HP Compaq Elite 8300 SFF - does it support also 1.5V DDR3 modules?

[sven121]

Hi,

I have HP Compaq Elite 8300 SFF, SKU Number: QV996AV.

Base Board Information: Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard, Product Name: 3397 (info from dmidecode in linux).

The PC came with 2 DDR3 modules: HMT451U6AFR8A-PB which are DDR3L (low voltage 1.35V). Does anybody know whether it is strictly needed to use 1.35V modules only in this board? I have 2 additional 4GB modules which I could use there but they are 1.5V rated modules. So I am wondering whether it is just a coincidence HP used 1.35V in this motherboard or whether this motherboard is a low voltage DDR3 motherboard only.

Any feedback is appreciated.

[itsmyname]

@sven121 -- I see two possibilities:

1. 1.5 V sticks of RAM, placed in a 1.35 V slot may not work properly.

2. the motherboard will detect that you are using 1.5 V sticks of RAM, and will send 1.5 V to the RAM.

Test it. There seems to be no way that "under-voltage" will cause permanent problems to your motherboard.

[sven121]

Well, I was worrying in case the 1.5V DDR3 modules are "under-voltaged" they might work but they can be unreliable. I would like to avoid data corruption due to RAM issues. 

I already tested 2 1.5V modules along with the 2 1.35V modules inserted - it passed the HP RAM test in BIOS.

That's a pity HP does not provide detailed specification for this motherboard - it would be good to know whether the board accepts only 1.35v or also 1.5V.

[Prométhée]

hi

just see the doc here
but if you use different modules, they may be incompatible with each other and it will not work

however what you indicate seems contradictory, with the HP document?

HP Compaq Business PC Hardware Reference Guide - Elite 8300 Series Convertible Minitower Elite 8300 ...

The memory sockets on the system board can be populated with up to four industry-standard DIMMs.
These memory sockets are populated with at least one preinstalled DIMM. To achieve the maximum
memory support, you can populate the system board with up to 16-GB of memory configured in a
high-performing dual channel mode.
DDR3-SDRAM DIMMs
CAUTION: This product DOES NOT support DDR3 Ultra Low Voltage (DDR3U) memory. The
processor is not compatible with DDR3U memory and if you plug DDR3U memory into the system
board, it can cause the physical damage to the DIMM or invoke system malfunction.

For proper system operation, the DDR3-SDRAM DIMMs must be:
● industry-standard 240-pin
● unbuffered non-ECC PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 MHz-compliant
● 1.5 volt DDR3-SDRAM DIMMs
The DDR3-SDRAM DIMMs must also:
● support CAS latency 11 DDR3 1600 MHz (11-11-11 timing)
● contain the mandatory JEDEC SPD information
In addition, the computer supports:
● 512-Mbit, 1-Gbit, and 2-Gbit non-ECC memory technologies
● single-sided and double-sided DIMMs
● DIMMs constructed with x8 and x16 DDR devices; DIMMs constructed with x4 SDRAM are not
supported
NOTE: The system will not operate properly if you install unsupported DIMMs

the manual is approved with the reference given here QV996AV

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-compaq-elite-8300-small-form-factor-pc/5232852/model/5232853...

check other documents, and what is mentioned in the given one

[sven121]

Thanks much for the manual you posted here!

Well, then maybe I was wrong - I though the RAM modules installed in my 8300 SFF were the ones installed in the factory. I can't prove this as I got the PC as a second hand one. So either the DDR3L 1.35V modules came from the factory and they just work well in this 1.5V socket (wikipedia says "Memory specified to DDR3L and DDR3U specifications is compatible with the original DDR3 standard, and can run at either the lower voltage or at 1.50 V") or the previous owner had replaced the original DDR3 module(s) with these DDR3L modules.

So , thanks much for the hints. I will install the DDR3 modules along the current DDR3L ones and test the system. Hopefully it will work fine.

[itsmyname]

@sven121 -- Hopefully it will work fine.

Be sure to run the built-in RAM-tester, before you allow the computer to boot into Windows.

If it passes that test, then Windows should work correctly.