Studio XPS 435MT & 435T Overclocking potential - BIOS upgrade?

I have the 435T and it maxes out @24Gb if you can afford it.

Mine has 6 slots with 2Gb each for 12Gb max but system only recognizes 10Gb.

Why? Because the computer itself will hog 2Gb for its own resources.

No way around it as I spent HOURS with Tech support and had a tech support come by to replace my motherboard for a new one and included free 2gb memory stick :)

Try updating your BIOS and check the slots to make sure the computer does recognize each individual memory chips.

Hi,

XPS435T here,

Got tired of fighting the un upgradability of this machine and was going to

swap different MB into it. To much hassle to do it!

Second machine now and built my own, 4.6 on water and overclocked ram..

Now other halfs Dell.

Still waiting if can upgrade CPU from 920 to 950 or higher without problems and will the Dell

Bios accept it!!

Later

Happy New Year.

Chris M, this is a bit old of a post, is there any news on Dell allowing for a BIOS that will allow for overclocking the XPS 435T/9000 and allow for 24 GB of memory?

It is seems to be a real crime and insult to consumers that a limitation on such a great processor and board is set by Dell to make the machine perform so poorly.

Is this because Dell wants consumers to buy more when software slows an aging system?  It would seem counter productive in this case.  Consumers are more savy than it appears Dell may be giving them credit.  

If no BIOS overclocking unlock is available I would recomend to everyone to dump Dell and get an ASUS motherboard with a better fan and reuse all other components.  -- Just my two cents...

Read virtually this entire thread but still confused as to the final verdict.  I just upgraded to 24GB of Dell-tested 1333MHz memory (6 x 4GB modules) but even after upgrading to BIOS A16 my memory is still running at 1066 according to CPU-Z.  Is there a way to get it to run at 1333 without upgrading to the i7 965X?

Narses:

My Studio XPS 9000 came with 9GB, 1066MHz, single channel,  memory. These were a Elipda and Hynix brand mix. I also upgraded to 1333MHz (6GB) unsuccessfully.  There are 2 motherboards that these systems came with. R849J found its home in the "short case" models. The "tall" white case (40 LBs) came with the X501H motherboard. In a search, I noticed that the boards have different mounting patterns. Some threads have said they are not interchangable. I have the X501H board. Red Planet Trading offers the R849J board new or used. Their add states that it will except 1066 or 1333MHz memory. True or false, I am not sure. Just what I have found. Chris M. has somewhere in a thread here, that the XPS 9000's were equipped with 9GB of memory ( 3x2GB and 3x1GB sticks) and this provided the system the best performance to their findings. I followed this in my upgrade to Crucial memory. System does run better with a little more pump on the bottom end.  Never has been a slouch. Intel states that the i7 920 & 940 processors that these systems came with, have DDR3 800 & 1066 support.

My motherboard accepted the 24GB of 1333MHz fine, it just continues to run at 1066.  From what i understand from this thread, it seems that it has something to do with the processor & a lack of BIOS options.  Is there a way to switch to 1333 in the current BIOS?

Narses:

In answer to your question of a change in the BIOS. No there is not, at least on the X501H mother board. RAM speed is auto detect. Some did read the higher memory, some did not. I have the latest updated BIOS in mine also. Foxconn built these boards to Dell's specs. Mine is dated as 2009, which at the time Dell was or had purchased the Alienware line of computers. No more R&D had gone into the 435T/9000 series of computers. This is why we only see them as refurbs in Outlet. Mine was also. There were problems with them and Dell was kind enough to take them back and take care of the customer. My own had problems with heat. A aftermarket case solved this.

The only avenue is to change the board to a aftermarket supplier, which will also require you to purchase  another edition of Windows, as the Dell edition will not install to a non Dell board. Been there. Built another system close to this, powered by Asus. It runs a i7 960, 12GB of 1600MHz memory. This system is fully adjustable, but at a price. I enjoy the Studio XPS 9000 as it is. You will have to also.

This is an ancient thread and Dell is not going to release a Bios to OC the 435-9000 series.

Some claim to have OC'ed it-Bull.

Just build a new system like I did.

Only way is a new MB and the hassle with the front IO panel connections.

I just use it as a non-upgradable secondary rig.

Have the 920 at 2.6 and when comes time to upgrade Vid cards in it don't get to carried away

with high end Vid cards. As in some apps and games going to be (CPU) not GPU limited.

Although will take a PS upgrade without a problem as have had a 850W PS in it to test.

IT IS WHAT IT IS!

Later

Seems that Dell dropped the ball on this one.  

Thanks for the help!

Hi,

May I add to this old thread?   Thanks to i-vol, truelies, Chris M & 123ghost I have learned more about my machine in the past hour than the past year.

No where in this thread do I see mention of the i7-950?  Can I assume that the BIOS/mobo issues re: installing PC3-10600 (DDR3 -1333MHz) only running @ 1066Mhz are present with the 950 too?

Realizing the 965 is a serious upgrade over the 950  i-vol  did indicate that 1333Mhz RAM speed is not reached without overclocking the 920/940 CPU to @ 3.4Mhz.  But is capable on the 965 CPU.

thanks

Daemoncycler:

Been a while since I have posted here. Made some updates to the XPS 9000. Did some Google work on the chipset of the board. Intel Rapid Storage Technology (used to be Intel Matrix Storage Controller) was the search term I used. I was able to get into Intel and with some digging around, found a update for the X58 motherboard, Intel ICH 10R Sata ACHI Controller. Got into a area where updates were available. Let Intel scan the system and they came up with a update, downloaded it, flashed the chipset which also created a program in Windows start menu to view the stats. This created a different color BIOS, dark blue. Still holds the current edition of the updated Dell BIOS of A16. The Samsung 103SJ hard drive was starting to show its age. I replaced it with a Seagate ST95005620AS. This is a laptop drive. 2.5", 7200 rpm, small in size. It is a hybred containing 4GB of SSD type memory. Cost was half of a SSD. I had a Corsair 128GB SSD drive in it also but had problems with the Marvell controller not starting up at boot. Hence the Intel upgrade which also requires AHCI to use all of the features. The Seagate drive is quick. Have not tried another processor, but upgrading to GSkill 1333MHz timing 9 9 9 24, was useless. Slow to boot, shut down and reinstall Crucial 1066 MHz.  I do now have a 950 in a sister system on a X58 Asus Sabertooth board. It flies just as my 960 on the same board in the sister system. CPU coolers are important with both of these CPU's. Zigmatek handles the chores well in each. Had the 920 on the Asus board of the second system while waiting for Newegg to restock the 950 model. Ran better here than on the Dell board. LGA 1366 processors are becomming scarce. The 940 would be as close as you will get on the Dell 501 board. I have seen a few. Compuvest now and then stocks them. They are above the $300 mark. One more item. Went to Intel again driving one of the big horses. Found updates for the Asus boards, they are the same as was installed in the Dell XPS 9000. Lets look outside the box here.

Hi 123ghost,

Have decided the whole memory upgrade issue is too fuzzy & will leave the original PC3-8500 RAM as is.  This PC has performed quite well since we bought it three years ago but it is a bit disappointing that it will not easily support PC3-10666 RAM like the manual indicates.  Will probably go to Cyberpowerpc or newegg in the future for computer purchases.  Doubt if it will be anytime soon, this PC more than meets our needs for now.

In fact the only reason I was looking at faster RAM is because a few weeks back decided we wanted to install SSD & would add a Sound Card too. Crucial 512 GB SSD & SB X-Fi Titanium are on their way. Wondering if there was anything else I should do now & head off any future opening of the cabinet,  RAM was the only thing I could come up with.

Having never opened this PC before I am a bit concerned to be mucking about in the cabinet anyway. This is our first desktop. My only hardware experience , if you want to call it that, has been a few minor additions to our laptops.  Hope this SSD isn't going to be as difficult as some of the reviewers at Amazon make is sound.  The SSD will be our primary/system drive & the 1TB spinning drive will be for data.  Lots of music & movies.

However - all this research this past week has me interested.  I have been looking for a hobby.  Maybe can find an used PC with an i7-920 processor? ,something other than a Dell, with a mobo than can be overcolcked, ASUS x58?.  Old RAM that needs to be upgraded so I can experiment with benchmarking before & after upgrades.  There's neighborhood garage sale this weekend?  Hope it won't be a super expensive hobby.

eBay has a bunch of X58 mobo's sold as is, purchased at auction & not functioning.  Bent pins & such.  Looks a little dicey.

thanks

Hello Daemoncycler:

Thanks for the reply.

Picked up a board for the 3rd X58 system from Newegg. Was under $140. Asus Sabertooth. The first was just over $200. It is refurbished. Have not found anything wrong with it. Has run for 2 months. Registered with Asus, appears the warranty is valid of new. Has newer software than the 2 year old one. It is a plus. Upgraded the first to specs. Crucial on the SSD... No. I do have 2 128GB M4's. Tuff to get them running at 6GB with the Asus Marvel software. I never did. I do not trust Crucial any more as to their merger with their new partner. In addition to the 2 SSDs, 1 Adreneline system and 20 plus sticks of their memory. Looking at Samsung and Intel for my next, this fall. Today for a build, go to the Intel Z77 boards and the 3rd generation Intel processor. More bang and less dough. Run cooler also. No need for a 1000W power supply either. They sip electric. Asus builds many flavors. Intel I5 fills the bill @ $200, give or take. $150 on sale buys a decent board. Want the biggest bang? Step to the I7. Cost comes with it.

Do believe 1333MHz memory can run in our systems. Most of the 1066MHz memory for these systems has timming of 7.7.7.21. I wonder if this is the key. I will get some time to look for memory with this timming. Not right now though. There was a post in this thread somewhere that the ability was there before the A16 BIOS update. I will not trade this. A16 update is for compatibility of Windows 7, seeing that most of the 435T and XPS 9000 systems were Vista installed at the start. My own benifited greatly from this update.

Seriously, build your own. Takes me about 3 months to gather up the goods, as I find the price and information to match it all up. No pro just a hobby. Do a little for others too. Belong to this community and a few others.

Dell does have a new ride out, you can see it in their site. I cannot remember the model. Starts @ $700.

Still own the first Dell. Dimenision 4600i (1993), rebuilt last year . Most it is used for is 11 pinball games, 1st generation 3D. Still access for the Internet if you have time to wait. I can push Windows XP ball off the table. A old AGP video card.  

Keep in touch.

Hi 123ghost,

Apricorn software info is great & so are the tips regarding removal of Anti-virus/spyware before hand.

Had already found the article on Trim enable, but was still a little fuzzy on AHCI .vs IDE - thanks for that.

daemoncycler