Does Sandy Bridge CPU support DDR3 1600MHz memory?

[TheDarkKnight]

When I look at the specifications on Intel's website for the Sandy Bridge CPUs none of them show support for memory speeds at 1600MHz. They show support for 1066/1333. But I have read elsewhere on the internet that the P67 chipset supports DDR3 1600MHz memory as the default memory speed. Can someone clear up some of this confusion for me? I don't understand the link between the CPU itself and the memory it uses. Does the CPU even have a say so in what memory speed it uses? Anyway, just wanna know if I can use DDR3 1600MHz memory chips with the new Sandy Bridge CPU. Or I guess I should I say that I want to use it with Sandy Bridge CPU "and" have it be used at 1600MHz speed. Not fall back to 1333/1066 memory speeds. Otherwise, I won't even think about buying 1600MHz memory. Thanks.

 

[Castiel]

Yes you can use DDR3 1600, 1866, 2133

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Yes you can use DDR3 1600, 1866, 2133

Thanks for you reply. You replied so fast. I was editing my message alot. You said I can "use" 1600MHz memory with Sandy Bridge but will the CPU use it "AT THAT SPEED"?

Why does Intels Sandy Bridge specifications on their website not show the 1600MHz speed when talking about the supported memory speeds?

Again, I don't want to pay a premium for 1600MHz memory just to have it fall back to slower speeds.

 

[Accord99]

Intel's specifications don't include DDR3-1600 because it's not an official specification from JEDEC but Sandy Bridge does support it:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/20377/2

In synthetic benchmarks, it's very measurable but in most applications, the benefit is very small.

 

[Castiel]

Thanks for you reply. You replied so fast. I was editing my message alot. You said I can "use" 1600MHz memory with Sandy Bridge but will the CPU use it "AT THAT SPEED"?

Why does Intels Sandy Bridge specifications on their website not show the 1600MHz speed when talking about the supported memory speeds?

Again, I don't want to pay a premium for 1600MHz memory just to have it fall back to slower speeds.

yes it uses it at 1600.

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Wheres the 1600 MHZ speed? Did you post the right image?

Edit: Okay I see. The FSBRAM number is a ratio Im guessing. Still would be nice to see the actual 1600MHz number posted but I guess this is proof enough.

Edit 2: Honestly, I still don't get this image. Can somebody do the math on it for me. Im not an overclocker or any of that good stuff. Thanks.

 

[Castiel]

Wheres the 1600 MHZ speed? Did you post the right image?

It runs at 2X's that speed

 

[BD231]

NM question answered.

 

[Accord99]

Edit 2: Honestly, I still don't get this image. Can somebody do the math on it for me. Im not an overclocker or any of that good stuff. Thanks.

CPU-Z is showing the base clock of the memory; because of the Double Data Rate nature of the memory it's really running at DDR3-2091.

 

[Dadofamunky]

"AT THAT SPEED?" Yep. And more. I bumped mine up a speed grade, loosened the timings a bit and all is bliss.