XPS 8940, memory upgrade of 2x8GB

@Fadadas, I can confirm that this worked for me when I ordered Crucial RAM 16GB Kit (2x8GB) DDR4 3200 MHz CL22 Desktop Memory CT2K8G4DFRA32A off Amazon. Initially, I had added these two sticks to slots 1 and 3 (2 and 4 were filled with 8GB sticks from Dell) and I saw the freq drop from 2933 MHz to 2400 MHz.

Since they were matched in SPD, they should have operated at 2933 MHz, but for some reason dropped to 2400 MHz when placed as described above.

After placing them as you suggested, with the Dell-branded in slots 1 and 2 and the Crucial-branded in slots 3 and 4, the reported speed from task manager went back to 2933 MHz. Thanks for sharing!

@joescape : Very happy that's working for you.

@Fadadas  It worked for me too.  My XPS 8940 came with 2 x 8KGB SK Hynix RAM and I received my 2 x 8GB Crucial CT8G4DFRA32A RAM yesterday.  Fitting the new RAM conventionally gave the expected drop to 2400 MHZ, but swapping the middle two sticks to give Crucial in slots 1&2 and SK Hynix in slots 3&4 restored my memory to 2933 MHz operation.  Not logical, but as it works I'm not complaining.

Does anyone know if I can add a stick of 32GB Crucial RAM alongside the 8GB Dell stick, or do I need to only run one of the other? This is the exact RAM I ordered: https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-DDR4-Desktop-Memory-CT8G4DFRA266/dp/B07ZLD38TY?th=1

Crucial, 32GB, 2666MHz, single rank.

Also, is there any reason for me to order the 3200, even if I have the i5 Dell 8940 that tops out at 2666 anyway? I ask because I believe the Dell stick is 3200.

@lodobazz  The easiest way to find out if it works is to try it.  It may require the memory to be in different colored slots to work and, if it does work, I'd expect the computer to default to running the memory at 2400 MHz.

@lodobazz   - Keep in mind that Dell hasn't validated 40 GB of total RAM in this PC model. Doesn't mean it won't work but Dell won't be responsible for any problems this causes...

I see, thanks. I'm going to do some experimenting and report back. I would just hate to have the issue be something like, it'll definitely not work with a 3200 stick combined with a 2666 stick, or something fundamental like that. It's been awhile since I've messed with RAM.

Hi all, I recently purchased a Dell XPS 8940 (service tag ) with 16 Gb Ram. According to Speccy, 2 slots are used (at 8 Gb each). Following the upgrade suggestion on the Dell website I ordered

Dell Memory Upgrade - 16GB - 2Rx8 DDR4 UDIMM 3200MHz

Which I believe is 1 stick.

I subsequently found out in the 8940 setup guide that 2x8 plus1x16 is not a supported configuration.

Questions

Given it appears the setup guide for memory configurations is apparently not fully complete, would my 8940 handle 2x8 plus1x16?

If it does not, do I need to buy another 16Gb stick to achieve 32Gb?

Would the 8940 handle 16 + 16 + 8 + 8 in the four slots to give a total of 48Gb?

Any assistance would be much appreciated

Cheers & thanks!

Paul

if you order Dell Memory Upgrade - 16GB - 2Rx8 DDR4 UDIMM 3200MHz, you will have 2 ram of 8go

Thank you Fadadas, I think you are correct.

It seems there is a good chance that the 8940 would be able to handle four 8 Gb sticks of identical RAM without problems?

Cheers

Paul

Yes it will

@Leperclown  I'm currently running the original two x 8 GB SK Hynix (3200 MHz SPD) and two x 8 GB Crucial (3200 MHz SPD) in my XPS 8940 without any problems.

Fadadas & 3 Zinc,

many thanks for your input and help.

To a non-technical person like me, 4 x 8 seemed the most obvious way to get 32Gb (given the machine came with 2 x 8). It's strange and confusing that the Dell service manual doesn't mention 4 x 8. Oh well.

I will post the outcome (when the RAM gets here - mid July!)

Cheers!

I just upgraded similar xps 8940

I added 16gb very similar memory and now have 32gb total dual channel 2933Mhz

https://www.newegg.com/crucial-16gb-288-pin-ddr4-sdram/p/N82E16820156265?Item=N82E16820156265

cooler NH-U9S + dell 612F7 heatsink ($6 called dell), cooler bracket touched heatsink so I cut bracket a little just in case

Rear fan 92mm, front fan 80mm - fits very good if you want to keep front 3.5 drive.

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@Fadadas wrote:

if you order Dell Memory Upgrade - 16GB - 2Rx8 DDR4 UDIMM 3200MHz, you will have 2 ram of 8go

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I'm a little late to respond but 2Rx8 doesn't mean anything about the capacity of the RAM module. It's a description of the type of RAM.  2Rx8 means it's "dual rank" RAM vs "1Rx8" which is single rank RAM. And no, dual rank doesn't mean it has chips on both sides. It's an indication of how the chips are inter-connected, regardless of whether they're on one or both sides of the module.

Here's a link to Dell's 2Rx8 32 GB RAM modules. If your description was correct, that would be 4 modules, but it's only one.