Then it was the same speed and specs as from all reports it's really hard to achieve Tri-Channel with different ram types. IF at all possible, I would try and get the same ram, although I'm sure the same voltage and ratings regarding the matching bank would go most of the way.

As for ole Poke13, at the least, you can just download CPU-Z and it will tell you exactly what ram you have and where (go ahead and download Real Temp while you're at it).

These are the most important reference links below:

Dell Studio XPS (435MT) Info

• 435MT Drivers & Downloads
• 435MT Manual
• 435MT Memory Install Info

Excellent System Performance Monitor Software

• CPU-Z (Total System Info Report)
• GPU-Z (Graphics Card Total Report)
• Real Temp (CPU Report and Core Temp Monitioring)
• Core Temp (CPU Report and Core Temp Monitoring)

Fan RPM Reading & Control Software

• Speedfan (Fan RPM reading plus User Control)

System Testing

• Prime95 (Ultimate CPU/Memory test for your i7 System)

- kh

Thanks for the links. The new driver for my audio seemed to fix an occasional bug I was having. Sometimes my mouse and audio would stutter intermittently, causing a spike in CPU usage. Only a reboot would correct this. I did determine it was the Realtek HD Audio driver doing this, and the new driver seems to have corrected it.

Nearly four months later and the Dell XPS Studio is still running great. No one should have leaf-blower fan mode anymore. I never did get that power supply, the HD 4850 is a sweet card, and the next card will just be another single-slot/ 1-6-pin pcie power 5850.

Thanks abstrait for all of your useful info I will try and get round to using some of the software and maybe even sharing the results.

I have been thinking about a new motherboard, I wouldnt get one until early next yr but I was wondering would it be possible to basically install the Dell Vista Ultimate with a new different motherboard? Would there be any problems with drivers etc? If there were potential problems then it wouldnt be worth it as I would have to buy vista or even windows 7.

Another thought, I am guessing that the CPU heatsink could be used on another MB, but do you think it is good enough to handle some overclocking? It seems very easy to overclock this i7 920 and the heatsink looks pretty hefty.

Thanks in advance, surely theres more thoughts on this machine to come

Hello, Yukka, Abstrait and Poke13. I have been looking at your thread because I just fell into the Dell 8GB trap on a Studio XPS with Intel corei7-920 chip--i.e. dual channel ram when it should/could be tri channel. They will not give a refund or exchange sticks. The config is 2x2/4x1.

The mobo in my system is supposed to be capable of supporting trichannel, according to Dell. Could I go to 6GB tri channel simply by pulling 2 1GB sticks and using a config of 2, 2, and 1+1, or would it have to be 2, 2, and 2. Or, if I bought another 1GB from Dell could I get 9GB tri channel using a config of 2+1, 2+1, and 1+1+1? Are tri channel sticks inherently different from dual channel sticks?

your best solution is to buy another 2Gb that matches the 2x2 set you already got as close as possible and install 3 x (2+1) = 9Gb and sell your one remaining 1Gb module. Your next best bet is a new 3x2 =6Gb tri-channel kit from e.g. Newegg (there are very good deals a few pages back) if you want them to be identical modules, then sell what you got. However, it's ok with this board if the 1Gb and 2Gb are not perfectly matched and hence you may as well install 3 of the remaining 1Gb modules you already got to get the first solution with 9Gb

tri-channel sticks are not inherently different, you just need three of the same kind and speed. That also means that the only way to get tri-channel is 3x1, 3x2, 3x(2+1) or 3x(2+2) with the latter being the same as 6x2.
As there is no way to overclock this board or the memory, the 9Gb is the best and cheapest solution. As long as the speed and timings of the ram are close you won't loose much in performance at all. Your tri-channel will work at the speed of the slowest module you use.

btw.: If you bought your PC with 8Gb advertised as tri-channel then you should insist on a refund or ask for a discount for a 2Gb module of identical type you already got to get to 9Gb. Often people from Dell on the Dell forums are very supportive and help. You may want to explain your circumstances there.

Indeed. If you bought it advertised as 8GB in tri-channel you should definately get dell to send you a 2GB stick for free (or the money to buy one from the website yourself).

If that is not the case, buy a 2GB stick from the Dell website (or somewhere else if you want to take the risk of incompatability) and replace a single 1GB stick to get 9Gb. That is how I am running mine.

there are posts explaining how to get the refund and others with links to the official dell ram upgrade page in this thread.

good luck

for those of you with fan issues listed with this info:

Dell Studio XPS 435MT system BIOS
Release Date: 6/18/2009
Version: 1.1.2

Fixes/Enhancements:
1.Update Intel CPU Micro Code.
2.Fan Curve Parameters update.

After BIOS 1.1.2 update the idle fan speed seems to be slower

since the latest bios update released 6/18/2009 (v1.1.2) the fans dont seem to be making the low humming noise as much, has anyone else noticed this? I didnt do a test using speedfan to see what rpm the fan was idling at before the bios update but if anyone could shed some light it would be great.

I think this may be do to further testing by dell as to whether a lower idle would be benificial as then their may be the need for the fan to speed up more times to level out temperatures.

If I get a new motherboard can I use the Dell Vista Ultimate 64 disk to install OS?

Or could I just change the motherboard and then do a repair install?

I did not notice any difference before and after bios update. However, my grafx card fan is pretty loud (throttling it with rivatuner) and I may not notice it.

as for your Vista install on a new motherboard I am afraid that won't work. The Dell OEM Vista disk is actually checking the slic table in the bios for a Dell key. Since that doesn't work your second choice is what you suggested. Either use what you already got, or start over with a fresh install. When it doesn't boot with the new mobo, try a repair and if you are lucky it may work with that or even without repair.
if you then run into vista activation problems, call MS and ask them for a new activation key. I wouldn't have a problem with that.
good luck

Thanks for the reply! DO you mean that I would have to try changing the MB then seeing if it will boot? Or install the MB and see if it will boot using the dvd as boot drive?

Just tryin to work out if I could possibly afford a new x58 MB at the normal ATX form factor with the possibility of crossfire and more expansion slots and a bigger cooler case. Having to add on an OEM disc of Vista 64 or Windows 7 would hike the price!

the easiest would be if you just tried the new mobo with your current vista installation. it may work, it may have to be repaired if it bsod's . but even after it works you may get problems with activating Vista. In that case I'd call MS and get it activated via phone (since you have a legal copy that shouldn't be the problem - yeah I know it's OEM and you are officially not allowed to do this, but it should work).

if you start from scratch, install the new mobo and then try to install your Dell OEM Vista you will not be able to activate it without a key. the key is stored in the Dell BIOS, which you don't have on the new mobo.

hope that is a little clearer than before

I am glad i found this forum. Have found a lot of wonderful discussion here.

I have just ordered an outlet 435 MT dell. It comes with 2 dimms total of 4gig memory. So i guess, i will need to get an additional 1X2gig from newegg and enable a tri-channel setup. I thought i read somewhere that 435MT do not support dual channel, so with my current 2X2dimms, I am running them in single channel each. Anyone know which brand would be a good mix for dell's original memory to make sure everything is compatible, stable and getting tri-channel? Since, the brand could be different, do i have to do the pair trick like abstract posted?

By the way, will it be possible to install a front intake 80mm fan? I still have a brand new panaflo quiet fan i would like to find some usage out of it. p.s my rig isn't arrive yet.

Primary usage will running a few oracle and mysql databases, apex and other programmings experiment. Will be running dual boot on 64 bit linux in the future with similar setup. No gaming. So, memory is somewhat critical.

Thanks in advances,
meme

you can use cpu-z to find the timings for the installed memory. Usually Dell installs Micron or Infinion memory. Mine was Micron PC3-8500-7 DDR3, 1066, CL7. Your current setup runs in Dual Channel. The only way to run it in single is with one single module.
By now there may be several people selling their left over Dell 2gb module on ebay from the same system. That'd be the cheapest way and you know it will be compatible. Make sure it's 1066 and Cas Latency 7. Check the brand of the modules as well. You should also be able to get it from Dell (call them to get exactly what you need), but you will likely pay a premium.

If that is not possible it may be a good idea to invest in a complete kit of 3x2 trichannel, which runs at about $80 on Newegg (look for item #N82E16820148246 and #N82E16820220378). You can then sell your remaining on ebay.

there is not much space in the MT. In my case I cramped it with hdds and there is no space to add another fan in the front. But I personally do not think that it is necessary. The installed fan and the one on the grafx card are sufficient in my opinion.

good luck

I’m so glad that I found this forum. I just bought a 435MT from the Dell Outlet. It comes with 3 dimms 3 gig memory and a 500 GB sata hard drive. These are the two components I want to upgrade. For the RAM, should I buy 3 GB (3X1) kit to make it 6 GB total, or 6 GB (3X2) kit to make it 9 GB total. The next thing I want to upgrade is the hard drive. Is this 435MT a SATA II or SATA MB? If it SATA MB then I don’t need to spend the extra money on the SATA II hard drive. Thank you for your help.

if you purchase 3x1Gb in addition your future upgrade would require you to pretty much remove all what you got. I highly recommend to buy 3x2Gb to get to 9Gb total in trichannel. Shouldn't be more than 70-80 bucks for that.

mine came with a 640Gb WD SATA II drive. the controller is downward compatible and I put two extra drives in there that are SATA including a Raptor.

fracturex, thank you for your help. Just one quick question to follow up. Would you recommend SATA II drive? Also, I intend to have total of 2 optical drives and 2 hard drives in my pc, I wonder if it has any SATA port left on the MB. I can't wait to get my pc, it suppose to deliver by tomorow.

Again thank you for your help.

I think there are 4 sata ports. either sata or sata II will work. I got three hdds in mine and one optical drive, so you should be fine. as long as the hdd meets my needs for the right price at the right storage and speed it doesn't matter whether it's sata or sata II

I just received my XPS 435MT and it is a Certified Refurbished. It is an amazing fast machine. I am very happy with its performance so far. However, this pc has a weird problem, it has a very strong cigarette odors coming out on the back of the machine. It seems strange that how the cigarette odor get inside the PC. I open the case and put an open box of baking soda next to it hoping that the smell would disappear. Is anybody experience this? I will give it a few days to see if the smell goes away. If not, I have to return it.

very strange, mine was certified refurbished as well from Dell Outlet. Mine was band new, probably just taken out of the box and back into it. No smell, except the "new" smell of electronics. Sorry to hear about your problem. Hope it's gone by now.

Can anyone provide any recommendations for upgrading the stock i7 920 cpu cooler / heatsink in my Dell Studio XPS Desktop 435MT? Given the small size of the 435MT, I've been pulling out my hair trying to find an aftermarket cooler that will fit, keep the CPU cool and be quiet. Keeping the stock cooler is not an option. Price is no object, I want the best I can get.

I have found 2 cooler that is intresting
Scythe Shuriken and Gelid Silent Spirit, which is better and is there any other cooler that you recommend?

Want a quiet one, and good one

Thank you.