I have a RAM question, would be nice for some help.

[silkmudah]

Ok, so for starters I have a Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2P motherboard. Now my owners manual that came with the motherboard states that it can support 2 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 8GB of system memory. Also support for DDR3 1333+ (O.C.)/1066/80 MHz memory modules, while the website says it can support up to 2 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory and also the DDR3 1333+ support.

Now my actual question is, is what does it mean by the 1333+ support? Can I run high end gaming memory sticks at higher than 1333, and if so how would I go about doing that? Also, how can I tell if I have the latest BIOS that means I can support the 16GB of memory if that's true now with my motherboard.

Could you maybe give me some good memory options that would be great for a gaming experience? I'm slowly building up this PC.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hiyya silk no mate 1333MHz is the highest speed that board will support you can find the recommended RAM by looking at the list here http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_ga-78lmt-s2p.pdf

If you want some good advice on RAM the G Skill forum is a good spot to go to Welcome to the G.SKILL TECH FORUM Tradesman is real helpful.

When you buy RAM too remember to buy it in pairs or quad sets as they are more likely to be evenly matched .

 

[TVeblen]

Your BIOS version number will usually show on the screen as the BIOS starts up (unless you have the BIOS screens hidden).

Otherwise you go into the BIOS settings and look at "System Information", usually on the MAIN tab.

If I were betting I would bet the printed manual is wrong (typo). Happens too often.

 

[bobkn]

This is what Crucial thinks your motherboard will handle:

Computer memory upgrades for Giga-Byte GA-78LMT-S2P Motherboard from Crucial.com

(Includes 2X8GB, 16GB total.) Crucial lists speed through DDR3-1866, although it's possible that the RAM won't actually be used at that frequency. (I don't know about AMD boards, but on the Intel boards I've used all RAM above DDR3-1333 runs at 1333 by default. BIOS settings must be changed to use XMP profiles, or the frequency set manually, to get higher frequency operation.)

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Actually Bob I had that board in a prebuilt and I know it will not run at more than 1333. The Sandy Bridge I did I have got with a Giga H67 in I have 4x4GB of 1600RAM in and it will not run at more than 1333.

The best place I reckon for matching RAM up is that G Skill forum the fellow there is not out for sales and will just advise on specs as they stand ie what board CPU you have and max RAM you want to or could run irrespective of the brand. I think people get the wrong idea when they see it is a G Skill forum as it really is just straight advice on RAM.

 

[silkmudah]

Well can anyone give me a good idea of some RAM? I just need the 8gb but would like a higher end gaming ram than what I have, as Crucial.com states I can use : DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-12800, DDR3 PC3-14900, DDR3 (non-ECC) RAM. Can you point me in the direction of a good Newegg.com setup for 8gb worth or sticks? I can handle a maximum of 2 stick so they would have to be 4gb a piece.

 

[silkmudah]

This is kinda what I was looking at earlier, Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S00 - Newegg.com any thoughts?

 

[silkmudah]

or if I really felt like indulging myself? Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT8G3D1339DS1S00 - Newegg.com

 

[bobkn]

Actually Bob I had that board in a prebuilt and I know it will not run at more than 1333. The Sandy Bridge I did I have got with a Giga H67 in I have 4x4GB of 1600RAM in and it will not run at more than 1333.

I don't own the board. The QVL (qualified vendors list) states that RAM faster than DDR3-1600 will be downclocked to that frequency. The manual for the motherboards also lists memory multipliers through 8X, which (I suppose) means that the RAM can be set up to 800 MHz (1600 MHz equivalent, for DDR).

The manual also mentions that the CPU has to support this. The FX-6100 is supposed to support up through DDR3-1866, so the risk in getting DDR3-1600 (PC 12800) is small. At worst, you'd be stuck at 1333. There is basically no cost premium for DDR3-1600.

 

[Solarstarshines]

If you are buying ram for a AMD machine the FX processor supports 1866 but overclocking is a whole different animal some boards allow up to 2133mhz OC on ram so depends on what your board allows

but higher ram will be more problematic to overclock if I were you get some solid 1866 downclock it to 1600mhz in the bios overclock the FSB and stable the ram to 1866-1900 MHz off a overclock

that is how you perform a good oc with higher ram with a FX chip the higher the FSB the faster it runs
I run 1600mhz @1744mhz I can go all the way to 1800 but honestly there is no big difference only in benches

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Actually Bob I had that board in a prebuilt and I know it will not run at more than 1333. The Sandy Bridge I did I have got with a Giga H67 in I have 4x4GB of 1600RAM in and it will not run at more than 1333.

I don't own the board. The QVL (qualified vendors list) states that RAM faster than DDR3-1600 will be downclocked to that frequency. The manual for the motherboards also lists memory multipliers through 8X, which (I suppose) means that the RAM can be set up to 800 MHz (1600 MHz equivalent, for DDR).

The manual also mentions that the CPU has to support this. The FX-6100 is supposed to support up through DDR3-1866, so the risk in getting DDR3-1600 (PC 12800) is small. At worst, you'd be stuck at 1333. There is basically no cost premium for DDR3-1600.

Yep mate I know my Sandy Bridge board with 16GB of 1600 in defaults to 1333 like that anyway for what it is worth on my Ivy it really doesn't seem to make much difference using 1333 (default) to 1866 which I set it at I suppose it really comes down to what the machine is being use for eh?