help looking for the right kind of ram

bobkn said:

Is this your PC's motherboard?

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z Product Specifications and Configurable Options HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z CTO Desktop PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

If so, it takes PC3-10800 (DDR3 1333) RAM, up to 16GB (4 X 4 GB).

There may not be much point in buying faster RAM, unless there are BIOS settings that permit you to use the higher frequency. (It may run at 1333 by default.)

Crucial's listing for the PC:

Computer memory upgrades for HP - Compaq Pavilion Elite HPE-300z CTO Desktop/PC from Crucial.com

I might prefer Corsair or one of the other makers instead, but if you want to play it safe, Crucial guarantees compatibility. I'm running Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1866 in my own system, but the motherboard is Asus. I don't know whether an HP mobo has a full range of settings available.

so hp says i can only use 10800, is that the same as 1333? also, why does crucial say that my computer accepts 12800 also? do you know why it might be saying that? or which one i should trust? cuz i curtainly dont trust hp.

PC3-10666 = DDR3-1333. PC3-12800 = ddr3-1600. (Ratio of 8:1.)

Ram will usually run at lower frequencies. In fact, it defaults to DDR3-1333 on my Asus motherboard. It takes custom BIOS settings to get to its rated 1866.

bobkn said:

PC3-10666 = DDR3-1333. PC3-12800 = ddr3-1600. (Ratio of 8:1.)

Ram will usually run at lower frequencies. In fact, it defaults to DDR3-1333 on my Asus motherboard. It takes custom BIOS settings to get to its rated 1866.

ive asked this question elseware, but, in my case, could i use a 12800 dimm in a 10800 socket, meaning, would my computer step it down, because eventualy i do plan on upgrading my mobo, and i dont want to be stuck buying new ram AGAIN because of technicalitys and misunderstandings

Run PC3-12800 at PC3-10666? Probably.

If you're looking for certainty, but from a manufacturer that guarantees compatibility with your motherboard, if you can find one. (Crucial is good that way, but their prices may not be the best.)

Is it absolutely certain that the new RAM will work reliably at its rated frequency in some future motherboard? Of course not.

bobkn said:

Run PC3-12800 at PC3-10666? Probably.

If you're looking for certainty, but from a manufacturer that guarantees compatibility with your motherboard, if you can find one. (Crucial is good that way, but their prices may not be the best.)

Is it absolutely certain that the new RAM will work reliably at its rated frequency in some future motherboard? Of course not.

agreed however on the other hand, id like to raise a point, do i trust crucial, or my manufacturer, crucial says my mobo supports up to 16gb of all types of 1333 and 1600 ram, but hp says my mobo supports only upto 12 gb of pc3-10800 ram? which do i trust... like always, i hate hp, their experts are not experts and i dont trust them, but in this case, should i? and i rais again, with these new circumstances in place, do you still think my bios would know to step down the frequency?

bobkn said:

Run PC3-12800 at PC3-10666? Probably.

If you're looking for certainty, but from a manufacturer that guarantees compatibility with your motherboard, if you can find one. (Crucial is good that way, but their prices may not be the best.)

Is it absolutely certain that the new RAM will work reliably at its rated frequency in some future motherboard? Of course not.

i found somthing else kindof interesting, hp says my mobo can only support 12 gb of 10800 ram, heres 3 other sources that say otherwise, do u kno who i should trust at this point?

RAM Upgrade - HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z CTO Computer RAM Memory
Computer memory upgrades for HP - Compaq Pavilion Elite HPE-300z CTO Desktop/PC from Crucial.com
Memory Upgrade HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z Computer Pavilion Elite Upgrade HP Memory RAM

all three of these sources say my mobo would handle 16gb of ram

Here's an HP source that lists 16GB:

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z Product Specifications and Configurable Options HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z CTO Desktop PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

bobkn said:

Here's an HP source that lists 16GB:

HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z Product Specifications and Configurable Options HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z CTO Desktop PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

ty so much for the conformation. i am only left now with the question weather it is safe for the ram... and my mobo... to use 12800 instead of 10600, i know it wouldnt go faster, but would it go as fast as 1333, or would it even work at all?

In general, PC3-12800 will work normally as PC3-10666.

I'm reluctant to state that *any* particular RAM will work in your motherboard, whether it's sold as PC3-10666 or faster. It *should* work. It would be wisest to buy the new RAM from someone with liberal return policies, just in case.

bobkn said:

In general, PC3-12800 will work normally as PC3-10666.

I'm reluctant to state that *any* particular RAM will work in your motherboard, whether it's sold as PC3-10666 or faster. It *should* work. It would be wisest to buy the new RAM from someone with liberal return policies, just in case.

i do plan on buying from new egg, so i can return, but must pay a fee, thank you so much for the help.