Question about DDR3 RAM

[dmoney1980]

I have a 6GB Mushkin triple channel DDR3 RAM kit, and I was wondering if I would be able to use it on a Z68 mobo? I understand that the stock voltage of 1.65v is high, so would it be possible to lower the speed (stock is 1333 @ 7-7-7-21) to something like 1333 @ 8-8-8-24 and lower the voltage to 1.5?

 

[Dylie]

Not totally positive on this, but Z68 boards need to have XMP memory and will only run in dual channel.

If Im not mistaken installing the triple channel kit would cause they memory to run in single channel which would reduce performance, it might run in dual channel if you pick up another 2GB stick. However, a dual channel 1600 mhz 8GB kit with tight timings and XMP is only $125, but a 1333 2GB stick of mushkin is only $20 so that may be the better option if you dont plan on ever needing 16GB and dont care that its not running at as high a speed.

Im pretty sure the effect of running non-XMP memory is that it will only be able to run at the lowest DDR3 speed but hell it might not work at all Im unclear on that. In the case that it runs at low speed you would probably get the 1333 you were wondering about

 

[dmoney1980]

I figured it's only dual channel, maybe just using 2 sticks at first might help, can always pick up a single 2GB stick on newegg.