NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Alienware Notebook Forums › Alienware General › Memory Upgrade/Mixing Bandwidth
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Memory Upgrade/Mixing Bandwidth

post #1 of 12
2/6/07 at 9:40am
Thread Starter 
Hello All,

I am trying to upgrade my M7700 memory to 4G. I know that XP will only recognize 2.8G. The problem I am having is that when I fill all 4 slots with 1G, the computer will not boot. I am using 2 AW sticks with 533 bandwitdth and 2 Corsair sticks with 667 bandwidth. I was under the impression that the 667 sticks would clock down as required.

All the memory is good. Right now the machine runs great with 2x1Gb and 2x512 Mb sticks inside. Any ideas why the machine will not boot with 4Gb installed?

Thanks for your help.

Hef
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 12
2/6/07 at 11:33am
have you try booting with the 667 memory only?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 12
2/6/07 at 11:54am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Isaac-Link
have you try booting with the 667 memory only?
Yes, it will boot with 667 or 533 installed but not with both! That is what is puzzling.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 12
2/6/07 at 12:01pm
hmm very weird, well theres always the possibility that the motherboard wont take different speed of memory when running the 667 memory does it clock down to 533 or it stays at 667?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 12
2/6/07 at 12:38pm
Thread Starter 
I am note sure how to check if it clocks down. Can you suggest a utility to check?
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 12
2/6/07 at 2:46pm
CPU-z http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpu-z-138.zip
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 12
2/7/07 at 7:20am
dont mix ram speeds, allmost allways mess up
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 12
2/8/07 at 3:44am
will the 7700 even recognize 667?

i know it'll boot n all, but will it utilize the faster speed?

would it be better for OC'ing?
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 12
2/8/07 at 4:58am
Thread Starter 
The 7700 recognizes the memory and it down clocks itself to 533. It boots great/runs great with 2x1 Gb 667 and 2x512Gb 533 sticks. It will not boot with 3 or more 1Gb sticks installed. I have tried using all 667 sticks as well. When I add 3 and 4 1 Gb sticks the machine will not boot.

I have read this might be a 32 bit limitation and there is not enough address available to access 4Gb with a 32 pit path. My other thought was that the BIOS from Alienware will not recognize more than the 3Gb that the machine was built with originally.

Any ideas?
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 12
2/10/07 at 7:23pm
I know there are a few people here on NBF that have 3 or 4 gigs of ram in the 7700. I thought it downclocked all the RAM to 266 if more than 1 stick was installed, and I thought that was a Clevo thing built in. Maybe I'm confused, but that's what I thought I read in regards to the Intel model.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 12
2/10/07 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 
I am only able to get the machine to boot with a max of 3Gb. 2x 1Gb sticks (533 sticks, or 2-667 sticks it does not matter) and 2 512 Mb 533 sticks. The 667 downclocks.

I have been told that 4Gb is possible. Alienware advertised the 7700 as 4Gb capable but I have also read contradicting information. I read on AW Tech Support Forum that 3Mb is the max for the 7700. Their explanation was that it was a 32 bit path issue. Not enough address available on a 32 bit path for 4Gb of memory.

If anyone knows more, I would love to hear it.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 12
2/11/07 at 12:21am
Maybe I'm thinking you could run 4 Gb on a 64 bit OS, either XP or Vista.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Alienware General
NotebookForums.com › Forums › Notebook Manufacturers › Alienware Notebook Forums › Alienware General › Memory Upgrade/Mixing Bandwidth