How much RAM does my mobo support?

[Matthewogle15]

I have a Dell XPS 730 Motherboard, and I was wondering how much ram it could support, total? I've been looking at upgrading my PC, starting with a Graphics card in a few days and I was wondering if I needed to add a new motherboard to my list to get to 16gb.

 

[The Paladin]

dell have a number at the back of your pc can you tell us which one is it ?

 

[Matthewogle15]

dell have a number at the back of your pc can you tell us which one is it ?

What kind of number are you talking about? Unfortunately I have a different tower than the one that came with this motherboard. I don't remember exactly what happened, but something on it was broken or messed up, so I replaced it.

 

[VincentP]

What is your CPU model?

 

[Matthewogle15]

What is your CPU model?

1st gen Intel Core I7 940 @2.93GHz

 

[The Paladin]

dell have a number at the back of your pc can you tell us which one is it ?

What kind of number are you talking about? Unfortunately I have a different tower than the one that came with this motherboard. I don't remember exactly what happened, but something on it was broken or messed up, so I replaced it.

okay boot in bios and look for service code in system information

 

[Matthewogle15]

dell have a number at the back of your pc can you tell us which one is it ?

What kind of number are you talking about? Unfortunately I have a different tower than the one that came with this motherboard. I don't remember exactly what happened, but something on it was broken or messed up, so I replaced it.

okay boot in bios and look for service code in system information

Do you know what the number would be called?

 

[VincentP]

Maximum RAM for this CPU is 24 GB:
https://ark.intel.com/products/37148/Intel-Core-i7-940-Processor-8M-Cache-2_93-GHz-4_80-GTs-Intel-QPI

This seems strange though since the XPS 730 lists supported CPUs as Core2, which was a different socket.

 

[The Paladin]

the number is called " Service Tag " or " express tag"

 

[Matthewogle15]

the number is called " Service Tag " or " express tag"

4G91YH1, bios v. 1.0.5

 

[The Paladin]

you sure that is a service tag dell doesn't recognize it

 

[Matthewogle15]

you sure that is a service tag dell doesn't recognize it

That's the number that was next to it under system information

 

[Matthewogle15]

you sure that is a service tag dell doesn't recognize it

That's the number that was next to it under system information

 

[The Paladin]

okay let try a different way download SPECCY from this link. and once it loads on the main page you will see motherboard click on it and tell me what is the model number on it --> https://www.piriform.com/speccy/download/standard

looks like this

 

[Matthewogle15]

Maximum RAM for this CPU is 24 GB:
https://ark.intel.com/products/37148/Intel-Core-i7-940-Processor-8M-Cache-2_93-GHz-4_80-GTs-Intel-QPI

This seems strange though since the XPS 730 lists supported CPUs as Core2, which was a different socket.

I'm not too much of a computer geek so I'm not sure what that would mean, but I did make a typo in the mobo. I don't know if it makes any difference, but its a XPS 730x. Also, it says for this mobo that the max RAM supported is 8, but I've seen cases of people saying their 16gb works. I haven't been able to get an answer from them asking how they managed it, so I wanted to see if anyone on here could help me out with it.

 

[Matthewogle15]

okay let try a different way download SPECCY from this link. and once it loads on the main page you will see motherboard click on it and tell me what is the model number on it --> https://www.piriform.com/speccy/download/standard

looks like this

https://gyazo.com/c6416af534f41f8c818690441d4b217f

 

[VincentP]

The Core i7 940 can support up to 24 GB of RAM (6 x 4 GB dimms).
It appears this motherboard has only three slots though, so that would limit you to 12 GB of RAM (3 x 4 GB).
There is also apparently an issue with some BIOS revisions that cause problems with 4 GB dimms. Staying with these limitations would would be limited to 6 GB (3 x 2 GB), but there is a workaround. Further details here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_XPS_730x

 

[The Paladin]

I tracxked a thread that has an answer by dekk on the 730x memory issue
Dell states "Version 1.0.5[edit] The last BIOS released from Dell was version 1.0.5. This version has a number of limitations, most notable:
Memory SPD tRFC setting for DDR3 SDRAM is limited to 100. This limits the use of memory to 2 GB DIMM sticks.[6][16]
Limited eXtreme Memory Profile support for Profile 1 and very limited Profile 2 memory profiles.[6]
Limited overclocking support. PCH Voltages do not change, though being set in the bios.
Limited failed overclocking recovery. Have to reset the BIOS often via motherboard jumper.
A number of users have installed 12 GB (3 x 4GB DIMM sticks) with this bios version. However, while the BIOS will register the full amount of ram, memory errors will be generated when using 70% or more of physical RAM because of the tRFC limitation of 100.[6] DDR3 SDRAM memory sticks of 4 GB in size requires at least an tRFC setting of 122 or higher.[16]"

but tons of users report using 12GB on the system without an issues. on bios 1.05 and 1.06

you could get 12GB 3x4gb and if it does not work return it to the store. incompatible with system
suggested ram set was : https://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16820148522

 

[Matthewogle15]

I tracxked a thread that has an answer by dekk on the 730x memory issue
Dell states "Version 1.0.5[edit] The last BIOS released from Dell was version 1.0.5. This version has a number of limitations, most notable:
Memory SPD tRFC setting for DDR3 SDRAM is limited to 100. This limits the use of memory to 2 GB DIMM sticks.[6][16]
Limited eXtreme Memory Profile support for Profile 1 and very limited Profile 2 memory profiles.[6]
Limited overclocking support. PCH Voltages do not change, though being set in the bios.
Limited failed overclocking recovery. Have to reset the BIOS often via motherboard jumper.
A number of users have installed 12 GB (3 x 4GB DIMM sticks) with this bios version. However, while the BIOS will register the full amount of ram, memory errors will be generated when using 70% or more of physical RAM because of the tRFC limitation of 100.[6] DDR3 SDRAM memory sticks of 4 GB in size requires at least an tRFC setting of 122 or higher.[16]"

but tons of users report using 12GB on the system without an issues. on bios 1.05 and 1.06

you could get 12GB 3x4gb and if it does not work return it to the store. incompatible with system
suggested ram set was : https://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16820148522

I see another number while on the Speccy program, and I looked it up on a website for compatibility with motherboards and it came up, so maybe you could check it out if you get the chance? its Dell 0P270J

 

[The Paladin]

I see another number while on the Speccy program, and I looked it up on a website for compatibility with motherboards and it came up, so maybe you could check it out if you get the chance? its Dell 0P270J

I did check that number out, but found nothing. it is an older system (2nd generation cpu) so not terribly surprising. Dell tends to clear out web pages regularly.
if you want you can try to go to this web page with your system, click on "detect product" when you can see what it says but probably will duplicate what we already know. http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/xps-730x/configuration