Dell XPS 15 9570 upgrade guide: RAM, storage and CPU

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

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

RAM: two slots, 32 GB the validated ceiling

The XPS 15 9570 has two 260-pin DDR4 SO-DIMM slots, both socketed and removable, with nothing soldered to the board. The spec is DDR4, non-ECC, unbuffered, 1.2 V, rated at 2666 MT/s. Dell documents 16 GB per module and 32 GB total (2 x 16 GB) as the supported maximum. Some models ship with a single stick, which leaves performance on the table: a matched pair runs in dual-channel mode, and that extra bandwidth matters for the GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, which shares system memory.

Buying tips

• Buy DDR4 260-pin SO-DIMMs, non-ECC and unbuffered, 1.2 V.
• 2666 MT/s is the rated speed. 3200 MT/s modules are fine but will clock down to 2666, so don't pay extra for speed you can't use.
• Buy two matched sticks if you're starting fresh, to get dual-channel.
• There's no XMP support in the BIOS, so RAM runs at its standard JEDEC speed only.
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Storage: one M.2 slot plus a 2.5-inch bay (maybe)

There's one M.2 2280 slot (22 x 80 mm) that takes either an M.2 SATA drive or a PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe drive. Newer PCIe Gen 4 and Gen 5 drives will physically work but run at Gen 3 speeds, so there's little point paying for them. The second M.2 slot inside the case is the WiFi/Bluetooth card — it can't be used for storage. Alongside the M.2 slot there's a 2.5-inch SATA Gen 3 bay for a hard drive or 2.5-inch SSD, but only 7 mm thick drives fit, and the drive connects through a SATA interposer cable rather than plugging straight into the board. Crucially, the 2.5-inch bay only exists on models built with the smaller 56 Wh battery; on configurations with the larger 97 Wh battery the bay is removed and the space is taken by the battery. If you're buying used and want dual drives, check the actual machine before assuming the bay is there.

Buying tips

• For the M.2 slot, a 2280 NVMe drive (PCIe Gen 3 x4) is the fastest option; M.2 SATA also works — check the drive's interface before buying.
• Dell documents 2 TB as the maximum for each bay. 4 TB drives are listed by some makers but aren't validated; they may not be recognised in every setup.
• For the 2.5-inch bay, stick to 7 mm drives and make sure you have the SATA interposer cable.
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How to upgrade

Before you start

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• steps

Steps

1. Back up your data
   Before opening anything, back up anything you care about. Cloning your old drive to the new one ahead of time is the easiest path.
2. Power off and unplug
   Shut the laptop down fully (not sleep), unplug the charger, and remove any cables or cards.
3. Ground yourself
   Static kills components. Work on a hard, non-static surface, and touch something grounded before you handle the RAM or drives.
4. Open the case
   Remove the bottom cover to reach the memory and drive bays. Dell's Service Manual walks through removing and reinstalling the memory modules and drives step by step — use it for the exact screw locations and cover procedure for your unit.
5. Install the part
   For RAM: release the securing clips, lift the old module out, and insert the new one at an angle until it clicks into place, then press it down. For drives: fit the M.2 2280 in its slot (or a 7 mm 2.5-inch drive with the SATA interposer cable, if your model has the bay).
6. Close up and power on
   Refit the bottom cover, plug the charger back in, and boot.
7. Check the BIOS and system
   Enter the BIOS/firmware setup and confirm the new memory total or drive is detected. Then check the system information in your operating system to make sure the full amount appears.

Good to know

• Kingston's page lists the chipset as CM236 while Dell lists CM246.
• Community reports of 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) are common but unverified.
• The 2.5-inch bay is not mentioned in Dell's spec PDF and depends on the battery configuration.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Dell XPS 15 9570 take?

Dell documents up to 16 GB per module, 32 GB total (2 x 16 GB) in its two SO-DIMM slots. Community reports of 2 x 32 GB working exist, but that's unofficial and unverified in the documentation — treat 32 GB as the safe maximum.

Does the XPS 15 9570 support 3200 MHz RAM?

You can install DDR4-3200 modules, but the laptop will run them at 2666 MT/s, which is its rated speed. There's no XMP support in the BIOS, so you can't force higher speeds.

Can I add a second SSD?

Only one M.2 storage slot exists — the other M.2 slot is the WiFi/Bluetooth card. The second drive option is the 2.5-inch SATA bay, which is present only on models with the 56 Wh battery and needs the SATA interposer cable.

Does the XPS 15 9570 support NVMe drives?

Yes. The M.2 2280 slot supports PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe or M.2 SATA drives. PCIe Gen 4/5 drives fit but run at Gen 3 speed.

What is the maximum SSD size for the XPS 15 9570?

Dell documents up to 2 TB per bay. Some makers list 4 TB drives as compatible, but that exceeds Dell's validated maximum and isn't guaranteed to be recognised.

Can I upgrade the CPU in the XPS 15 9570?

No. The processor is soldered to the motherboard, and the BIOS only supports the three Coffee Lake-H chips it shipped with (i5-8300H, i7-8750H, i9-8950HK). There is no CPU upgrade path.

Official documents and references

• PDF Dell XPS 15 9570 Setup and Specifications (PDF)
  Official specs: memory, storage, processor and chipset.
• Dell support: memory specifications
  Slot count, module type and supported capacity.
• Dell support: ports and connectors
  Confirms the internal M.2 slots and what they're used for.
• PDF Dell XPS 15 9570 Service Manual (PDF, mirrored)
  Disassembly and memory/drive removal procedures.
• Dell Service Manual: removing the memory modules
  Step-by-step memory replacement.
• Kingston compatibility page: XPS 15 (9570)
  Validated module and drive listings, including the note that faster RAM clocks down.
• XPS 15 9570 review and teardown
  Teardown details on the 2.5-inch bay and interposer cable, plus thermal findings.