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Inspiron 3891 RAM type for upgrade
I just purchased the Insprion 3891 for my son, and because of Dell's ridiculous lack of "options", I just picked a ready-to-ship build. Buy "just purchased", I mean just clicked "purchase" on the online site about 30 minutes prior to making this post.
It's the cheapest one with the i3, 8 GB ram, and 256 GB ssd.
This is replacing a 14 year old Inspiron 530 that was handed down to him. It came with 2 GB ram that has since been upgraded to 6, and a 512 GB hdd that every once in a while will get stuck clicking, but will come out of it and continue to run until some point in the near future when it may decide to just die for good. It's done this for over a year now so I know our luck is running out - just a matter of when.
However, there is no way to really customize the purchase without everything else changing with each option that can be set. Like, why is there no option to add the GT 1030 graphics card that the XPS offers - the 1030 does not need extra power like the 1660 that is offered does. Why can't I add ram or a hdd option individually without automatically changing the CPU, adding a couple hundred dollars to the price in the process?
(My assumption is that the options matrix just jumps the the next pre-configured box with that option bringing along all the other changes with it - instead of being real individual "customization" options).
So, what I'm doing is buying a couple of upgrades now to add in when the machine gets here.
I'm adding a 1 TB hdd that I'm getting from Newegg, and I'm looking at ram too - but the ram is the question.
The ram speed is DDR4 2666 MHz, but looking at Dell's site, all they offer for the 3891 is 3200 MHz ram. I know the system will run the ram at 2666 anyway, but is there a reason only 3200 is offered? If I buy Crucial ram, should it be 2666 or 3200 (there's only a buck difference anyway)? Is the ram that comes in the machine 3200?
Thanks,
redxps630
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December 2nd, 2021 09:00
JOCean is correct. Here is another Dell released info on a similar Inspiron model supporting 10th gen cpu:
NOTE: The computer is shipped with 3200 MHz memory. However, the memory speed is limited to 2666 MHz in computers shipped with Intel Core i3/i5 processors and 2933 MHz in computers shipped with Intel Core i7/i9 processors.
Re: Would it matter if the speed doesn't match between the two modules, even if the system will step the higher speed module down anyway?
in general, it is not a great idea to mix Dell ram with Crucial ram of different spec (speed and latency settings). If we know the original manufacturer model number of Dell ram, you may be able to buy the same sped ram from third party vendor. Alternatively, replace the Dell ram with crucial ram (not mix them). Lastly, it is possible you may get lucky that PC will POST with mixing Dell and Crucial ram.
The following Dell 8GB ram P/N is what I pulled from a 3891 system spec using genuine service tag
It is quite likely your pc has the same DP/N. When you know your service tag you can type it in Dell support to verify that. 9CXF2 is a familiar Dell 8GB ram used in many models. Thanks to Dell Chris M, here is Dell released info:
9CXF2 8GB DDR4, 3200MHz, 1Gx64, Unbuffered, 288 pin, Single Rank, 1.2V, Non-ECC, Non-Encrypted Adata AO2P32NC8W1-BD3SHC, Hynix HMAA1GU6CJR6N-XN, Kingston K9CXF2-MIB/K9CXF2-MIE, Micron MTA4ATF1G64AZ-3G2B1/MTA4ATF1G64AZ-3G2E1, Samsung M378A1G44AB0-CWE/M378A1G44BB0-CWE
So here are the original manufacturer's ram model number for the Dell ram. Dell just validates these ram and ensures quality control, and charge consumer higher price.
If that part number is your Del ram, you may consider buy another 8GB of same model to upgrade to 16 GB.
JOcean
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December 2nd, 2021 08:00
It depends on the CPU. If it is an 11th generation CPU then the RAM will run at 2933. In which case order the 3200 RAM from Crucial (it is cheaper than Dell purchased RAM generally). If you do not have an 11th gen CPU then 2666 is fine but you are correct 3200 will run at 2666 on pre gen 11 CPU systems. Those specs are listed here.
As for customization, those options are usually available only on higher end systems.
Spikesdad
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December 2nd, 2021 09:00
Well, I went ahead and got the 3200 stick. I'm hoping Dell just stocked up on one speed ram that can be used in multiple configurations to save money and build time. The drive and the ram are coming the same day that the box gets here. If the ram works, great. If not, maybe I'll keep just the Crucial in there and order a second one to get to 16 GB.
And thanks @redxps630 for the information. Very helpful.
Spikesdad
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December 2nd, 2021 09:00
@JOcean,
It's still a 10th gen i3. None of the Inspiron desktop boxes you can buy online actually offer the 11th gen CPUs - yet. The AIOs do, but not the boxes.
Actually, using the part number listed in the order form that was emailed after I ordered the box, I did find the 2666Mhz module part on the Dell site. I'm not going to buy from there as it's double anyone else's price for the same thing. Still, when I previously went through the site to find the part for that model computer, it seemed weird that it only listed 3200 MHz memory for it, and nothing else.
Would it matter if the speed doesn't match between the two modules, even if the system will step the higher speed module down anyway?
redxps630
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December 2nd, 2021 10:00
Re: I'm hoping Dell just stocked up on one speed ram that can be used in multiple configurations to save money and build time
What you hope for is likely true with Dell. It makes Dell's life easier too. I have seen Dell use same ram DP/N across multiple models.
yw.
Spikesdad
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December 14th, 2021 22:00
Figured I'd come back to report what happened.
First, FedEx took 5 extra days to finally deliver the computer. It sat at the Olive Branch FedEx Ground facility for 4 days before finally getting on the truck heading south.
Anyway, once it got here, I popped out the ram - it was the Samsung M378A1G44AB0-CWE module. Definitely a 3200 MHz stick.
I also installed a brand new WD Blue 1TB 7400 rpm HDD. To my surprise, there was a spare SATA cable already in the PC case plugged into one of the connectors with the other end floating free (the cable was hooked into one of the cable stays to keep things tidy). So all I had to do was mount the drive on the chassis, plug in one of the three available power connectors, plug in the SATA cable, and start her up.
Booted up with no issues, and it started the Win 11 out-of-box setup.
Strange thing was, after connecting to the wi-fi, it never asked me to sign into a Microsoft account. It only asked for the name of "who is using this computer" - the old local account setup question. This was going to be my son's PC, so I used the same name his old computer had. I have an MS account set up for him so we can share the Family Office 365, and I was able to log into his account to setup the Office programs.
But then I noticed that there was no second drive once I finally got around to pulling the file manager up. I wondered why. I rebooted to BIOS and went into the available drives and saw the WD HDD along with the DVD drive and the boot SSD. I saw that the SATA controllers were set for RAID. Why? I changed it to AHCI.
Of course, that messed up the Windows install and after (I think it was) three attempts to reboot, it asked if I want to reset the OS. I picked yes to that option. Then it went through the whole setup process again.
This time, it did ask to sign into a Microsoft account with no way around it. Actually, I know there is a way around it, but I decided to just go with it. After it finished, I checked the drives again. Still no 1 TB drive.
Then I remembered - I have to go to the Disk Management applet and basically activate the drive, set the partitions and partition type there and give it a drive letter after that. Did all that, now I have a secondary "D:\" drive. I set the user folder for that drive for docs, pics, music, downloads... Then I copied over all my sons files from the old PC to the new PC. Set up the apps he uses, and all is set.
Even the memory in Task Manager shows as 16 GB of dual channel 2666 ram (with about 15.5 available because of the integrated graphics). Pretty much what this whole exercise was all about.
The only hiccup was the new drive because I had forgotten an important step that could have avoided the whole reset process if I'd just remembered the Disk Management step.
But it all works now.
redxps630
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December 14th, 2021 23:00
Re: it was the Samsung M378A1G44AB0-CWE module. Definitely a 3200 MHz stick.
that matches the Dell 9CXF2 8GB DDR4, 3200MHz, 1Gx64, Unbuffered, 288 pin, Single Rank, 1.2V, Non-ECC, Non-Encrypted Adata AO2P32NC8W1-BD3SHC, Hynix HMAA1GU6CJR6N-XN, Kingston K9CXF2-MIB/K9CXF2-MIE, Micron MTA4ATF1G64AZ-3G2B1/MTA4ATF1G64AZ-3G2E1, Samsung M378A1G44AB0-CWE/M378A1G44BB0-CWE
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April 25th, 2022 18:00
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ncfl_maine
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April 25th, 2022 18:00
This is a garbage answer and should be rejected. You as a consumer should be able to update your purchased PC with appropriate memory and not worry about a BIOS update which trashes your configuration.
Dell should get off their fourth point of contact and spend a little human capital to fix this issue.
Spikesdad
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April 25th, 2022 21:00
Why is it garbage? It worked for me as I reported later in this thread. And the BIOS updates didn't mess anything up.
I think it's important to match the specs of the new RAM exactly with the installed RAM. Doesn't have to be the same manufacturer, just the same specs. Then, there seems to be no issue.