gegjr

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gegjr

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April 24th, 2012 14:00

2011 XPS8300 issues

I got my system back in May 2011. For the most part I have been happy with it. However, I have 2 issues.

1) It only has 8mb of ram

I have tried to upgrade my ram but cannot get a definitive answer as to how much the machine can use. When I run the Dell PC Support app it tells me maximum ram is 32mb but when I went online and ran the configuration app it said maximum is 16mb. I know there are 4-2mb chips in the machine now but as I understand it the ram slots are paired so that if I put an 8 in one slot I have to also put an 8 in the second slot.  So what I need to know is if I replace the 2mb cards in the first two slots with 8mb cards will need to remove the other 2 2mb cards in slots 3 & 4? Or can the machine really hold 32mb of ram? When I talked to the sales rep I was not very confident with the expertise.

2) did not come with internal bluetooth so I purchased an io gear gbu421 external dongle from Dell that does not work most of the time.

I keep getting an error message at startup telling me the "bluetooth software license cannot be found". Also, when it does seem to be installed I cannot pair my Windows 7 phone HTC surround to the dongle. I have spoke to Dell techs many, many, many times and spent many a late night trying to allow the the techs to fix the issue without any resolution. Now they won't even give me my money back for the dongle. In the spirit of full disclosure I also have Dell wireless keyboard and mouse that connect to a dedicated usb dongle. I do not know if the usb keyboard/mouse dongle is usb. Does any one else have this issue and if so have you been able to solve it?

  • speedstep

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    Posted April 26th, 2012 08:00

    16 Gigs is max.   4 Gigs is max per DIMM.

    More than 1 module means you must install in pairs.

    AKA 2 or 4 NOT 3

    Recommended Upgrade

    part image

  • fireberd

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    Posted April 24th, 2012 15:00

    The Dell Manual  HERE states 16GB.

    Crucial Memory (which most techies on here recommend for non-Dell memory) also lists 16GB.  Crucial Memory

    I'm moving this to the Desktop General Hardware section, maybe somenthere can help you with the Bluetooth problem.

    Inspiron 16 5630 Laptop and WD22TB4 Docking Station
    Self-built desktop for recording studio application
  • gegjr

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    Posted April 25th, 2012 22:00

    " I do not know if the usb keyboard/mouse dongle is usb"

    Meant to say " I do not know if the usb keyboard/mouse dongle is blue tooth".

  • gegjr

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    Posted April 25th, 2012 22:00

    Fireberd, here is what it says "Memory Type: DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-12800, DDR3 (non-ECC)

    Maximum Memory: 16GB

    Slots: 4

    Each memory slot can hold DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-12800 with a maximum of 8GB Kit (4GBx2) per slot.*

    *Not to exceed manufacturer supported memory."

    So is this saying I have put in 4GB per slot x 4 slots? Ok here is the issue XPS8300 memory only comes in 2 & 8 GB chips. So my question stands, do I put one 8GB in slot 1&2 and one 8GB in slots 3&4. So does that mean the 8 GB memory comes configured as 2-4GB chips like a bundle? Sorry to be dense but this is not entirely clearly stated.

  • gegjr

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    Posted April 25th, 2012 22:00

    Thank you fireberd. What is Crucial Memory?

  • Jay6600

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    Posted April 27th, 2012 09:00

    mine came with 8gb 2x4gb.in november  i added 2 X 4Gb 240 Pin DDR3 PC3-10600 1333MHz from http://www.mrmemory.co.uk  the brand i received were Mustang with german writing on them ,havent had any problems with them whatsoever