Will DDR2-533MHz RAM run on a DDR2-800/667MHz motherboard?

[timclyma]

Hello.
Will DDR2-533MHz RAM run on a DDR2-800/667MHz motherboard?
Can the memory be overclocked to match the speed of the motherboard, so meeting it's requirements?
Thanks,
Tim

 

[myocardia]

Hi, welcome to anandtech. Motherboards don't have memory speed requirements, only CPU's do. As long as the CPU you're trying to use has either a 200 Mhz or a 266 Mhz (what Intel calls 800 Mhz and 1066 Mhz, in other words) bus speed, you won't need to overclock your RAM at all. What CPU are you considering buying?

 

[timclyma]

An Intel Core 2 Duo E6550.

 

[timclyma]

Finally, will DDR2-533MHz RAM run on a DDR2-800MHz motherboard (an ABIT IP35P)?
Thanks.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: timclyma

Originally posted by: myocardia
Finally, will DDR2-533MHz RAM run on a DDR2-800<MHz motherboard (an ABIT IP35P)?
Thanks.

Originally posted by: myocardia
Motherboards don't have memory speed requirements, only CPU's do. As long as the CPU you're trying to use has either a 200 Mhz or a 266 Mhz (what Intel calls 800 Mhz and 1066 Mhz, in other words) bus speed, you won't need to overclock your RAM at all.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: timclyma
An Intel Core 2 Duo E6550.

That processor won't run with PC4200 RAM, it requires at least PC5300. You may possibly be able to get your PC4200 to run @ PC5300 speeds, but it's not likely, because overclocking RAM requires considerably more skill than overclocking a CPU.

 

[timclyma]

OK, thanks for your advice.
Tim

 

[timclyma]

Hello.
Please would you tell me more myocardia as to why the RAM will not run on an E6550 CPU.
How do I tell whether RAM on sale is of the PC4200 or PC5300 type.
When looking at the Kingston website for RAM I couldn't see any reference to this characteristic.
Many thanks for your advice.
Regards,
Greenfinch

 

[timclyma]

Oh yes, which RAM will run on the E6550 CPU?

 

[450]

He mentioned above that you need PC5300/DDR2 667 as a minimum. High speeds such as PC6400/DDR2 800 would also work with your processor and motherboard.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: timclyma
An Intel Core 2 Duo E6550.

That processor won't run with PC4200 RAM, it requires at least PC5300. You may possibly be able to get your PC4200 to run @ PC5300 speeds, but it's not likely, because overclocking RAM requires considerably more skill than overclocking a CPU.

Wait... couldn't he just set a different memory divider in the BIOS for it work? :S

(If, I'm wrong ignore this post as this information he posted it correct).

 

[timclyma]

Hello.
How do I determine which memory will work with my CPU?
Thanks.

 

[timclyma]

How do I tell whether RAM on sale is of the PC4200 or PC5300 type.
Thanks.

 

[Quiksilver]

By reading...
DDR2-533 = PC2-4200
DDR2-667 = PC2-5300/PC2-5400

As far as your CPU goes, you need a minimum of DDR2-667 to run it. (We told you this twice already; so here's a third time.)