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This is just a public service announcement for anyone looking up this question via Google. Dell's maximum supported RAM for this system is 16 GB. However, it works fine with 32 GB of RAM. I used this memory kit in mine:

Corsair XMS3 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 1333 MHz (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory (CMX32GX3M4A1333C9)

Probably other ones will work fine, too. The only caveat is that most Dells would have come with Windows 7 Home Premium installed and that will only allow access to 16 GB of RAM. You need to have Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate to access the full 32 GB of RAM. You can do the Windows Anytime Upgrade to buy Win7 Pro if you want to go that route, basically it magically makes your existing install into Win7 Pro so you don't have to reinstall anything.

If you put more than 16 GB in a Home Premium system, when you right-click on Computer and go to Properties, you'll see the memory listed as something like 32 GB (16 GB usable). So the OS will see it all, it just won't let you USE it all. Harsh, ya?

I had looked this question up and not gotten anything solid for an answer so I tried it myself and am posting about my success.

Nice find and good of you to share! +1

I too own an XPS 8300

I found this post and it inspired me to try upgrading my ram past the 16GB "Dell Limit". I went ahead and purchased a 32GB kit and it works fine (mind you it runs at 1333mhz but that's to be expected)

This is the kit I purchased

G.SKILL Sniper Gaming Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-1600C9Q-32GSR

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.as ... 6820231610

Hope that helps anyone else that finds this on Google.

Groovy. Thanks fer sharing your success! Decent prebuilt desktops, these are.