is 16gb ram suitable for my dell laptop?

[anveshreddy]

hi there,

i have a dell xps l502x laptop with the following configuration( image attached). i wanted to install windows 2012 and sharepoint server on my laptop as dual boot. would someone please suggest whether i can upgrade my ram from 8gb to 16gb?? if so what speed and which suits??

i rang dell customer support today, they mentioned that this motherboard can only support upto 8gb, not more than that..

thanks alot in advance.

 

[fireberd]

According to the Dell manual 8 GB is max.

Memory​

Memory
module
connector
two user-accessible
SODIMM connectors
Memory
module
capacities
1 GB, 2 GB, and 4 GB
Minimum
memory
2 GB
Maximum
memory​

8 GB

 

[MagusMagnus]

Apart from the already mentioned...

If you are actually planning to use the server for anything (i.e. this is not for testing/learning purposes in which the proposed is appropriate), you really want a desktop platform. Always. The naked fact is that laptop hardware doesn't compete with their desktop equivalents (especially pertaining to RAM and CPU - the two most important for servers/NAS). You will always get better performance/price out of a desktop. Laptops, still, can't compete there.

Laptops I see supporting 16GB RAM are in the $1,000 ballpark...

Anyway. The bare essentials for your basic home or even small mom and pop business server/NAS would indeed be 16GB RAM, but also with the lowest CAS Latency and highest clock speed you can afford (note that lower CAS will garner more performance gains over merely choosing higher clock speed but with higher CAS). And, of course, the best CPU you can afford (this here is handy).

Everything else depends entirely on what you're actually going to be using the server for. Different functions require different hardware.

Straight up, you will be far better served re-purposing a desktop than attempting this with a laptop. Or, even looking in classifieds for a used server that may or may not need some upgrades/repairs.

 

[gulls777]

I don't see why it won't support 16GB.
Reason of having 8GB max mentioned is that only 4GB sticks were available at the moment when laptop came out.

I have also seen users reporting that even 1866MHz RAM works at full speed in this laptop.

 

[MagusMagnus]

I don't see why it won't support 16GB.
Reason of having 8GB max mentioned is that only 4GB sticks were available at the moment when laptop came out.

I have also seen users reporting that even 1866MHz RAM works at full speed in this laptop.

That would be because your L702x supports 16GB and has 4 slots. The L502x does not and has 2 slots. Yours is most likely running 4x4 SODIMM to derive 16GB. And as far as 1866MHz RAM functioning on a system that supports 1333MHz RAM, that's not surprising. But its not going to actually function at 1866MHz unless the motherboard supports overclocking. The 1866MHz RAM will operate on the board's supported 1333MHz standard otherwise.

Some motherboards, particularly laptop boards, are very choosy about their RAM. Not just voltages and clock speeds, but capacities and how those capacities are split on the channels. Some boards just flat-out don't like and/or do not support higher capacity RAM per DIMM.

OP, I wouldn't risk trying it because more likely than not, even if you did get a 2x8 SO-DIMM kit, it wouldn't work. At best case scenario, it would see and use half of it only. At worst, it won't work at all. I suppose there's no real harm in attempting it, but definitely check the return policy and save the receipt.

 

[TVeblen]

Your RAM limit is 'built-in' to the system board and the BIOS. It is not changeable. It is a matter of hardware design.

Sorry, only 8 gig for that machine.

 

[Berton]

Crucial.com - DRAM, solid state drive (SSD) memory upgrades for Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS does show that Notebook as able to use 16GB RAM and Crucial does have 8GB modules for each of the 2 slots for the total of 16GB, cost will be high.
Computer upgrades for Dell XPS XPS L502X from Crucial

 

[gulls777]

That would be because your L702x supports 16GB and has 4 slots. The L502x does not and has 2 slots. Yours is most likely running 4x4 SODIMM to derive 16GB. And as far as 1866MHz RAM functioning on a system that supports 1333MHz RAM, that's not surprising. But its not going to actually function at 1866MHz unless the motherboard supports overclocking. The 1866MHz RAM will operate on the board's supported 1333MHz standard otherwise.

Actually i am not suggesting this because of my L702X.
Back in the day when i got L702X, i was active in notebookreview/dell forums for a year or so.
And i know following things....

XPS L502X does support 8GB sticks and will support 16GB max. Doesn't matter what the manual or company says. And L702X will support 32GB with its four slots (guess you gonna need at least win 7 professional to support that by the way).

And about 1866MHz memory, i didn't just say that it'll work. I said full speed means "CPU-Z reporting 931MHz DRAM Frequency".
Though it works on L502X, but for some weird reason Dell locked the L702X to 1333MHz only, that's the reason i am running at 1333MHz.

Feel free to dig through those forums.

 

[Slartybart]

You'll need Windows Pro or better to use more than 8GB. I'm not sure if the bit-depth matters, but I'd suggest installing 64-bit version.

edit: I stand corrected ... see gulls post# 12 for correct information on OS versions and memory.

My Vista laptop had the same 'issue' - specs stated maxmem at 2 GB, but about three years later, the specs were changed (doubled maxmem). I added the memory and it worked fine - this was not a case of a product change, just poor specs documentation.

 

[TVeblen]

You'll need Windows Pro or better to use more than 8GB.

I don't believe this is true.
I am running 16GB on Home Premium right now.
I believe the limit for Home Premium is 16GB.

 

[maxie]

Max memory limits for 64-bit Windows 7 | ZDNet

 

[gulls777]

Well.....

 

[Slartybart]

You'll need Windows Pro or better to use more than 8GB.

I don't believe this is true.
I am running 16GB on Home Premium right now.
I believe the limit for Home Premium is 16GB.

Max memory limits for 64-bit Windows 7 | ZDNet

Well.....

Thank you everyone ... keep keeping me honest!

My apologies, I should have confirmed (I usually post the same sheet gulls posted - shame on me!). I've corrected my post.

Looking at your SF profile specs (Ult x64), I think you'll be alright. It's not only the OS, but the Mobo must be able to address the available memory. Is there any way you could borrow memory to test it out before spending money?

As MagusMagnus said I suppose there's no real harm in attempting it, but definitely check the return policy and save the receipt.

 

[ferg34]

Sorry to burst your bubble.
I have 2 memory slots on my XPS l7 702x i installed 8 gb. & 8 gb. tolal 16gb. As long as you are rurning 64 bit it runs perfect. fast. 10 sec. boot up. I bought the memory from the Crusial web site 3 years ago.
Also i'm running windows 7 premium.