IdeaStorm can help take your idea and turn it into reality.
Over 18,906 ideas submitted. 740,941+ votes. 97,853+ comments. 531+ ideas implemented.
XPS 13 Memory options
March 7, 2012
20 Votes
Status: Implemented
Promote
Why is the new XPS 13 limited to 4GB of memory?
If Dell offered it in an 8GB model I would order it instantly.
As such I'll have to do an Asus Zenbook and upgrade it manually I guess.
Status Update: Your idea has been implemented with the updated XPS 13 systems. Thank you for posting!
Please login to report abuse.
Comments Page (1 of 2)
1 2 Next
Please login to IdeaStorm to post a comment.
Nov 29, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By: chazmo24
I will take this a step further by asking why are laptops limited to 8GB memory? Go to HP and a lot of the laptops there can be configured with 12 or 16 GB of memory. Even the one or two laptops Dell has for home users that can be configured with 16GB RAM, the price for that is way too high.May 9, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By: garthy
Eclipse Eats alot of RAM.Building Android needs a lot of RAM
http://groups.google.com/group/android-building/browse_thread/thread/3757b189f4e93df0?hl=en&pli=1
Running a VM helps if you have lots of RAM.
Running Chrome with my normal amount of tabs takes 1GB
CPU is irrelevant if you don't have enough RAM
Apr 11, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By:
I know mate ;) I should have been clearer. I just don't think that the SSD alone will result in that huge performance jump, especially since the kind of tests they use take advantage of more RAM. But thanks for the detailed info here though. The intel HD 3000 gets more allocated system memory when you upgrade from 4GB to 8GB and this results in better performance.StigtriX
So, it's a fact that the SSD alone is not responsible for the nice score :)
Apr 11, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By: HerrKaputt
StigriX, even within the same brand, not all SSDs are the same. For example, OCZ has the Vertex 2 which uses SATA2 and the Vertex 3 which uses SATA3, among others. The former will be about half as fast as the latter in peak performance (sequential reads/writes).The peak performance isn't what causes most impact in real-world, but SATA3 is still noticeably faster than SATA2, even in real-world cases.
I would say that the Samsung ultrabook that you mentioned uses a top SATA3 drive while all others, so far, use SATA2 or weaker SATA3 SSDs. In particular, the UX31 which you cited uses a SATA3 SSD from ADATA, which isn't one of the best SSD brands.
Apr 11, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By:
Yes, most likely, but all the other ultrabooks use SSDs too, and some of them use SAMSUNG.StigtriX
Apr 10, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By: HerrKaputt
StigtriX, the extra impact in real-world performance is almost surely due to a better SSD (not all SSDs are equal :) ), not to the 8 GB of RAM.As Brighton pointed out, only on special use cases does 8 GB make a difference from 4 GB (virtual machines, large numerical computations, etc).
Apr 10, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By:
Thanks for the reply, Brighton!StigtriX
It's very useful for DELL to get feedback to improve their products. The latest SAMSUNG 9 sereis laptop has 8GB of RAM and beats the competition (4GB ultrabooks), by a great margin when it comes to speed:
"The 15-inch Series 9 comes in a single configuration, with a 1.6GHz Core i5-2467M processor (the same you'll find in many other Ultrabooks), integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics and a 128GB solid-state drive. Similar specs as other Ultras we've tested, only this guy has twice the RAM: eight gigs. We're not sure if it's the extra memory or that Samsung-made SSD, but whatever the special ingredient is, this shapes up to be the fastest Ultrabook we've seen since the Zenbook UX31. We're referring, in part, to its five-digit PCMark Vantage score, but its real-world performance dazzles, too".
Source
It looks like it really does have a bigger impact than what I expected. I hope DELL really sees this and sets 8GB as the new standard, because I prefer DELLs keyboard and design :)
Apr 10, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By: Brighton
Hi StintriX I need more than 4gb of ram. In answer to your question there are many reasons to want more than 4gb. As you say, for video editing. I run virtual box with multiple sessions and 4gb does not go far. And to make full use of an i7 processor 4gb is limited.Mar 24, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By:
I see your problem, the Empiricist. If DELL added 8GB, they would attract even more customers as it looks like even upcoming ultrabooks from other brands will have 4GB as max RAM.StigtriX
Mar 23, 2012 Comment Link
Report Abuse
Posted By: theEmpiricist
In response to Rockstar, I need 8GB because I am a software developer that routinely travels and performs demos for customers. I need to be able to run SQL Server, Visual Studio 2010, IIS.While it is possible to run all of this in 4GB, I routinely am in front of customers doing demonstrations and there is a huge difference between 4GB and 8GB in those situations.
I'm currently running an E6410 with 8GB and 256GB SSD...so basically the same as the new XPS13z except for the RAM. I'm getting tired of traveling with the Latitude, and the new E6420 is even bigger / heavier than my 6410 (and is also locking up / blue-screening when docked btw).
13z is essentially my dream laptop...just need a little more memory. Guess I'll wait.
1 2 Next