Dell configuration: 32GB Dual Channel HyperX™ FURY DDR4 XMP at 2666MHz; up to 64GB (additional memory sold separately)

this means you are okay to use 2x16 GB now and you can expand to 4x16 GB in the future.

any matched DDR4 XMP 16 GB sticks at 2666 would do.  Dell typically sells ram at premium price, but you do not have to buy from them.

Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition Setup and Specifications PDF.

Configurations supported:
• 8 GB XMP at 2666 MHz
• 16 GB XMP at 2666 MHz
• 32 GB XMP at 2666 MHz
• 16 GB XMP at 2933 MHz
• 32 GB XMP at 2933 MHz
• 16 GB XMP at 3200 MHz
• 32 GB XMP at 3200 MHz
• 64 GB XMP at 2666 MHz
• 64 GB XMP at 2933 MHz
• 64 GB XMP at 3200 MHz
• 8 GB HyperX DDR4 XMP at 3200 MHz
• 16 GB HyperX DDR4 XMP at 3200 MHz

not sure what you will receive from dell. yes for used memory on ebay it does not save much to order single 16 gb compared to ordering 2x16 gb.  you may also want to consider 4x8 gb if you only need 32 now.  smaller capacity ram tends to be cheaper on ebay.

if you buy new stick directly from memory vendor, it is more expensive but price is proportionate to the number of sticks you order.

Thanks, That’s what I assumed too... though I’m wondering what has been tested and if faster speed are supported by the motherboard/bios/software they provide.  If I remember correctly the configuration tool also offered some 3200Mhz options. I’d like to assume that any 2x16Gb kit of 3200mhz would work but I’d like to find out more details about what’s supported and what’s not before I pull the trigger. 

I’ve also been assuming that the 16GB 2666 they’ll ship will be a single stick and matching it with another 16GB 2666 stick would probably be more trouble than it’s worth... right? 

Hi,

I actually did upgrade my RAM from dell's minimum and default HyperX XMP 16GB (2x8GB) 2666Mhz to 32GB (2x16GB) 3200Mhz of the same brand HyperX XMP. However, I did notice that after installing the new RAMs, the speed was just 2933Mhz. I changed the BIOS settings to option 2 or 1 slots from "auto" which made it to 3200Mhz but after some use I encountered some problems with my system... I did contact the Tech support for help but made everything worst I thought my system was dead (has power and fans on high but not booting up - the power button was blinking in a loop of 2 then 1)... For several days, I thought I got a bad system as CMOS reset (which I thought I did) didn't help because the tech support just told me to remove the jumper from the motherboard and  not to put it in the pins for CMOS reset and wait for several minutes... I confirmed the instructions from the tech support and he said yes just remove it... :(( 

I was about to return the 'dead' system but after some research and some help from my brother, I did the right CMOS reset and was able to boot the system again with old RAMs... I tried the new RAMs again. Same speed 2933Mhz only. Tried several trials on the BIOS but decided to go to the auto setting of the BIOS as I was encountering the same problem with booting and tired of speaking with Tech support. My golly.

I don't think the new RAMs I bought were bad units or having some compatibility issues... I think it's with the system... I'm now doubting this upgradability of alienware systems

Please let us know if you got the same problem with your unit and what you did to solve it...

Thanks!

what is the Ryzen cpu in your system? Your experience is a classic tale of system instability when shooting for high ram frequency.

”Boards made with only 4 layers are not able to run memory as well as the more expensive 6 layer ones.”  I would guess Dell OEM board for R10 has only 4 layers.

assuming cpu is R5 3600, the base cpu config in R10,

“The R5 3600 et al are all designed to handle DDR4-3200 max but your memory may come up at DDR4-2933 which is one JEDEC speed grade lower”

Your RAM is mismatched.  First, the 2666 and 3200 are different frequencies.   Second, the retail hyperx fury also has different timings and voltage requirements than the Dell hyperx fury for the XMP profiles and default, even if it were the same speed. The Dell ram is custom spec'ed for Dell.  They may look the same but they are not.  These issues are common with the aurora when mixing mismatched RAM.  Just search this forum.

Yes, I know RAM combinations should be matched. I said I upgraded my 16GB 2666Mhz RAM to 32GB 3200Mhz and NOT combining the two different RAMs with different speeds...

My system is Aurora R10 Ryzen as well but with Ryzen 3900 (non-x) and RTX 2080 Super... Can you propose on what to do to achieve the 3200Mhz that is stable? I'm a bit new with this so I'm not sure if I did something wrong... I was hoping everything will be ok with the upgrade as Dell/Alienware provided the information for compatible RAM combinations and frequency at the site and configuration option for R10 has 3200Mhz RAM...

”Boards made with only 4 layers are not able to run memory as well as the more expensive 6 layer ones.”  I would guess Dell stock board in R10 in 4 layers. - If I understand this correctly you mean 4 slots for RAM? if correct, then yes only 4 slots for R10...

please send exact model number of your ram.  are you having only two ddr4-3200 sticks inserted in 4 DIMM slots, meaning two empty slots left?  for dual channel they should be inserted accordingly.  The Primary RAM Bank is comprised of the two "white tabbed" dimm slots. XMM1 and XMM2 (as written on the motherboard itself).  Fill them both w exactly-matching ram, and they will run in "Dual-Channel" as designed.

reference
Ryzen 9 3900 memory: https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/amd/ryzen_9/3900

Memory Configurations (dual channel)

I was referring to layers of circuit board.  Today's fully loaded high-end motherboards are typically either 6 or 8 layers, as they usually feature many more components and require more power to run them, therefore more layers to connect and power them.  I am not sure how many layers Dell OEM board has, but most would agree it is not high-end.