XPS 8950, ram upgrade, 2x8GB and 2x32GB?

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Re: I have noticed on the service manual that 2x8 and 2x32gb is not listed as a possible combination

xps8950 memory Dell validated spec:

Memory configurations supported:

● 8 GB, 1 x 8 GB, DDR5, 4400 MHz
● 16 GB, 2 x 8 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 4400 MHz
● 16 GB, 1 x 16 GB, DDR5, 4400 MHz
● 32 GB, 2 x 16 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 4400 MHz
● 64 GB, 4 x 16 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 4000 MHz
● 64 GB, 2 x 32 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 4400 MHz
● 128 GB, 4 x 32 GB, dual-channel DDR5, 3600 MHz

users have also validated 2x8 GB in 8950.

Thankyou, I saw this in the service manual as mentioned. 

What would happen if I put it all in (eg 80 gb)? Would it do damage? Would it fail to boot?

I understand that the manual does not list all of the possible combinations? Just wondering if anyone on here has experience with this.

Hello, did you try doing the 80gb? I had the same question for my 8950.

You can easily use 2x8GB and 2x32GB, and will have a total of 80GB

However, keep in mind is when you have 2 memory slots filled your DDR5 RAM will run at 4400Mhz, and when you have 4 slots filled, your DDR5 RAM will run at 3600Mhz

@Simondinio  Have you tried successfully? All 80 G and at which MHz? 4000 or 3600? Please update if possible.

I did try, the system just won’t accept 80 gb, despite what Dell said. It comes up with errors when I try which are fixed when I just have the 64gb OR the 16 but not both.

I am now running 64 gb at 4400mhz. There is no complaints procedure so am now left with 2 8gb chips in boxes which i took out the machine. 

@Simondinio  Did you try mixing the pairs of RAM?

Put the new 2x 32 GB DDR4 RAM in slots 1 and 2, counting from the CPU, and Dell's 2x 8 GB OEM RAM in slots 3 and 4.

Yes, that does mean the modules in a matched pair will be in slots with different color retention clips.  And yes, that's contrary to how RAM is "normally" installed. Many XPS 8940 users have found when installing different brands of RAM, that it works if you mix the pairs.

After you install the mixed pairs, remove motherboard battery and press/hold power button for ~30 sec and then reinstall the battery. That will force BIOS to see the change in RAM config.

Of course, I can't guarantee the PC will work with 80 GB installed, even after you mix the pairs, since that is an "unusual" config and never validated by Dell. If it does work, use CPU-z (free) to check RAM speed and if it's running in single or dual channel mode (CPU-z: "Channel #").

If all else fails, you can probably sell the 2x 8 GB of OEM RAM on one of the usual "for sale" sites. RAM is quite expensive right now so you might be able to get a really good price for it...

Hi,

I have the same problem. The original 2x8GB RAM and the Crucial 2x32GB RAM are exact equal. Speed 4800mHZ, Latency 40 and so on. None of any combination will work.
Separate gives no problem at all.

I contact the Dutch Dell Support. They could NOT give me a solution and finally the engineer said, it has to be the build of the BIOS structure that won't work with different size RAM modules.
It's also not a given combination in the user manual, he said.

So, I suggest to upgrade the BIOS to a newer level because it's not very 2022 that this is not possible.That will be a very long process to change the structure of the BIOS, he said.

Chris.

Yes I test in my computer, (XPS 8950) :

64GB (2x32GB) + 16GB (2x8GB) = don't boot the system,  yes: fail to boot.

Also tried in my XPS 8950 

64GB (2x32GB) + 16GB (2x8GB) = Power Button cycles from solid white to three blinking Amber lights and back and forth. Tried the Bios / CMOS reset (Remove battery + 30 second power button hold down) but same result.

Should I return the 8 GB module to Crucial or hope that Dell updates the 8950 Bios to accept this combination as it appears they did with the 8940?

What slots are you using for each pair when all 4 modules are installed? You could try swapping each matched pair into the slots with the other color retention clips, eg if 2x 8 GB are currently in white slots, move them to black slots and put 2x 32 in white slots.

You could also try installing a matched pair of modules so they're in slots with different color retention clips. If it boots this way, use CPU-Z (free) to check RAM speed and if RAM is running in single or dual channel mode.

I wouldn't depend on any future BIOS updates enabling 80 GB of RAM, if none of the above works...