Dell XPS 15 9560 upgrade guide: RAM, SSD and CPU

Updated Oct. 18, 2026 · Written from this device's verified specifications

The Dell XPS 15 9560 (7th Gen Intel, also called XPS9560) is one of the friendlier laptops to upgrade. Memory and drives are user-serviceable, so you can keep this machine useful for years without paying Dell's upgrade prices. This guide covers what fits, what the limits are, and what to watch out for before you buy parts. One caution first: the visually similar XPS 15 9550 and 9570 use different boards and CPUs, so make sure yours really is a 9560 before ordering anything.

At a glance

  • RAM: 2 DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB, 2400 MT/s
  • Storage: 1 M.2 2280 NVMe slot (PCIe Gen3) plus an optional 2.5-inch SATA bay
  • CPU: soldered and not upgradeable
2x DDR4 SO-DIMM slots (260-pin, 2400 MT/s)2 × DDR4 SO-DIMM · up to 32 GB total · 2400 MT/s
M.2 2280 NVMe (Gen3) + optional 2.5" SATA bay2 × SSD / HDD M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick · up to 1.024 TB
2 × SO-DIMM · DDR4up to 32 GB totalM.2 2280 NVMe (Gen3) + optional 2.5" SATA bay2 × SSD / HDD M.2 2280 / 2.5" (NVMe / SATA) · max 7 mm thick ·up to 1.024 TB
Schematic of the upgradeable slots (not to scale). Check the owner's manual for their exact positions.

Lifecycle and support

Manufacturer support ended on February 2017 (estimate).

20172018201920202021202220232024202520262027Today11 · Release · February 201722 · End of sale · February 201733 · EOL · February 201744 · EOSL · February 201755 · Extended support ends · February 2017
Filled dots: dates published by the manufacturer. Hollow dots: estimates from third-party sources.
MilestoneDate
Release
First available to buy.		 February 2017 Estimate First availability, Feb 2017 (Kaby Lake / GTX 1050 refresh of the 9550); corroborated by Notebookcheck review dated 2017-03-15. Retailer 'Release Date: 30 August 2018' listing disregarded as a late regional SKU.
Source ↗
End of sale
No longer sold new by the manufacturer (Dell calls this 'End of Life', Lenovo 'Withdrawn').		 February 2017 Estimate First availability, Feb 2017 (Kaby Lake / GTX 1050 refresh of the 9550); corroborated by Notebookcheck review dated 2017-03-15. Retailer 'Release Date: 30 August 2018' listing disregarded as a late regional SKU.
Source ↗
End of life (EOL)
The manufacturer stops developing the product: no new BIOS, firmware or driver releases.		 February 2017 Estimate First availability, Feb 2017 (Kaby Lake / GTX 1050 refresh of the 9550); corroborated by Notebookcheck review dated 2017-03-15. Retailer 'Release Date: 30 August 2018' listing disregarded as a late regional SKU.
Source ↗
End of standard support (EOSL)
Standard warranty and support contracts can no longer be renewed.		 February 2017 Estimate First availability, Feb 2017 (Kaby Lake / GTX 1050 refresh of the 9550); corroborated by Notebookcheck review dated 2017-03-15. Retailer 'Release Date: 30 August 2018' listing disregarded as a late regional SKU.
Source ↗
End of extended support
Paid extended support ends; after this there is no manufacturer support at all.		 February 2017 Estimate First availability, Feb 2017 (Kaby Lake / GTX 1050 refresh of the 9550); corroborated by Notebookcheck review dated 2017-03-15. Retailer 'Release Date: 30 August 2018' listing disregarded as a late regional SKU.
Source ↗

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

RAM upgrade

There are two DDR4 SO-DIMM slots (260-pin) under the bottom cover, and none of the memory is soldered down, so both slots are yours to use. The maximum per module is 16 GB and the validated maximum total is 32 GB (2 x 16 GB). Dell's officially supported configurations are 4, 8, 16 and 32 GB. Running 2 x 32 GB sticks for 64 GB is not validated by Dell for this machine.

Speed is where buyers get tripped up. The fastest native speed is DDR4-2400, and the CPU's memory controller, not the module, decides what actually runs. Faster DDR4-2666 or DDR4-3200 sticks will work, but they are downclocked to 2400 MT/s. Dell's community answers say the same thing, while Kingston lists 3200 MT/s modules for this model - a difference in how sellers describe compatibility rather than in real performance. Kingston's own listing notes the faster memory clocks down to run at its optimal speed. The practical takeaway: buy cheap DDR4-2400 CL15 or CL17 rather than paying a premium for faster modules you will never see.

The memory is 1.2 V, non-ECC and unbuffered, matching the mobile chipset. Install a matched pair of identical modules to get dual-channel mode - a single stick leaves memory bandwidth on the table, which also costs the integrated GPU.

Buying tip: look for a matched 2 x 8 GB or 2 x 16 GB DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM kit. Avoid ECC or registered server memory; it is not supported.

Buying tips

  • DDR4 SO-DIMM 260-pin, 2400 MT/s, 1.2 V, non-ECC
  • Matched pair (2 x 8 GB or 2 x 16 GB) for dual-channel
  • 2400 CL15/CL17 is the sweet spot; faster sticks just downclock

Storage upgrade

You get two storage options. The primary bay is one M.2 2280 (22 x 80 mm) slot supporting PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe SSDs; it also accepts M.2 SATA SSDs. There is also one 2.5-inch SATA III bay (6 Gbps) for a hard drive or SSD, but it is limited to 7 mm drive height, and it only exists in machines with the smaller 56 Wh battery. If your unit has the 97 Wh battery, it is M.2-only - those models physically lack the 2.5-inch caddy and cable. Dell's spec sheet lists both drives without spelling out that they depend on the battery fitted, so check inside your own machine before buying a 2.5-inch drive.

On speed: the M.2 slot is PCIe Gen3 only. Gen4 and Gen5 NVMe drives physically fit and work, but they run at Gen3 speed, around 3,500 MB/s at the top end, so there is no point paying extra for the newest generation. A solid mid-tier Gen3 drive matches the bus perfectly.

On capacity, sources don't fully agree. Dell's official configurations topped out at 1 TB per drive. Larger aftermarket drives - 2 TB or more in the M.2 slot, 2 to 4 TB in the 2.5-inch bay - generally work but are not officially validated, so treat anything beyond 1 TB as untested territory. The full-size SD card slot is not a storage bay; it is UHS-I, not the faster UHS-II.

Buying tip: for the main upgrade, an M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe Gen3) SSD of 1 TB is the safe, validated choice. If you want a second drive, confirm your battery size first and keep any 2.5-inch drive to 7 mm thick.

Buying tips

  • M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen3 is the primary upgrade
  • Gen4/Gen5 drives work but only at Gen3 speed
  • 2.5-inch bay: 56 Wh battery models only, 7 mm max height

How to upgrade

Before you start

  • Back up your data first, especially if you are cloning or replacing a drive.
  • Shut down the laptop, unplug the charger, and remove any connected devices.
  • Ground yourself to avoid static damage to the components.
  • Open the case and do the swap. Dell's service manual documents separate procedures for replacing the memory modules and the hard drive/SSD, and it covers the exact disassembly for this model - follow it for screw locations and cable handling.
  • Close the case, reconnect power, and start the machine. Check that the BIOS/firmware sees the new part and the amount of memory or storage you expect before booting into your operating system.

Steps

  1. Safe general upgrade outline
    Back up your data, power off and unplug the laptop, ground yourself, open the case, install the part, close the case, and then check that the BIOS/firmware recognises it. For exact disassembly steps for the XPS 15 9560, use the Dell service manual linked below rather than guessing at screws or cables.

Good to know

  • Dell's spec sheet lists both an M.2 drive and a 2.5-inch drive without noting that the 2.5-inch bay exists only with the 56 Wh battery.
  • Memory speed figures differ between Dell (2400 MT/s maximum) and some seller listings (3200 MT/s modules). The effective speed is 2400 MT/s.
  • Dell's configurations stop at 1 TB per drive; larger drives are widely reported to work but are unvalidated.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Dell XPS 15 9560 take?

32 GB total (2 x 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM) is the validated maximum. Both slots are user-accessible and no memory is soldered. A 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) configuration is not officially supported by Dell.

Does the XPS 15 9560 support 3200 MHz RAM?

Faster modules such as DDR4-2666 or DDR4-3200 will install and run, but the CPU memory controller downclocks them to 2400 MT/s. That is the fastest native speed. Sellers list 3200 MT/s modules as compatible because they work - they just don't run at their rated speed. Buy 2400 MT/s instead.

Does the XPS 15 9560 support NVMe SSDs?

Yes. The M.2 2280 slot supports PCIe Gen3 x4 NVMe SSDs and also accepts M.2 SATA SSDs. Gen4 and Gen5 drives fit but run at Gen3 speeds.

Can I add a second hard drive or 2.5-inch SSD?

Only if your machine has the 56 Wh battery. Those models include a 2.5-inch SATA III bay for drives up to 7 mm thick. The 97 Wh battery models give up that bay and are M.2-only, with no caddy or cable fitted.

Can I upgrade the CPU in the XPS 15 9560?

No. The processor is soldered to the motherboard and there is no socket. Factory options were 7th Gen Core i3-7100H, i5-7300HQ and i7-7700HQ, and the BIOS does not support 8th-generation or newer chips.

What is the largest SSD the XPS 15 9560 supports?

Dell's official configurations topped out at 1 TB per drive. Larger drives (2 TB or more in the M.2 slot, 2 to 4 TB in the 2.5-inch bay) generally work in practice but are not officially validated.

Official documents and references

This guide was written with AI assistance from the compatibility data PartsPrices verified against the manufacturer's documents. Always check your exact model and the owner's manual before buying or opening your computer.