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XPS 8920, upgraded 16GB to 64GB, memory speed reduced from 2400 MHz to 2133 MHz
My XPS 8920 came from the factory with 2 x SK Hynix DDR4 2400 8 GB memory (16 GB total). The BIOS shows a memory speed of 2400 MHz (as expected). I then replaced the SK Hynix memory with 4 x Corsair DDR4 2400 16 GB memory (64 GB total - populating all four DIMM slots). Despite picking the correct memory speed and the memory being detected as 64GB total, the BIOS now shows the memory speed at 2133 MHz. Here is the Corsair memory I used:
https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/memory/cmk64gx4m4a2400c14/vengeancea-lpx-64gb-4-x-16gb-ddr4-dram-2400mhz-c14-memory-kit-black-cmk64gx4m4a2400c14
I appreciate any help or suggestions.
Thank you!
HWKACZ
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March 16th, 2024 02:30
So I ended up buying that Crucial DDR4 3200, which according to the manufacturer should be compatible with the XPS 8920. I then learned the hard way that the Crucial DDR4 3200 will only downclock to 2666 MHz -- not 2400 MHz. After installing that DDR4 3200, the XPS 8920 would not even boot (power button LED flashing orange).
I went back to Crucial's website; however, the Crucial DDR 2400 turned out to be relatively expensive (higher priced than the DDR4 3200) and not as easily/quickly available through the usual vendors as the 3200 MHz variant.
As I was doing more research, I stumbled across the TIMETEC brand, which I had not heard of before. I decided to buy four of their DDR4 2400 16GB sticks. The RAM shipped over night, and I installed it this afternoon.
Lo and behold, the TIMETEC RAM upgrade works, and it runs at the intended speed: 2400 MHz
Funny that the more affordable option turned out to be the one that did the trick.
@Chino de Oro
Thank you again for your help and fast response!
(edited)
Chino de Oro
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March 13th, 2024 07:09
No XMP speed. The Corsair memory has SPD speed of 2133 MHz.
HWKACZ
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March 13th, 2024 15:34
Thank you for the fast response, Chino. I am a Noob when it comes to memory speed specifications (SPD vs. XMP). Is there a recommended 16 GB memory manufacturer/model that I could use to obtain the desired total 64 GB of memory that is compatible with the XPS 8920 and would give me 2400 MHz? Is there anything I could tweak in the XPS 8920 BIOS?
(edited)
Chino de Oro
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March 13th, 2024 16:18
You can use the Crucial memory compatibility as a guide. Read the description of memory module, it can be 2400 MHz or higher. A higher clock will be downclocked to 2400 MHz, but a lower can't.
Just don't waste money on XMP memory as the BIOS does not support overclock and just see the base clock only. XPS 8920 may have overclocking feature for CPU but not for memory.
HWKACZ
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March 13th, 2024 16:59
@Chino de Oro
Thank you very much for that! I followed the recommendation for 16 GB memory modules, using the memory compatibility guide for the XPS 8920. The Crucial guide recommended both DDR4-2400 and DDR4-3200 memory. I am still confused by the down-clocking thing.
Will the XPS 8920 really work with that recommended DDR4-3200 memory or should I get the DDR4-2400 memory instead?
https://www.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/ct2k16g4dfra32a
(edited)
Chino de Oro
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March 13th, 2024 20:42
Crucial link was provided for reference of memory specs. Downclock meant that the DDR4 3200 will be operated at 2400 MHz.