from the tech specs on the http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-x51/pd site

 Chipset Architecture
Intel® H61 Express Chipset

Motherboard Class
Mini-ITX Motherboard

Thank you jazz70!

My X51 comes with Intel Core i7 Third Generation and 8 GB Memory 1600 Mhz; I understand H61 Chipset does not support this configuration. I am confused about this. Could you help me? Thanks!

sefirot,

Just expanding on jazz70 answer -

A03 =
1. Add the uEFI PXE Lan
2. Updated Microcode to 4.6.0_INTEL_MICROCODE_34 to support IVB CPU
3. Change Intel ME firmware to ME8 8 8.0.4.1441
4. Updated VBIOS to snd_2132_D1.dat
5. No BIOS error message of keyboard by default

Memory =
66GKY 8GB 1600MHz, 512X64, 8, 240, 2RX8
VT8FP 4GB 1600MHz, 256X64, 8, 240, 2RX8
H7JD8 8GB 1333MHz, 1GX64,  8, 240, 2RX8
P382H 4GB 1333MHz, 512X64, 8, 240, 2RX8
1N7HK 2GB 1333MHz, 128X64, 8, 240, 1RX8
G8NT0 2GB 1333MHz, 128X64, 8, 240, 1RX8

CPU =
JJ8D9 Ivy Bridge i7-3770 Quad Core, 3.40GHz, 8MB, 77W, E1
JN8M2 Ivy Bridge i5-3450 Quad Core, 3.10GHz, 6MB, 77W, E1
706FY SandyBridge i7-2600 Quad Core, 3.40GHz, 8MB, D2 (Order for WXGXH)
F6KN0 SandyBridge i5-2320 Quad Core, 3.00GHz, 6MB, 95W, D2 (Order for 828RD)
972H5 SandyBridge i3-2120, 3.30GHz, 3MB, 65W, Q0 (Order for J72KD)

the bios update A03 made the H61 Express chipset compatible with Ivy Bridge and the revision of the board supports DDR3-1600 is my understanding

jazz70 and DEL-Chris M, thank you for your precise anwers! Now I understand the technical part that I was missing!

Hi guys!.

I have a x51 with DDR3 1600mhz, still when I go to the bios setup, it reports my memory as only being 1333mhz.

Do you think what might be the issue?. The processor is a core i7 3770.

Hi guys. Updated to A10 bios version and still the memory is reported as running at 1333mhz.

This is the memory I am using:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZINK0S/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i02

This is what CPU-Z reports

Maybe I am missing something?....

hmm this is very interesting, my x51 from dell outlet comes on tuesday, i will look at this when it comes and report back.

yea but it would if other users can confirm the same

Well, it seems the memory I got, this Corsair EMS3 has the XMP speed  technology to increase the speed to 1600 (you can see it in the image from my previous post). Usually this would have to be enabled from the BIOS, still I have not found any option to do that.

Does the H61 express chipset the x51 comes with support XMP? How to enable it?.

recieved my x51 2 days ago, after checking CPUZ....max bandwith slot says "pc3-12800" so i guess my memories are running at 1600mhz

extra infor.

manufacturer hyundai electornics

part number HMT351U6CFR8C-PB

2 x 4gb = 8gb total