starting this thread, so if there is one out there that has the how-to-fix on this, I apologize.

Thank you in advance!

fireberd · Answer

A couple of issues. Never mix memory, keep it all the same brand/type. What is the new memory?
Dell's tend to be picky with non-Dell memory, some will work and some will not. For that reason we recommend Crucial memory as its guaranteed to work in a Dell. But, if you buy other memory, buy it where they have a liberal return policy in case it does not work.
Max memory is 16GB for the 8300.
Try the new 2X8GB in slots 1 and 2 and remove the Dell memory in 3 and 4 and see if will work.
Here is the Crucial listing:
https://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for//xps-8300

Tesla1856 · Answer

Sounds pretty close. Are you sure the XPS-8300/Vostro-460 can handle 8gb DIMMs ?

Be sure machine still works 100% with just original DIMMs installed.

I had no problem upgrading ram in mine, but I took the "easy-way out". :Smile: After you have been doing this for a while, you tend to go with upgrades that have the best chance of working 100%.

https://www.dell.com/community/Vostro-Desktops/Vostro-460-XPS-8300-Upgrade-Adventures/m-p/6055730/highlight/true#M1225

RobC0107 · Answer

Hi @fireberd,

Thank you for the input!

The new memory (8GB x 2) is Hynix. I purchased them on Amazon with the idea of only changing two out of the four slots. If that doesn't work, would you recommend purchasing the following instead so all four are the same? I currently have 8GB RAM, so I'd assume 16GB would run significantly better.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KFNEXNM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A5S7QAOMTZE3P&psc=1

Would that work? I am returning the original 8GB x 2 and am open to options. This isn't my main computer, so I am not looking to put too much into it either.

This was the original memory that I purchased:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GWXFJDH/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1