Windows 7 - will my mobo step down higher ram frequencys?

from what i understan, my mobo requiers pc3-10800 ram, but i want to upgrade to 16gb of ram, the only good options i can find for myself are pc3-12800. i want to know if my computer would be able to step down the new ram from 1600 to 1333 as needed, or do i really need to go searching for my new favorite 1333 ram?

First off, in order to even begin to answer we need to look at the specs on your mobo... What manufacturer, and what model is it???

Usually a faster RAM has no problem running slower... its when people but slower RAM and try to speed it up that many issues occur.

its stock from an HPe300z

Heres what HP has to say: HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300 Desktop PC series*-* HP Pavilion Elite HPE-300z Product Specifications and Configurable Options - c02250421 - HP Business Support Center

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

Hope this helps...

Also, check newegg.com...

hp says i can only use up to 12 gb of 10600 but other people have told me that it would be able to run 16 gigs of 10800, the crucial test says the board would work with a 10600, 10800, 12800 or anything else that equates to a frequency of 1600 or 1333, so this leads me to ask again, can my mobo do 16gb of 12800, or am i SOL? i hope it doesn't come acrost that im asking others to do the work for me, however, the recourses im being given are contradicting each other in almost every case thus far. help is appreciated.

your motherboard specs from the manufacturer are usually who you believe.

If HP says only 12 gig then only 12 gig it is.

THEY ALSO LIST THE TYPES, of ram you can use for that motherboard, you can mix and match ram speeds( only what the board can handle), the slowest speed of RAM on board will be what all of the ram will run at if you mix, (providing you do not tweak anything).

I believe this is correct.

i found new documentation... its so confusing... the say can have up to 12gigs but under specs says supports up to 16 gigs. i think the documentation some one gave me was the sales documentation. as for my question about steping down the frequency... i dont plan on mixing different kinds of ram... it would all be 12800. but hp says my mobo only supports 10666 ram. im wondering, can my mobo still use 12800 ram at 10666 speed? or would it just not work at all?

If the spec states ,best thing to do is go online to HP and verify the specs for ram.
Whatever is listed is the only type of ram you can use on that particular motherboard, deviating from the specs will cause problems.

that's why the specs are there.

regardless of whatever anyone else suggests.

if you have the ram already, plug it in...see what happens...
if not would suggest you stick to the manufactures specs

Are there 3 or 4 RAM slots on your mobo? If 3, then the 12 GB max makes sense... if 4 it must be 16GB max as Ive never seen a 3GB stick!

If HP specs state that the mobo will take 10600, 10800, 12800... then it will take PC12800 sticks! I have another suggestion and that is to call Crucial and ask them.

thank you verry much for the help, thats prety much what i was looking to hear, i have 4 ram slots, and i will try to call crucial. did you find documentation from hp that says my mobo supports those, or was it somthing crucial sayd. cuz thats the most confusing part. i look up my pc on 3 diferent websites and they all give me different answers as to the frequency. crucial is the only one that says i support 10600-12800