Posted: 5/7/2014 9:36 PM
Post subject: What part of a laptop imposes RAM limits? The OS or BIOS?
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Dyshonest
Joined: 9/15/2013
Posts: 154
My manufacturer states it can only handle up to 8GB of RAM but it originally shipped with Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), which I know has a lower RAM limit than 8.1 Pro/Enterprise.
Posted: 5/7/2014 9:37 PM
Post subject: Re: What part of a laptop imposes RAM limits? The OS or BIOS?
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Bisqwit
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Neither the OS nor the BIOS. Both are software. The limit comes from hardware.
Posted: 5/7/2014 9:38 PM
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Nach
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The motherboard.
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Posted: 5/7/2014 9:45 PM
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Dyshonest
Joined: 9/15/2013
Posts: 154
A number of people here on the official Dell support forums report having their laptop running (and recognizing) 16 GB of RAM as opposed to limiting itself to 8 GB. Is it safe to assume that theirs came with a different motherboard? Also, is it actually harmful to put in more RAM than the manufacturer says it can support? Or would it just be wasted time/money? Thanks for the speedy replies!
Posted: 5/7/2014 9:59 PM
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Nach
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You need to see if your motherboard has any free slots. If it has no physical free slots, then there's nothing you do to except replace existing RAM sticks with larger ones. However, the memory controller on your board will have a limit on how much capacity it can allow on a single RAM stick. First thing you need to do is see how many RAM slots you have, and what you have in the slots currently.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
Posted: 5/7/2014 10:13 PM
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Dyshonest
Joined: 9/15/2013
Posts: 154
No free slots, two maximum. Not sure what type of RAM, but it's probably two 3 GB sticks as I only have 6 GB. Is there any way to look up my motherboard (preferably without opening my laptop? :)) to see how much RAM could be supported?
Posted: 5/7/2014 10:15 PM
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Bisqwit
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Dyshonest wrote:
Is there any way to look up my motherboard (preferably without opening my laptop? :)) to see how much RAM could be supported?
You could search the laptop type. In laptops the motherboard is almost always designed for that very laptop model, or vice versa; there is a 1-1 relationship.
Posted: 5/7/2014 10:23 PM
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Ilari
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Rookie of 2010 New systems TASer of 2010 New systems TAS of 2010
Dyshonest wrote:
Is there any way to look up my motherboard (preferably without opening my laptop? :)) to see how much RAM could be supported?
Some program that prints DMI info? At least for me, DMI info shows sizes of RAM sticks, how many RAM slots there are and how much RAM is supported.
Posted: 5/7/2014 10:57 PM
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Dyshonest
Joined: 9/15/2013
Posts: 154
I'll redownload Everest and see if it outputs any of that info, pretty sure it would as it's quite thorough. EDIT: Okay, Everest wasn't very helpful unless I had the non-trial version, but some Googling about what motherboard came with my laptop revealed this. (slightly wrong laptop model it has listed: I use a L502X but it lists L501X, but other searches reveal the same motherboard used for L502X so I assume it makes no difference) http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Original-Mainboard-for-XPS-15-L502X-C47NF-0C47NF-CN-0C47NF-HM67-N12P-GE-A1-Non-Integrated/209042_841517391.html Chipset Manufacturer: Intel Brand Name: Intel Memory Type: DDR3 Model Number: XPS L501X 0C47NF Any of this helpful?
Posted: 5/8/2014 12:10 AM
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hegyak
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I think Corsair makes a RAM tool that will tell you how much RAM your PC can handle.
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Posted: 5/8/2014 12:59 AM
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Dyshonest
Joined: 9/15/2013
Posts: 154
So far, I can't find it on their site but they have this to say about the XPS 15, the XPS 15 (why it's listed twice I'm not sure) and the XPS L502X (my computer is listed as a XPS 15 L502X... not sure why it's in three categories on their site?) on their Memory Finder: Maximum Memory » 8Gb Expansion Slots » 2 So I guess 8GB really is my limit? I wonder how people managed to get 16GB recognized by the computer, then... (Unmentioned) motherboard replacing I suppose?
Posted: 5/8/2014 2:37 AM
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True
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If it's the same machine as you, then probably with the same motherboard you have. Think about it - people aren't going to replace a Dell motherboard with some random Dell motherboard from Dell that also only supports 8GB to install 16GB. The board likely works with 8GBx2. It has likely not been validated beyond that. There is no guarantee it will work with more nor is there any guarantee that a future firmware update will not enforce this limit. And if you really have 3GB sticks I'll buy them from you.
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