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Aurora R7 - 2933Mhz HyperX memory option?
Hi,
I recently picked up an Alienware Aurora R7. It came with the 16GB of DDR4 2666Mhz memory.
I'm thinking of upgrading to 32GB of the Kingston HyperX 2933Mhz memory. It's an option on the Alienware configurator (as "32GB Dual Channel HyperX DD4 XMP at 2933Mhz") but it's not showing up as an available part on Dell's or Kingston's website.
I also checked with my Dell inside sales rep and they could not find the part number either...
Did anyone order the R7 with this memory type? If so, could you share the part number from the packing list?
Thanks!
P.S. It looks like Dell/Alienware motherboards lock the DDR4 memory at 1.2V. I have some great Corsair memory from other PC's which run at 3000Mhz plus at 1.35V - and the R7 simply does NOT like them.
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12.05.17 edit
> HRGreen got G.Skill RipJaws V 3000 to work, see his post below, very bottom of page <
+++++++++++++++++++++
My Original Post Before a Confirmed Kit Was Found
@Green > it seems you scared up some good info, another owner posted recently on Arena (was that you?) about a 2933 memory stick sold as HyperX Fury, not found on the website (max 2666), I posted in there about checking the Service Tag for the memory part# which you can also do. IPCFL-SC Motherboard is custom by Pegatron (Intel Pegatron CovfefeLake) ... HyperX RAM Upgrade? > https://na.alienwarearena.com/ucf/show/1810518/boards/technical-support-1/ForumPost/hyperx-ram-upgrade
Gman > greetings, good luck with new R7. The rear I/O shield trim plate for R5 R6 R7 is permanent / laser cut into the chassis, motherboard swap later may need a Dremel tool, power on switch wiring is 'special', also (no 'front panel header' on those mthrbrds) ... user installed premium memory in A51 R3 R4 won't survive a re-boot / defaults to 2400, this is quite a launch so far
edit: I'd be inclined to leave a comment on this AlienTube video: Do It Yourself! > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77vOtGexZG0 where the suggestion @9min30sec you can 'upgrade whatever u want whenever u want', let them know how you feel about that, given that good premium DDR4 runs @1.35v etc
I have the R7 with the best cpu and gpu. I thought that I could add memory since the configurator said "can be added later".
After speaking with several Dell sales and technical people I am amazed that adding/replacing memory is next to impossible.
I have found that:
I have 16GB of Micron 8ATF1G64AZ-2G6H1 installed.
In R7 Setup and Specifications (p.19) it looks as if the total range of memory is 2666MHz to 2933MHz at 1.2 v.
The page only references one brand (HyperX FURY).
The Kingston HyperX FURY DDR4 XMP is not available on the Kingston website (supposedly proprietary) or anywhere else. I have spent many hours looking.
PROBLEMS:
The motherboard (also proprietary) seems to accept ONLY:
1.2v (most current gaming level is 1.35v)
The motherboard appears to only accept 2666MHz to 2933MHz in Kingston. other z370 boards support up to 4000MHz. When I called Dell sales to add memory I was given offered Vision Tek 2400MHz . No Kingston 2666 or 2933.No other brands.
I am frustrated and cannot find an explanation for the extreme memory limitations and would like to know if memory choices will eventually be available and is the motherboard stuck at 2933MHz and 1.2v with HyperX.
I never anticipated a problem like this with Dell. I have purchased several top of the line Dell laptops and XPS desktops over many many years I expected this to be another good experience.
I purchased a system 10-31 with 32GB dual channel @ 2933Mhz. Product code on the pack slip says 370-ADWK. I initially ordered the system with 16GB and then tried to add or buy another 16 GB module and was told I would probably never get one as they are never in stock. I cancelled that order and reordered with 32GB and it shipped two days after I ordered it.
I tried Crucial's systemscan to see what popped out. Ended up talking to them, with their recommendation of Ballistix Tactical 3000 MHz as being compatible and likely will run at well above 2666. Reading the specs it sounds good, so I ordered a 2x16 kit. I will have it by Monday and give it a try; returnable; cheapest source Adorama.
What I know about memory idiosyncrasies could fit on the head of a pin, so may ask guru's help in setting BIOS. It hurts me to shelf the (expensive) single OEM Fury. If the pair work, I'll try the Fury with one also.
The 2666 memory that was installed in my R7 was Micron which I believe is also Crucial which may help with the compatibility. Let me know how your test run works. 3000 would be good but most z370 motherboards handle up to 4000MHz. I don’t know if ours is stuck at 2933. Knowing the peak would help select memory. I don’t know if you have tried the benchmark websites but User Benchmark is really helpful. You could actually use to build a pc from scratch. By the way my ssd turned out to be a Toshiba which seems to have good specs on user benchmark.
I am amazed that Dell was so ill prepared for the R7. Not to have memory in stock and then seemingly hiding the exact specs doesn’t make sense if they expect to maintain the good things that have been said in the early reviews. Why Kingston is mentioned in their specs manual and not Crucial is another question. By the way the 2933 does not show in the R7 Configurator build. At least it didn’t the last I checked.
Good luck.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
I checked the Crucial website and it looks as if the 2666MHz run at 1.2v and the 3000MHz is 1.35v. I have no idea if the board accepts only 1.2v or if 1.35 could damage the memory and/or motherboard. I have assumed that any memory has to be 1.2v. Also the Crucial scanner says I have an INTEL z370 motherboard. This might allow you to check that board for compatibility.
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
I believe I read that the 1.2v increases to 1.35v when XMP is implemented. The two Furies may be the same chips with selection/minor board tweaks. Kingston half-way admitted that to me.
It seems that the 8700K R7 was only on sale for a short time, maybe less than a month. It would be interesting to know if it was shut off because Dell couldn't get the K's; last I looked, they had dried up. Or maybe Dell decided to limit an OCer's box as more of an advertising gimmick than a good corporate product. Haven't seen it on the website in more a week. No K version, no need to stock the OC'd ram, since sales were limited. So am looking elsewhere. Anyway, the former website options suggested that the 16GB 2933 price would be $100 more than the 2666 ($300?, almost what 32GB of Crucial 3000 costs).
Cooling in the K version could be better. Looking at some DIY on YouTube, I found the you-know-who i9 build inspirational.
Thanks hrgreen and akimba for the part numbers. I'll sync with my inside Dell rep to see pricing and availability on them.
I read through the replies and personally suspect that Dell has not enabled/allowed memory voltage above 1.2v. Doing some research - the fastest 1.2v memory I found was 2666Mhz. I did look through the Kingston HyperX website and didn't see a listing for 2933Mhz part so I suspect that's a Dell exclusive SKU (which enables them to charge a premium). My guess is it has tweaked timings to allow the faster speed while keeping 1.2v. It's a minor nit in an otherwise nice package - having faster memory is good but it won't provide the same level of boost like a faster GPU or CPU for the $$$ involved.
FWIW - I have access to Corsair memory in 3000Mhz & 3200Mhz flavors which have XMP profiles at 1.35v. When I tried these - the R7 didn't recognize those profiles and booted to default JEDEC timings of 2133Mhz.
hrgreen: I did install a Samsung 960 EVO Pro (NVME drive) - works fine (and screams)!
Cass-Ole: Hey! Thx for the heads up on the I/O shield. Once upgrade time comes - I'll figure it out :-)
Thx All!
P.S. Some people mentioned that they don't see the "K" processor listed. It's still available (you need to click into one of the 'featured' 8700 units and then upgrade to the "K" model for $100.

hrgreen
74 Posts
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3
Posted November 20th, 2017 04:00
I just bought an R7 with a 2933. I have tried to purchase another one without success..
The sales agent got it wrong and was about to send me a 16GB 2133, but I caught it fast enough to cancel. Then they said they have no stock of 2933's, try again in a few weeks. I suspect if and when it is available, we are not going to like the price. Looking at the website at similar memory, Dell's prices seem quite high, and I think it will be $300-400.
The part number on my packing list is 370-ADVX. Nothing comes up on the website, and the rep told me it was not listed. It is an OEM part, and Kingston told me they can't sell it to us, only 2666 and below. Annoying.
We need to know if and how the ram voltage can be adjusted, but there may be no general info available on our MB. I think other makes like Corsair may require changing timing as well as voltage. Kingston told me these speedy rams are "aggressively tuned" and require board adjustments to match. At this point, I would like to forget this ram and go to something on the market, maybe even faster.
If I can find out, maybe from G.skill or Corsair, how to make their ram work on this MB, I'll pull the 2933. But do they (or anyone) know who made the MB?
Did you get a PCIe NVMe type drive? I just got the minimum 1 TB spinner, so I ordered a Samsung SM961 512GB and, with kind help from tech support, transitioned to it. It is FAST. PassMark rates it at the top, around 20,000.
Sequential read 3070, sequential write 1525. Hope it continues to work down the road (the 960 EVO does not work well for Dell according to tech support - I'm glad I asked before buying).