Aurora R8, memory upgrade maximum? #3

Question

So I'd bought this machine back in November to do some dev work, and everything has been great, except I've run out of RAM for some of the modeling I'm doing for work.

I got the system pre-configured with four of the HyperX™ FURY modules to give a total of 64GB of RAM. As much as I'd love to jump to 256GB I haven't seen any 64GB modules for sale, so instead I found these A-Data 32GB DDR4-2666 modules, and I picked up 4.

Powering the system on, the machine recognized that the memory amount has changed and in the BIOS it recognizes the full 128GB!... Great, right?

Well booting into Windows 10 Pro, it shows 128GB, but on the memory tab it has a 64.2GB hardware reservation.

Ouch.

Am I missing something?

The i7-9700K ARK shows this processor having a physical address space of 128GB (so much for eventually going to 256GB..?!)

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/186604/intel-core-i7-9700k-processor-12m-cache-up-to-4-90-ghz.html

Is there some hidden memory hole or something?

Oh I have the 1.0.9 BIOS, and I loaded 'performance defaults'... Same thing, everything reports 128GB, but only the 63.8GB is usable.

JOcean · Answer

The online 'Alienware Aurora R8 Setup and Specifications' PDF states on page 13 that&#xa0;64GB of RAM is the maximum total that is compatible. Crucial also confirms that amount. Aurora R8, memory upgrade? (5-10-2019) Aurora R8, memory upgrade, #2 (9-07-2019)

neozeed · Answer

I was hoping that the 64GB limit was based on only the availability of 16GB modules. Sigh, I guess time to look for a new computer, which kind of stinks as this thing is barely 3 months old.

neozeed · Answer

Apparently MSI updated their BIOS for the Z370 platform (same chipset in the R8) to add support for 32GB DIMM's to bring system memory up to 128GB.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/msi-z390-motherboard-128gb-ram-bios,38330.html

So I guess the question is do I sit and wait hoping Dell adds the same update to the BIOS, or get a MSI board and strip down my 3 month old PC.

r72019 · Answer

So I guess the question is do I sit and wait hoping Dell adds the same update to the BIOS, or get a MSI board and strip down my 3 month old PC.

Since the R8 has already been superseded by the R9, if any such update were released it would most likely be limited to the R9. Unfortunately, this is what Dell does to sell more PCs. If you consider prior BIOs update history, most recent examples being 9th gen 9900k limited to R8, and 9900ks to R9 (even though R7 through R9 all use the z370) this is common practice, unfortunately.

One other thing to note is that you won't be able to plug and play the MSI board into the R9 chassis. 1, the IO shield is non-removable on the back of the case, so you would need to cut it out; 2, the led/power button are proprietary, you would have to buy your own plastic connector and rewire it; 3, I don't think you can install AWCC on non-Dell boards to control the LEDs; 4, you would need to buy a new copy of windows, it's not transferable.

r72019 · Answer

@neozeed wrote:

Apparently MSI updated their BIOS for the Z370 platform (same chipset in the R8) to add support for 32GB DIMM's to bring system memory up to 128GB.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/msi-z390-motherboard-128gb-ram-bios,38330.html

So I guess the question is do I sit and wait hoping Dell adds the same update to the BIOS, or get a MSI board and strip down my 3 month old PC.

Since the R8 has already been superseded by the R9, if any such update were released it would most likely be limited to the R9. Unfortunately, this is what Dell does to sell more PCs. If you consider prior BIOs update history, most recent examples being 9th gen 9900k limited to R8, and 9900ks to R9 (even though R7 through R9 all use the z370) this is common practice, unfortunately.

arm7 · Answer

@neozeed

I had the same thing in my mind. In my case, I have 3 Alienware R8s with 16GB to start with.

I was wondering whether you have tried to installed only two 32 GB to see whether it works with 32 GB single modules or not? (2x32->64GB)

I was thinking about maybe buying 32 gb modules instead of 16 gb so that in case of a BIOS upgrade or something, I could use them on a single computer.

Also, is it possible that you may could have tried modules other than A-Data? Some times another the RAM config could work.

I had an old HP laptop which supported up to 8 GB. After a few years, I put in 2 x 8GB and it worked like charm. Still working (around 8 years now, with 16 GB of ram, same thing these R8s come with by default).

So if you had tried the single 32 GB modules only, please kindly let me know.

Tesla1856 · Answer

@neozeed wrote:

I was hoping that the 64GB limit was based on only the availability of 16GB modules.

Sigh, I guess time to look for a new computer,

32gb is a lot of ram for a consumer-class (or gaming-class) computer. 64gb is pushing it to the limit.

If you want 64gb or more of ram, it really should be ECC . If you want a pre-built desktop, it sounds like a Precision Fixed Workstation (or comparable HP Workstation) would be more suitable for your use-case (I'm guessing it is not gaming development).

Additionally, if you must buy your own high-end memory, I suggest you stick to more popular and reputable brands .

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Aurora R8, memory upgrade maximum? #3

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