Dell XPS RAM - Is it upgradable?

[Steve_3df]

I am about to buy the Dell xps. The latest version. I thought it was upgradable in both ram and ssd but the seller said it is only upgradable in the ssd and not ram. He said it is the latest version.

 

[10tacle]

It depends on the motherboard that Dell put in there. If it only has 2 DIMM memory slots and the seller has installed 2x16GB sticks and that motherboard only supports up to 32GB RAM, or it has 4 DIMM slots filled with 4x16GB sticks and it only supports up to 64GB RAM, then they are right.

What is the XPS model and what are the specs?

 

[Steve_3df]

It depends on the motherboard that Dell put in there. If they only have 2 DIMM memory slots and the seller has installed 2x16GB sticks and that motherboard only supports up to 32GB RAM, or it has 4 DIMM slots filled with 4x16GB sticks and it only supports up to 64GB RAM, then they are right.

What is the XPS model and what are the specs?

Dell xps 13 9350, the 2016 model.

 

[10tacle]

Dell xps 13 9350, the 2016 model.

Well that answers it. It's an ultrabook. That laptop has the RAM soldered onto the motherboard for space saving, so you cannot upgrade it. You have to get the RAM you want installed from the factory and you are stuck with it forever. There are concessions made to getting thinner notebooks, and this is one of them.

I wasn't sure if you were talking about an XPS desktop, XPS laptop, or XPS ultrabook.

 

[Steve_3df]

Its an xps laptop but what is the difference between an xps laptop and ultrabook? Aren't they both laptops but one that is more powerful?

So all ultra book laptop can't be upgraded in ram?

 

[10tacle]

Its an xps laptop but what is the difference between an xps laptop and ultrabook? Aren't they both laptops but one that is more powerful? So all ultra book laptop can't be upgraded in ram?

BIG difference. An Ultrabook is a super-thin and lightweight notebook. It is not a full format sized of typical notebooks that have separate space available for RAM slots, dedicated GPU slots, etc. Even though the screen size is 13.3", it's the thin body that makes it so limiting in upgradablity.

Personally, I think Dell should not be using the "XPS" term for an Ultrabook. XPS to me means a performance level desktop or laptop. An Ultrabook does not fit that bill. Here's a review of that laptop:

http/www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-XPS-13-9350-InfinityEdge-Ultrabook-Review.153376.0.html

 

[Steve_3df]

I7 6th generation, 16GB, and 512 SSD is not a performance laptop? I won't be gaming. I actually thought this was a performance laptop which is the reason of me wanting to purchase it.

 

[10tacle]

I7 6th generation, 16GB, and 512 SSD is not a performance laptop? I won't be gaming. I actually thought this was a performance laptop which is the reason of me wanting to purchase it.

You can buy non-XPS full sized laptops with the same specs that have RAM and GPU upgrade options. "XPS" is just a marketing gimmick. I've just always thought of the "XPS" label as something geared either towards high performance gaming with upgrade spec options (before Dell bought Alienware for laptops specifically). I spent nearly $3,000 on one about 10 years ago as a desktop replacement (will never do it again), so that's why I always think that when I hear "XPS."

Spec wise at face value it's excellent for the money, but it's not like my 17" 1920x1200 "XPS" gaming laptop I had which had a dedicated separate GPU and allowed RAM to be upgraded (which I did). So it's just a matter of it being "ultra" portable and thin and the importance of that compared to RAM upgradability down the road to like 32GB or 64GB.

 

[rgd1101]

I7 6th generation, 16GB, and 512 SSD is not a performance laptop? I won't be gaming. I actually thought this was a performance laptop which is the reason of me wanting to purchase it.

That i7 is a duel core with HT not a quad cores. the igpu is good but not gaming good like the nivida or amd dgpu.

 

[Steve_3df]

Well I will be using this laptop as kind of like my business and work laptop. I will be doing a lot of stuff on vmware. So If I was to get i7 6th generation, 16GB and 512 SSD. Is it good?

Should I go for the i5 instead since that i7 is dual. I mean how much greater performance is the i5 compared to the i7. IDC about the money, so no budget. But based on what I need, what do you think?

 

[jaguarskx]

You can click on the following link that compares the specs of the Core i5-6200u and i7-6500u.

http/ark.intel.com/compare/88193,88194


The i7 base clockspeed is 200MHz higher while the Turbo Boost speed is up to 300MHz faster. That could make a difference in CPU intensive tasks such as video editing and encoding, data mining, and financial model simulations. But for everyday tasks like working on spreadsheets, e-mail, power point the difference will be minimal assuming you even notice it.

The i7 also has 1MB more internal cache. Again, that is great for CPU intensive tasks which involves a lot of calculations, but for every day use there is no real impact.

The Intel HD 520 graphics core in the i7 CPU runs 50MHz faster than the one in the i5 CPU. The difference is minuscule at best.