Don't know about that specific RAM, but many people around here by it from Crucial.com for Dell PCs. If Crucial recommends it for a specific system, they guarantee it works or they take it back.
The fastest RAM Crucial is showing for the XPS 8700 is 1866 MHz. That doesn't mean 2133 MHz won't work (depends on BIOS and chipset limitations), but if you mix RAM of different speeds, all of it will run at the speed of the slowestRAM that's installed. So if you have 1600 MHz RAM now, the new stuff will also run at 1600 MHz if you mix new with old.
You can also search these forums to see if any other users have installed that Kingston RAM in the XPS 8700.
1600 Mhz is a good target speed because it is what you are running already and I think you'll find it challenging to run the memory faster; AND the faster memory may not give that much in return. If your goal is to just add more memory, My .02 is you'll be fine with 1600 Mhz CL11.
I suggest using a benchmarking tool to measure if it is improving performance or not. Run before, and after. There are lots out there. Pick one that matches the type of work your computer is doing (gaming, video, photoprocessing, etc).
If you get more memory with equal performance you can call it a day. However, if you are wanting overclock the memory using intel XTU, here are some observations I've had with my attempts on the 8700.
1) there is no setting in the BIOS to change the memory frequency. Dell does not expose a way to set this, however using a tool like intel XTU, you can adjust the timing and the memory multiplier to get the memory to run faster.
2) You may be able to set the memory faster and it may actually reboot and start, but it may not be stable. It is suggested to run a memory/cpu stress tool like prime95 for 24 hours to ensure memory stability after changing memory timings or speeds.
3) Memory Voltage on the XPS 8700 motherboard is fixed at 1.5V. To get memory to be stable at speeds faster than 1600Mhz usually means running the memory at 1.6V or 1.65V. I haven't found a way to increase memory voltage on the 8700 motherboard. It might be possible but I've not found a way to do it.
4) System Agent Offset voltage can be adjusted on my motherboard, and a slight increase, increased on-CPU temp slightly during memory stress testing but the benefit was the memory was more stable at shorter CAS latency.
5) read about CAS latency vs Memory speed and experiment.
6) the speed increase from 1600 to 1833, or changing the CAS latency from 11 to 9 or 8 did not make significant improvements for my system, so unless you have some time to kill are are doing very memory intensive applications like scripted photo editing or video conversions, increasing the memory speed or tightening the timings may not affect the overall speed.
6) if none of the above sounds fun, stick to CL 11 (11-11-11-28) at 1600 Mhz ( or 799.4 DRAM Freq) and you'll be happy.
Good luck,
ps: here is a writeup of my attempts to overclock and / or tighten the OEM memory timings, along with some comparison testing.
I was able to get 1600 Mhz memory running with 7-9-8-18 timings and the results increased some synthetic benchmark test results but made zero difference in game play or other use. This required +200 mVolt system agent offset, and CPU temps ran slightly hotter with this voltage increased.
Since then I've settled on 1600 Mhz, 9-9-9-24 with no increase to system agent offset and the system is rock solid stable.
I am trying to check and possibly alter timings on my newly installed memory (XPS 8700). I have tried Intel XTU but there are no options available. Which Bios do you have? Mine is still A03. Did you have to do anything special to get to those options? You can PM me. Thanks.
I want to do this because I installed a pair of 4 GB sticks with latency 9 alongside the original Dell Kingston memory latency 11 and am having sporadic (1 day to 1 week) blue screen crashes. The new memory tests ok and is working ok in another computer so far. Dell support says it should work but I wanted to see how the bios adjusted the latency and speed settings and fix if necessary. I assume Dell hasn't changed the non-ability to adjust anything directly in the new bios versions. If you have an old version of XTU I would greatly appreciate getting it.
Separate question - do you know if I can test the second pair of memory slots by moving the Dell memory into them with nothing in the original slots?
Thanks.
p.s. This was the first time I purchased a system instead of building one and was shocked to see the lack of options in the Dell bios.
A recent version of Intel XTU seems to have removed the ability to adjust memory timings.
Let me see if I have the installer of the older version retained.
I had BIOS A06 on that system but I believe it is A10 at this moment in time. I'm not on that system right now so I can't check.
However, when all was said and done it made very little difference in anything except for very heavy CPU bound memory intensive workload.
It made zero difference when gaming or running any of the gaming benchmarks. on this system the GPU was the bottleneck, and it being a GTX 760 is no match for the i7 4770 even running CAS 11 memory.
My point is it was a fun experiment and I was doing this along with other performance testing and found I could do it, but it really didn't improve much.
I just checked the machine I did this on previously.
xps 8700 late 2013 i7 4770 / 8GB (2x4GB) RAM ( I think Hynix) BIOS A06 Intel XTU version 5.1.0.23 I have secure boot disabled, and am not booting under UEFI. Win 81-64 home
There is section on the left nav under "Manual tuning" called "Memory" and it enables memory adjustments and all timings and sub timings, memory frequency and multipliers can be tweaked.
I have the same software / same version on a core i7 4790K / Z97 motherboard and these settings are not available. This system also is not booting under UEFI and has secure boot disabled.
I have the same software / same version on an HP i7 3770 sandybridge system and these settings are not available. There is no UEFI on this sytem.
As long as your memory is running 1600 Mhz, even at CAS 11 the performance should be fine. However if the memory downclocks to 1333 Mhz, then it will feel slower.
You can check this using CPU-Z from cpuid.
Be careful where you install these tools. Some mirrors include Junkware/adware/malware with the installers.
I want to do this because I installed a pair of 4 GB sticks with latency 9 alongside the original Dell Kingston memory latency 11 and am having sporadic (1 day to 1 week) blue screen crashes.
I always try to match the memory even when in different channels. I would check each bank with CPU-Z to see what it is running at.
The above is a direct link to the installer. I would scan it after a download just to be sure.
You might want to run prime95 memory tests for about 12 to 24 hours to see if the system is unstable with one set or the other set before trying the combined set. There might be a problem with the new set on its own.
p.s. This was the first time I purchased a system instead of building one and was shocked to see the lack of options in the Dell bios.
Yes, I agree. I have a B85 motherboard with a G3258 and a Z97 motherboard with a 4790K and everything can be adjusted in BIOS -- but you really have to know what you are doing.
Dell needs to hide this complexity from the masses or they would have a zillion calls from people that have trashed their systems or a ton of returns.
Dell isn't the only vendor to do this. I have an HP workstation and it too is very limited on what I am allowed to fiddle with.
Good luck.
PS: as I noted above my xps 8700 is running the latest version of Intel XTU, but for some reason I get more features than my 3770 or my 4790K does, specifically the ability to adjust the memory. Not sure why... I can adjust memory timings on my 4790K because it is in a Gigabyte Z97 motherboard and I can do this via BIOS or in software using the Gigabyte tuning software. I was surprised to see I couldn't view or change anything in XTU. :confused:
Thanks for the info. I have the XTU version 6.0.2.2 and it doesn't have "Manual tuning"; it has "Advanced tuning" and no memory options. I will try the 5.1.0.23 version which seems to be available from Softpedia.
When I checked with CPU-Z, I think all the latencies were 11 and the speed was 1600 - I was thinking to go down to 1333, maybe preventing the crashes. Right now I have removed the new memory to confirm the system is stable without it and to test it on another computer. When I purchased the new memory I had no idea the Dell had 11 latency considering it is rare these days and the 8700 was not a bottom of the barrel computer (should have checked this I realize now). I also need to test the second set of slots and then probably give up and buy some "Dell compatible" latency 11 memory from Kingston or Crucial. I can actually return the new memory to Microcenter but my opportunity runs out Tuesday and I can't really conclusively test anything by then since the crashes can be as much as a week in between.
I stubbornly want to "make it work" which is foolish really as my knowledge of the nitty gritty is nil.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
1
March 9th, 2015 19:00
Don't know about that specific RAM, but many people around here by it from Crucial.com for Dell PCs. If Crucial recommends it for a specific system, they guarantee it works or they take it back.
The fastest RAM Crucial is showing for the XPS 8700 is 1866 MHz. That doesn't mean 2133 MHz won't work (depends on BIOS and chipset limitations), but if you mix RAM of different speeds, all of it will run at the speed of the slowest RAM that's installed. So if you have 1600 MHz RAM now, the new stuff will also run at 1600 MHz if you mix new with old.
You can also search these forums to see if any other users have installed that Kingston RAM in the XPS 8700.
Dan-H
4 Operator
•
1.2K Posts
2
March 9th, 2015 22:00
OEM memory for XPS 8700 is DDR3 1600 with CL 11 (11-11-11-28) timings.
From the spec sheet that memory should work fine. these timings are listed.
JEDEC: DDR3-1600 CL11-11-11 @1.5V
XMP Profile #1: DDR3-2133 CL11-12-12 @1.6V
XMP Profile #2: DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9 @1.5V
After you install the memory, I would install CPU-Z and/or Intel eXtreme Tuning utility to validate that the memory is indeed running at 1600 Mhz.
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/motherboards/desktop-motherboards/desktop-boards-software-extreme-tuning-utility.html
1600 Mhz is a good target speed because it is what you are running already and I think you'll find it challenging to run the memory faster; AND the faster memory may not give that much in return. If your goal is to just add more memory, My .02 is you'll be fine with 1600 Mhz CL11.
I suggest using a benchmarking tool to measure if it is improving performance or not. Run before, and after. There are lots out there. Pick one that matches the type of work your computer is doing (gaming, video, photoprocessing, etc).
If you get more memory with equal performance you can call it a day. However, if you are wanting overclock the memory using intel XTU, here are some observations I've had with my attempts on the 8700.
1) there is no setting in the BIOS to change the memory frequency. Dell does not expose a way to set this, however using a tool like intel XTU, you can adjust the timing and the memory multiplier to get the memory to run faster.
2) You may be able to set the memory faster and it may actually reboot and start, but it may not be stable. It is suggested to run a memory/cpu stress tool like prime95 for 24 hours to ensure memory stability after changing memory timings or speeds.
3) Memory Voltage on the XPS 8700 motherboard is fixed at 1.5V. To get memory to be stable at speeds faster than 1600Mhz usually means running the memory at 1.6V or 1.65V. I haven't found a way to increase memory voltage on the 8700 motherboard. It might be possible but I've not found a way to do it.
4) System Agent Offset voltage can be adjusted on my motherboard, and a slight increase, increased on-CPU temp slightly during memory stress testing but the benefit was the memory was more stable at shorter CAS latency.
5) read about CAS latency vs Memory speed and experiment.
6) the speed increase from 1600 to 1833, or changing the CAS latency from 11 to 9 or 8 did not make significant improvements for my system, so unless you have some time to kill are are doing very memory intensive applications like scripted photo editing or video conversions, increasing the memory speed or tightening the timings may not affect the overall speed.
6) if none of the above sounds fun, stick to CL 11 (11-11-11-28) at 1600 Mhz ( or 799.4 DRAM Freq) and you'll be happy.
Good luck,
ps: here is a writeup of my attempts to overclock and / or tighten the OEM memory timings, along with some comparison testing.
http://forums.hardware-revolution.com/showthread.php?tid=5321
I was able to get 1600 Mhz memory running with 7-9-8-18 timings and the results increased some synthetic benchmark test results but made zero difference in game play or other use. This required +200 mVolt system agent offset, and CPU temps ran slightly hotter with this voltage increased.
Since then I've settled on 1600 Mhz, 9-9-9-24 with no increase to system agent offset and the system is rock solid stable.
have fun
balineseplease
3 Posts
0
August 16th, 2015 08:00
I am trying to check and possibly alter timings on my newly installed memory (XPS 8700). I have tried Intel XTU but there are no options available. Which Bios do you have? Mine is still A03. Did you have to do anything special to get to those options? You can PM me. Thanks.
balineseplease
3 Posts
0
August 16th, 2015 10:00
I want to do this because I installed a pair of 4 GB sticks with latency 9 alongside the original Dell Kingston memory latency 11 and am having sporadic (1 day to 1 week) blue screen crashes. The new memory tests ok and is working ok in another computer so far. Dell support says it should work but I wanted to see how the bios adjusted the latency and speed settings and fix if necessary. I assume Dell hasn't changed the non-ability to adjust anything directly in the new bios versions. If you have an old version of XTU I would greatly appreciate getting it.
Separate question - do you know if I can test the second pair of memory slots by moving the Dell memory into them with nothing in the original slots?
Thanks.
p.s. This was the first time I purchased a system instead of building one and was shocked to see the lack of options in the Dell bios.
Dan-H
4 Operator
•
1.2K Posts
0
August 16th, 2015 10:00
A recent version of Intel XTU seems to have removed the ability to adjust memory timings.
Let me see if I have the installer of the older version retained.
I had BIOS A06 on that system but I believe it is A10 at this moment in time. I'm not on that system right now so I can't check.
However, when all was said and done it made very little difference in anything except for very heavy CPU bound memory intensive workload.
It made zero difference when gaming or running any of the gaming benchmarks. on this system the GPU was the bottleneck, and it being a GTX 760 is no match for the i7 4770 even running CAS 11 memory.
My point is it was a fun experiment and I was doing this along with other performance testing and found I could do it, but it really didn't improve much.
Dan-H
4 Operator
•
1.2K Posts
0
August 16th, 2015 10:00
I just checked the machine I did this on previously.
xps 8700 late 2013 i7 4770 / 8GB (2x4GB) RAM ( I think Hynix)
BIOS A06
Intel XTU version 5.1.0.23
I have secure boot disabled, and am not booting under UEFI.
Win 81-64 home
There is section on the left nav under "Manual tuning" called "Memory" and it enables memory adjustments and all timings and sub timings, memory frequency and multipliers can be tweaked.
I have the same software / same version on a core i7 4790K / Z97 motherboard and these settings are not available. This system also is not booting under UEFI and has secure boot disabled.
I have the same software / same version on an HP i7 3770 sandybridge system and these settings are not available. There is no UEFI on this sytem.
As long as your memory is running 1600 Mhz, even at CAS 11 the performance should be fine. However if the memory downclocks to 1333 Mhz, then it will feel slower.
You can check this using CPU-Z from cpuid.
Be careful where you install these tools. Some mirrors include Junkware/adware/malware with the installers.
Dan-H
4 Operator
•
1.2K Posts
0
August 16th, 2015 12:00
if you want to try an older version, try this search.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=site%3Adownloadcenter.intel.com+XTU-Setup-exe.exe
or type this into google:
site:downloadcenter.intel.com XTU-Setup-exe.exe
It appears from registry history I had version 4.3.0.11 installed and now have 5.1.0.23
Dan-H
4 Operator
•
1.2K Posts
0
August 16th, 2015 12:00
Hmmm. version 6.0.2.2 is listed as the latest...
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/search?keyword=extreme+tuning
Dan-H
4 Operator
•
1.2K Posts
0
August 16th, 2015 12:00
I always try to match the memory even when in different channels. I would check each bank with CPU-Z to see what it is running at.
http://www.cpuid.com/downloads/cpu-z/cpu-z_1.73-en.exe
The above is a direct link to the installer. I would scan it after a download just to be sure.
You might want to run prime95 memory tests for about 12 to 24 hours to see if the system is unstable with one set or the other set before trying the combined set. There might be a problem with the new set on its own.
balineseplease
3 Posts
0
August 16th, 2015 15:00
Thanks for the info. I have the XTU version 6.0.2.2 and it doesn't have "Manual tuning"; it has "Advanced tuning" and no memory options. I will try the 5.1.0.23 version which seems to be available from Softpedia.
When I checked with CPU-Z, I think all the latencies were 11 and the speed was 1600 - I was thinking to go down to 1333, maybe preventing the crashes. Right now I have removed the new memory to confirm the system is stable without it and to test it on another computer. When I purchased the new memory I had no idea the Dell had 11 latency considering it is rare these days and the 8700 was not a bottom of the barrel computer (should have checked this I realize now). I also need to test the second set of slots and then probably give up and buy some "Dell compatible" latency 11 memory from Kingston or Crucial. I can actually return the new memory to Microcenter but my opportunity runs out Tuesday and I can't really conclusively test anything by then since the crashes can be as much as a week in between.
I stubbornly want to "make it work" which is foolish really as my knowledge of the nitty gritty is nil.