discussion Need a confirmation on motherboard memory support.

[Houten]

Hello I was just wondering on a list of supported frequency for RAMs if it states... say
1600 O.C./1300/1066. What does the OC tell you?

from what I found it states that inorder to run 1600 RAMs I would need to over clock my memory controler. and oen thinkg I do not understand is that will I still be able to fit a 1600 RAM on it but it will just be downclocked to 1300?

Thanks

 

[sswilson]

Yes it should run at stock speeds, but double check the stock volts for the memory against stock for the motherboard. It doesn't happen often, but there are a few sticks of "enthusiast" memory which wouldn't run on certain motherboards unless you first raised the mem voltages in bios (Ballistix come to mind).

As far as having to OC the memory controller goes.... it's a bit of a misnomer. It's typically a single multiplier in bios that needs to be raised to get the "OC" speeds. Manufacturers use the phrase "OC settings" to cover their butts because the platform specs don't go as high as 1600.

 

[Houten]

Ok.. so if I do us the 1600MHz it should run at that speed, I checked the manual, not sure where to check the motherboard's voltage.
I have a Asus P6X58D Premium. And I was looking at a G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit F3-12800CL8TU-6GBPI (pie series) which runs at 1.6v-1.65v.

And on another note: I was wondering what does the Qualified Vendor List (QVL) mean? is it a list of memory that have been tested and will work with the the board?
if so there was a slight model code difference between the above kit and on the list, I've checked on the web and it appears to just have a color difference. F3-12800CL8T-6GBPI

 

[Zero82z]

And on another note: I was wondering what does the Qualified Vendor List (QVL) mean? is it a list of memory that have been tested and will work with the the board?

Exactly.

if so there was a slight model code difference between the above kit and on the list, I've checked on the web and it appears to just have a color difference. F3-12800CL8T-6GBPI

A particular kit not being listed on the QVL doesn't mean it won't work, it just means it hasn't been tested by ASUS. You should be good to go.

 

[Eldonko]

Dont worry about compatibility lists. Those are just there so MB manus have an excuse if anyone has a problem with memory. 99% will be fine.

 

[Houten]

Ok thx for the input, will I have to do anything differently during Bios setup or using default is fine, I'm not sure how to use the XMP feature as well.