XPS 8930, use that third 8GB memory stick?

That's good to know; I haven't examined the interior beyond installing a 2nd disk drive. The service manual would have me completely removing the power supply to get access to the memory, including unplugging a handfull of cables.

My Dell XPS 8910 with 16GB of memory also came with a single memory module. With a single module the memory will operate in single channel vs dual channel mode. You can see that if you run a program like CPU-Z. A match pair installed in the proper slots should operate in dual channel mode. There some improved performance in dual channel but you will probably not notice the difference. I am not sure what will happen if you install a third memory module or if it will work. If you only wanted 16GB you could have just purchased a single 8GB memory module, or if you have already purchased a pair of 8GB modules you could purchase a single 8GB module and have 32GB.

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@Rbobby wrote:

That's good to know; I haven't examined the interior beyond installing a 2nd disk drive. The service manual would have me completely removing the power supply to get access to the memory, including unplugging a handfull of cables.

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The procedure for removing and replacing the memory modules calls for only performing steps 1 & 2  of "Removing the power supply unit". You should not go beyond step 2; step 3 is where you start disconnecting cables. Look at the procedure again on page 72 and you will see the part about following the procedure from step 1 to step 2.

Thanks again, that was exactly right. Up and running in no time.

Why in the world would someone have written the manual that way?

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@Rbobby wrote:
Other articles in the forum warned to be certain that pairs of memory sticks be identical and recommended either buying the 2nd stick from Dell or to buy a pair from another source. Since Dell's price for a single stick was more than the cost of a pair from Crucial, I went with the pair.

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I was able to purchase a compatible memory module from Crucial to work with the single 16GB module that came with my Dell. The risk with Crucial is very low, they guarantee the memory they sell is compatible.

That lurked in the back of my mind, when I ordered the pair of 8GB sticks from Crucial.

Since I now have what's an otherwise useless 8GB stick, and my wife seems to be OK with me spending even more money to bring this machine up to speed, another $30 or so to move up to 32GB of memory might be fun.

Thanks for this too.

You are, of course, exactly right. This has been my curse since I was a kid; I don't read all the words, just the ones I think are important. I ruined more model airplane kits than i care to count.

In the manual section "Removing the memory modules," I saw the link to "Removing the power supply unit," and carefully ignored the "Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 2."

Fortunately, someone replied earlier with a photo of the interior of the machine, saving me from a lot of grief. Thanks for the reminder to slow down and pay attention.

This is a good time to buy. Memory prices are heading down but have not yet bottomed out.

Memory prices started falling the second half of 2018 and the trend is continuing. See this article: https://www.extremetech.com/computing/292257-high-speed-ram-prices-continue-to-crater-as-slide-extends-into-q2

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@Vic384 wrote:

This is a good time to buy. Memory prices are heading down but have not yet bottomed out.

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When did they start heading down?