Alienware 17 4 Beeps at startup when upgrading the memory...

Hi Oodle,

Let me first appreciate the fact that you have tried the steps youself to resolve the issue.

4 beeps indicate RAM Read/Write failure.

Does the computer work with old memories connected?

Now, connect the old memory in the next 2 slots leaves the first 2 slots empty and check the status.

May I know the complete system model so that I can help you better?

Let me know the status.

Hello

Yes of course it works with the old memories connected, however you may or may not be aware that in order to remove the existing factory memory I would have to essentially 'Gut' the whole laptop in order to remove the motherboard and hence the memory, then refit......

Anyhow I have had some time to do some further testing:

I have updated the BIOS from A01 to A03, now instead of 4 beeps when connecting the additional RAM I am getting 2 beeps (No RAM detected), on removing the additional RAM the laptop boots ok.

Now it gets more interesting as I have another Alienware 17 here brought from DELL AU, this one was factory fitted with 16GB of RAM..... maybe you can see where this is going?

I have also updated this 16GB laptop to A03 BIOS, on fitting the known good memory from my old Alienware M17X R4 I got the same 2 beep error code, removed it and it booted ok.

I then took the 2 4GB sticks from the 16GB Alienware 17 and fitted them to the 8GB Alienware 17, after a slightly longer than normal pause the laptop booted ok, and detected the new memory.

So I can only conclude that DELL has somehow 'Locked' the new Alienware 17 laptops to ONLY accept memory made for the Alienware 17.

I can fully understand as to WHY you have done this, however in such a move surely you are only going to 'Alienate" many many loyal Alienware fans that enjoy modding their gaming systems.

What do you mean by "the complete system model" ?

It is the new Alienware 17..... do you know it?  maybe someone from Alienware support can help me further?

So apparently the new Alienware 17 laptops, and I'm guessing all the new models, Alienware 14, Alienware 17 and Alienware 18 have DDR3L memory (1.35V) and it isn't compatible with standard DDR3 memory (1.5V)...... :o/

Hi Oodle,

Were the memory modules purchased from Dell? If yes, kindly private message the order number.  To private message the service tag click my User name and click Start conversation.

Alienware 17  features four DDR3L memory modules which support up to 1600 MHz, dual-channel DDR3L.

The system ships with DDR3L memory and is not backward compatible. Even though the slot will accept DDR3 memory, installing DDR3 memory may cause issues such as no POST.

Alienware 17  has four SODIMM sockets. When all the DIMM connectors are populated, the system has optimum dual-channel performance unless channels A and B have different amounts of memory.

Also, find the memory configuration below:

Awaiting your response

Hi Rajesh,

Thank You for posting the deatils of how the RAMs add up on the Dual Channel. However i to agree with the findings from Oodle that the RAMs have to be of 1.35V to upgrade the RAM. Are there any Dell recommended modules that we have to use ? I am from India and would like to hear from you as to what your recommendations are for the upgrade.I have a Alienware 17 R5.

I know this is WAYYY late, but you took out the 8gb from the non empty slots, right? Because I read that there are 4 slots for memory but your post doesn't say that you took the 8gb (I'm assuming you got 2 X 4gb sticks, same as me) out of the 2 memory slots under the keyboard. So if you didn't take those out, then you have 40GB installed, and the system can only support a max of 32gb (first section of Support Assist says 16gb supported but when you save the system info for reference, it says 32gb supported.)

So did you remove the stock 8gb? Did you resolve the issue? I'm thinking of upgrading to either 4x8gb sticks or 2 16gb sticks, and if you removed the stock sticks and put in 2x16gb sticks and it didn't work, then I will have to go the 4x8gb sticks route.

Hi AJUSOG_76

No my machine had 8GB from the factory, the issue I had was taking 8GB (2x4GB) from my Alienware M17x R4 and putting them into the 2 empty slot under the bottom cover of my new Alienware 17, As I found out the M17x R4 uses DDR3 and the new Alienware 17 uses DDR3L - the L being for Low Voltage 1.35V, standard DDR3 is 1.5V, so this is why I was getting the memory error.

If you are thinking of upgrading your memory make sure it is DDR3L, and yes max. memory is 32GB (4x8GB)