RAM confusion

[Timerius81]

This is probably elementary to you guys but I could use some guidance with my RAM configuration. I have a Dell G5 5500, has 8GB 2x4 DDR4 cards. According to the system - BIOS, TMP, Spec sheet, motherboard, it supports and runs @ 2933 MHz, which it is. I wanted to upgrade to 16GB (2x8) DDR4 @ 2933MHz, which is what I bought. When I opened up the laptop, the two cards were @ 3200MHz, running at 2933, which is fine. My question is, if I install the 2933 cards will they run at 2933 or lower, like 2666? Thanks in advance

 

[Mussels]

they'll run at 2933 (or the fastest they support below that, if you buy slower sticks)

 

[xpg9]

its Intel it will be good to have more and Intel chips don't care

 

[jboydgolfer]

intel handles RAM very well. if you install sticks with higher frequency, the CPU will run them at the highest supported speed, or , if you manually adjust it, to what youve set.

 

[Timerius81]

This is probably elementary to you guys but I could use some guidance with my RAM configuration. I have a Dell G5 5500, has 8GB 2x4 DDR4 cards. According to the system - BIOS, TMP, Spec sheet, motherboard, it supports and runs @ 2933 MHz, which it is. I wanted to upgrade to 16GB (2x8) DDR4 @ 2933MHz, which is what I bought. When I opened up the laptop, the two cards were @ 3200MHz, running at 2933, which is fine. My question is, if I install the 2933 cards will they run at 2933 or lower, like 2666? Thanks in advance

intel handles RAM very well. if you install sticks with higher frequency, the CPU will run them at the highest supported speed, or , if you manually adjust it, to what youve set.

Gotcha, thank you. That actually leads me to the next question. The sticks I got are HyperX Impact that have XMP, as well as JEDEC standard. Since buying them I've heard both horrors and praises about them. The horrors being more on my end for getting a Dell that doesn't support XMP for OC, which I'm not concerned about, in fact I didn't even take that into consideration when buying them. Had no plans of manually setting speeds, just wanted a PnP solution. Do you happen to know if that is/isn't a problem? I actually would've gotten by with the 8GB if it weren't for that one dreaded process, MsMpEng.exe AME Why does it take up so much?! Is there any way to kill that thing?? I've tried every solution I can find, still crankin hot. Thanks

 

[Mussels]

If XMP isnt supported it will not automatically run at that 2933 speed, and may require manual settings... and if your laptop doesnt support those manual settings (speed and voltage control) then the RAM may not work correctly.

that MSMP is windows defender... its your antivirus. A quick google tells you this, and installing any other antivirus will disable it. (kaspersky is my recommendation, they have a free version)

 

[newtekie1]

A lot of laptops just don't support XMP, or RAM tweaking. So you'll likely run at whatever the highest JDEC speed the RAM has in the SPD table.

If the RAM has a 2933 JDEC entry in the SPD table, great, it will run at 2933. But if it relies on XMP for 2933, then you'll get something lower, it could be 2666 or 2400 or even 2133.

If this is the RAM kit you got, it does look like they have a 2933 JDEC entry in the SPD table, so you might be in luck.

 

[nguyen]

Laptop RAM upgrading is Plug and Play, you can't mess up and you can't change anything anyways.
Some High-end laptop allow you to set the DRAM frequency from 2933mhz to 3200mhz and that is it, timing is set automatically by the BIOS.

 

[Timerius81]

If XMP isnt supported it will not automatically run at that 2933 speed, and may require manual settings... and if your laptop doesnt support those manual settings (speed and voltage control) then the RAM may not work correctly.

that MSMP is windows defender... its your antivirus. A quick google tells you this, and installing any other antivirus will disable it. (kaspersky is my recommendation, they have a free version)

Okay great info thanks. In this situation (I'm asking) the spec sheet for the HyperX shows all three options. JEDEC @ 2933 and then XMP profiles 1&2. So even with the JEDEC listed you think it'll still be a problem? If so I'll just wait for the Crucial RAM I originally wanted to be in stock. Yea sorry thats what I meant by AME Anti Malware Exec. Did the whole Task Scheduler thing, disabled highest priveleges, stopped the scan, yada yada, still high. I'm running Mcafee too but it's still there.

Laptop RAM upgrading is Plug and Play, you can't mess up and you can't change anything anyways.
Some High-end laptop allow you to set the DRAM frequency from 2933mhz to 3200mhz and that is it, timing is set automatically by the BIOS.

Okay good to know thanks. I even called the guys at both HyperX and Dell and couldn't get a straight answer, or even an option that would work. I appreciate the input

 

[Mussels]

Looking at that ram the XMP and JEDEC timings and voltages are the same, so its just plug and play - an easy install

 

[Timerius81]

Looking at that ram the XMP and JEDEC timings and voltages are the same, so its just plug and play - an easy install

Awesome thanks. That's what confused me even further, if the XMP profile is for OC but the cap is 2933 anyway then what's the benefit of it? Or maybe, probably, I'm missing the whole point of XMP, I know you can OC but can you push a card past its spec speed limits? Just curious on that one, I can't run XMP anyway, just trying to understand. Thanks again!

 

[PaulieG]

Awesome thanks. That's what confused me even further, if the XMP profile is for OC but the cap is 2933 anyway then what's the benefit of it? Or maybe, probably, I'm missing the whole point of XMP, I know you can OC but can you push a card past its spec speed limits? Just curious on that one, I can't run XMP anyway, just trying to understand. Thanks again!

The benefit would be if you had a high end laptop that allowed for some minimal DRAM frequency adjustment and the XMP was above stock settings. Thing is, the sticks that you had in there originally would also need to be able to run at the same XMP. In your case, the XMP doesn't really seem to matter at all.

 

[Timerius81]

The benefit would be if you had a high end laptop that allowed for some minimal DRAM frequency adjustment and the XMP was above stock settings. Thing is, the sticks that you had in there originally would also need to be able to run at the same XMP. In your case, the XMP doesn't really seem to matter at all.

Right I can't run XMP, I just wanted to make sure that the RAM I bought, which has XMP and JEDEC would run at all, defaulting to the JEDEC. I was reading that some people who have the same system were running into some problems with it. However I also saw one guy who said it wouldn't boot at all, then I happened to see a 'Wish I could give it no stars' review he wrote on another site saying it only ran at JEDEC and couldn't run XMP so...Maybe I need to stop reading so much. Thanks for the advice.

 

[newtekie1]

Right I can't run XMP, I just wanted to make sure that the RAM I bought, which has XMP and JEDEC would run at all, defaulting to the JEDEC. I was reading that some people who have the same system were running into some problems with it. However I also saw one guy who said it wouldn't boot at all, then I happened to see a 'Wish I could give it no stars' review he wrote on another site saying it only ran at JEDEC and couldn't run XMP so...Maybe I need to stop reading so much. Thanks for the advice.

I have yet to have RAM that just wouldn't run at all in a laptop in the DDR4 days. They might default to 2133, the lowest JDEC spec in the SPD table, but the computer would at least boot and run. That's kind of the point of JDEC standard specs.

 

[Timerius81]

I have yet to have RAM that just wouldn't run at all in a laptop in the DDR4 days. They might default to 2133, the lowest JDEC spec in the SPD table, but the computer would at least boot and run. That's kind of the point of JDEC standard specs.

That's what started the thread in the first place. As I said this is probably elementary to you guys, not to me, that's why I asked. So no, I didn't know that was kinda the point but thanks for reminding me

 

[Mussels]

Awesome thanks. That's what confused me even further, if the XMP profile is for OC but the cap is 2933 anyway then what's the benefit of it? Or maybe, probably, I'm missing the whole point of XMP, I know you can OC but can you push a card past its spec speed limits? Just curious on that one, I can't run XMP anyway, just trying to understand. Thanks again!

For that ram it has an XMP2 with lower MHz and tighter timings, which might benefit systems with a lower cap than 2933


*NORMALLY* XMP's specialty is that it allows automatic voltage adjustment, and that higher voltage lets the ram run faster speeds. This ram is an oddity with the XMP and JEDEC matching.

 

[Timerius81]

For that ram it has an XMP2 with lower MHz and tighter timings, which might benefit systems with a lower cap than 2933


*NORMALLY* XMP's specialty is that it allows automatic voltage adjustment, and that higher voltage lets the ram run faster speeds. This ram is an oddity with the XMP and JEDEC matching.

Yea I saw that on the spec sheet as well, XMP2 - 2666 CL 16-18-18. So, (sorry for being repetitive) you think this this RAM should work at the JEDEC? I know I don't have XMP control but the wall I'm hitting (mentally, I haven't even opened the package yet) is the JEDEC is identical to XMP1 2933 CL 17-19-19, the oddity you mentioned. My system supports 2933 and is running at 2933 now. Thanks again for looking into that

 

[Mussels]

The ram will automatically just work, you're fine.

 

[newtekie1]

That's what started the thread in the first place. As I said this is probably elementary to you guys, not to me, that's why I asked. So no, I didn't know that was kinda the point but thanks for reminding me

Sorry, that wasn't meant as a jab.

 

[Timerius81]

The ram will automatically just work, you're fine.

Thanks man, I appreciate your time, advice and patience. And thank you to the rest of you guys that helped me as well (idk how to reply to all)
New RAM running smooth and fast (for me anyway) Got time for another? This is more curiosity but, a coworker recommended I lubricate the fans. ? It was brought up cuz this thing gets freakin hot, fast. Fans are blaring. WW2 era/ C&R rifles/ ammo reloading is my main hobby (I know, wrong forum) but I have plenty of good lubricants lying around. Do you think this is a good idea, if so what would you suggest. Silicone? Powdered graphite? 3 in 1? KY?(kidding) Don't touch them at all?

 

[Mussels]

dont lubricate the fans, do it wrong and you'll attract dirt and burn out the motor

You could replace the thermal paste on the CPU cooler, but that would require total dissassembly of the laptop and i'm not sure thats a good idea if the systems not truly overheating for a beginner to attempt... one slip and you've got a dead PC

 

[newtekie1]

Lubricating the fans is not going to help if the fan is spinning fine already. It definitely isn't something you have to do on a relatively new laptop either.

 

[Timerius81]

dont lubricate the fans, do it wrong and you'll attract dirt and burn out the motor

You could replace the thermal paste on the CPU cooler, but that would require total dissassembly of the laptop and i'm not sure thats a good idea if the systems not truly overheating for a beginner to attempt... one slip and you've got a dead

dont lubricate the fans, do it wrong and you'll attract dirt and burn out the motor

You could replace the thermal paste on the CPU cooler, but that would require total dissassembly of the laptop and i'm not sure thats a good idea if the systems not truly overheating for a beginner to attempt... one slip and you've got a dead PC

Sold, lubeless it is. Speaking of burning, what's considered overheating, roughly System fan is pretty consistent at 100°F. CPU fan is 110-120°F when I'm not running any installed programs. When i run a game at full performance or 'G' mode on this laptop, it's almost 200°F .

 

[INSTG8R]

Sold, lubeless it is. Speaking of burning, what's considered overheating, roughly System fan is pretty consistent at 100°F. CPU fan is 110-120°F when I'm not running any installed programs. When i run a game at full performance or 'G' mode on this laptop, it's almost 200°F .

It’s pretty much standard to measure temps in Celcius.

 

[Timerius81]

Lubricating the fans is not going to help if the fan is spinning fine already. It definitely isn't something you have to do on a relatively new laptop either.

Oh they're spinning alright, this dude at work was saying that lubing the fans might help. Didn't really make sense to me, figured I'd check here. The noise isn't so much of a bother to me (wife might have some objections) but the heat is something that concerns me.

It’s pretty much standard to measure temps in Celcius.

Yea it defaults to C° but I toggle it to F° in AWCC so I can have a reference that I understand