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XPS 8950, memory upgrade from 32GB
Purchased 8950 with 32 gb ram as couldn't justify spending addition $400 to get to64gb when you can buy 64gb alone for a little more. The question is, what's the best way to go about doing this?
In the manual, it says you can only achieve 64gb by 2x32gb chips...but I question that as typically with manuals for ram oftentimes they just test certain configs and it doesn't mean others won't work. The problem is, 2x16gb 4400mhz is hard to find out there so I'm contemplating selling my 2x32gb on eBay to use that money to buy 2x32gb. Is this the best way to go? Has someone done this or traversed other methods to achieve 64gb?
RoHe
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February 21st, 2022 17:00
You're correct, Dell's specs only list configs they tested. Doesn't mean other configs won't work, but Dell isn't responsible if an unlisted config doesn't work.
I'm confused... You said PC has 32 GB of RAM, but then you said "...selling my 2x32gb..." Did you mean selling 2x 16 GB?
Dell PCs can be very fussy about RAM so be careful. Many users around here buy RAM from Crucial (a Micron brand) because they guarantee it works in the model selected or they take it back.
Crucial is offering 2x 16GB of DDR5-4800 RAM and other options for XPS 8950 here. So you could just add 2x 16 GB modules to the two you already have.
NOTE: The OEM 2x 16 are likely installed in 2nd and 4th slots from CPU, with matching color retention clips. If you install the new 2x 16 in 1st and 3rd slots from CPU and have problems or RAM isn't running at the right speed, move the OEM module from 4th slot into 1st slot from CPU, and install new pair in the empty slots, with mismatched retention clips. Not the way RAM is usually installed, but this has come up on both XPS 8940 and XPS 8950.
All RAM will run at the speed of the slowest modules installed, 4400 MHz
Louis Rohlman
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February 26th, 2022 05:00
Wow what a great answer thank you!!! Yes I did mean 2x16gb sorry about that. I've been looking at crucial's site but im hesitant to run 2 crucial sticks and 2 Samsung sticks the Dell came with to achieve the 64gb. I've always heard mixing and matching ram isn't the way to go so I was looking at maybe buying the 2x32gb from crucial and selling my 2x16gb on eBay if you think they would sell. Ram is so expensive!!
To that end there is one more question I have...has anyone testes faster speed ram? I know these are 4800mhz but Dell advertises the speed at 4400mhz. Is that a cap by the motherboard or just have they set it up that way in the config?
dstewart51
48 Posts
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February 26th, 2022 08:00
I would not be surprised if the max speed is dropped from 4400 to 4000 or even 3600 with 4x 16GB sticks. I had issues getting 2x 32GB Crucial memory to work in my first 8950, suspected the MB was faulty, this was confirmed after Dell sent a replacement system. During the troubleshooting I learned the 8950 is picky about the DIMM population and capability's, I believe you will only get the full speed of 4400 with 2x 32GB sticks. I can confirm 2x Crucial 32GB sticks (CT32G48C40U5) does work at 4400.
RoHe
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February 26th, 2022 12:00
@Louis Rohlman It's your PC and your decisions, but if this were my PC, I'd get 2x 16 GB from Crucial and try with the 2x 16 Samsung already installed.
If the Crucial RAM gives problems when installed as a matched pair, and mixing the pairs as I mentioned above doesn't solve the problem, you could return the 2x16 to Crucial, because they guarantee it works.
And in that case, you could then buy 2x 32 from Crucial and sell the 2x 16 Samsung. It's a good brand so it should get a decent price, if you're willing to put up with the hassles of online selling, scammers etc etc.
RAM speed is fixed so you won't get faster than 4400 MHz from 4800 MHz RAM. If you have to mix the pairs to get the Crucial RAM to work with the Samsung, I bet it will run at 4400 MHz, dual-channel.That's exactly what happens on XPS 8940 when RAM pairs have to be mixed to get different brands to work together at full speed.
You can use CPU-z (free) to check RAM speed and channel mode...
Bama18
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April 14th, 2022 14:00
It’s hard to find DDR5 ram at 4400Mhz frequency. I looked crucial, Corsair and Kingston. No luck.
MrChardonnay
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June 21st, 2022 13:00
Dell says to install them in slots 1 and 2 for dual channel support. Why are they in 1 and 3 on my system. I heard dual channel is faster. Thanks
RoHe
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June 21st, 2022 17:00
@MrChardonnay Please don't double-post the same question.
I responded to your other post...