Windows 7: I ordered incompatible RAM! Anything I can do now?

Memory
Newegg.com - Kingston HyperX 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model KHX1600C9D3K3/6GX
-Triple channel kit
-1.65Volts
-DDR 1600

Motherboard
Newegg.com - MSI P67A-G45 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Okay, the RAM I ordered is (semi) compatible with the motherboard I also ordedered. What I was wondering was, is there
somehow I can underclock ther RAM speed? That way the RAM will not be running at OC speed. Also, can I decrease the
voltage on the RAM to match what my MOBO is rated for (1.5V)? One more thing, if all of the aforementioned is possible,
could I just run two sticks instead of the three? That way I can use it in dual channel mode @ 4GB's, which my MOBO
supports. Otherwise, I'll just have to wait until I receive the order, wait for an RMA, pay for S&H, send it back, pay
for the restocking fee, and then wait for a new set of memory to be sent to me. There's gotta be a way to accomplish this
without sending it back.



Thanks,
Mike

Hello michaelking. Welcome to the forum.

My advice is to sent it back RMA. If it is early enough you may be able to do so before it ships.

The RAM speed is not that important. It will run at a lower speed just fine.

But the voltage will give you problems. Running 1.65v RAM at 1.5v will likely result in RAM errors. Running it at 1.65v can damage the processor.

Get the correct RAM.

This data sheet seems to say that they CAN operate at 1.65volts, but....
" T h e S PDs a r e p r o g r amme d
t o J EDEC s t a n d a r d l a t e n c y DDR3 - 1 3 3 3 t imi n g o f 9 - 9 - 9 a t 1 . 5 V ."
http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/K...C9D3K3_6GX.pdf

Hello Michael, have a look at MSI Global ? Mainboard - P67A-G45 (B3) on the Memory module. It is the QVL (Qualified vendor list) for ram for your board. The Kingston you linked to is on the list.
When you try to do the initial boot got to your BIOS first and set your RAM settings to manual and then set Frequency, timing, and volts to the stockk setting listed on your RAM modules. It may be a good idea to install only one stick at first, then add another later when your system is up and running ok.

Thanks for posting the data sheet.
It looks like it runs JEDEC default at 1.5v. I don't know why Newegg lists it as 1.65v.

So you could use the RAM.
If you install just 2 sticks the system will use the RAM in dual channel mode.
If you install all 3 sticks it will run, but in single channel mode.

Does this matter? Depends on what you are doing. If you are running programs that can benefit from loading into a lot of RAM addresses then more RAM will be beneficial. If you are running programs that do a lot of reads and writes then you will see the benefit with dual channel mode. Frankly, the average computer user would probably not notice a difference either way.

You can experiment and learn.
Or just RMA and get what you need. Your choice.

Hi. Thanks for you time, and no problem. I'm actually a little relieved now. They should actually advertise this on the website, but they don't. Strange. Do you think I'll be okay using 4GB's of RAM for gaming?

ye 4gb is like the minuim imo when i game i use like 2-2.5gb of ram (sometimes 3gbs depends what i'm running) mainly like 1.5 for windows when idle and i got 4gb of ram ,more wouldn't hurt though. I would say return those incompatible ram sticks and get ram sticks that are compatible with your motherboard that have the same amount of memory like the ones you sent back but work with your pc. But ye you should be ok with 4gbs of ram, will only go real up if your running like other apps like wmp,xfire,steam,,antivirus at the same time like i do and will be useing around 2-2.5gbs of ram when gaming and around 1.4-1.7gbs of ram when not gaming i got mine to go to 1.4 instead of 1.7 messing around with the prefetch and superfetch settings in the registry to only cache the boot files to lower my ram usage but to answer your question you will be fine with 4gbs of ram just dont get suprised when you game that your ram usage is above 2gbs or close to 3gbs of ram usage

Yes 4GB of RAM should work fine since I think most of the graphics intensive apps will use your GPU and some CPU more so than RAM.

See posts 3,4, and 5, RAM is compatible.

oh ok because i read the first post talking about buying the wrong ram then i directly went to typing and posting my message :P i see now,i missed it