HP Pavilion dv7-6b76eo RAM upgrade

[nematsvehclav]

I created a real nice thread here and received some great help from @Paul_Tikkanen so if he or someone else could assist me, it'd be great. Dunno why I cannot post a reply in that thread any more. They either closed the thread or I'm blind. Anyway, I have the HP Pavilion dv7-6b76eo and am planning a RAM upgrade. Currently I have 2x4gb samsung PC3-10600 / DDR3-1333.

1. I'm thinking to go for ddr4, but what prevents me is some threads I've read saying ddr4 won't even physically fit in a ddr3 slot (which is my current one) as well as this piece of info from Wikipedia:

DDR4 SO-DIMMs have 260 pins (rather than DDR3's 204 pins), which are also spaced closer (0.5 rather than 0.6 mm), and are 2.0 mm wider (69.6 versus 67.6 mm), but remain the same 30 mm in height.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR4_SDRAM

• 204-pin SO-DIMMs (DDR3) have a single notch closer to the center than on 200-pin SO-DIMMs.
• 260-pin SO-DIMMs (DDR4), 69.6 mm (2.74 inches) wide and 30 mm (1.2 inches) high, making them 2 mm (0.079 inches) wider than DDR3 SO-DIMMs, with a single notch after pin 144.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SO-DIMM

Does it mean that a ddr4 SODIMM RAM chip wouldn't even physically fit into my notebook's slot?

2. Well, ok ... if I have to make my peace with it and stay with DDR3 can I AT LEAST install the fastest DDR3 i.e. PC3-17000 / DDR3-2133  because my current one PC3-10600 / DDR3-1333 is sorta slow at times?

Thanks in advance and would really appreciate an answer to question 1 and 2 above! 🙂

[REO51ST]

@nematsvehclav

What processor do you have installed???

REO

[nematsvehclav]

Sorry ... Intel Core i7-2670 QM , not the AMD. And the 3rd and 4th question now are:

3. What's the difference between ddr3, ddr3L, ddr3U?

4. What's the difference between PC3-17000 and PC3-17066 and which one to choose eventually?

[REO51ST]

@nematsvehclav

Your processor is rated at DDR3 1066 and 1333.

http://ark.intel.com/products/53469/Intel-Core-i7-2670QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_10-GHz

DDR3 is 1.5 volts.

DDR3L is 1.35 volts.

DDR3U is 1.25 volts.

With the Intel processor it supports up to 16384 GB of system RAM.

Your manual here.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03043778

REO

[nematsvehclav]

Thank you very much for the support!

1. Well ok ... it says 1066 / 1333 but I think people are still putting more than what the specs say and it still works. Isn't there a chance it would work or do I just have to buy it and see for myself. If you have a certain answer to that question, then you'll save me some time for purchasing (and eventually returning) some 2133 / PC3-17000 RAM. Is it guaranteed it won't work for some certain reason or is there a chance it could work?

2. What's the difference then between

PC3-17000 and PC3-17066

and

PC3-10600 and  PC3-10666

voltage again?

3. If the difference in question 2. is voltage (similarly to ddr3, ddr3U, and ddr3L) does that mean that various RAM types (acc. to voltage) CANNOT be used interchangably?

[nematsvehclav]

Furthermore, why do you and the manual for my notebook say max 16gb ram when the link you supplied - http://ark.intel.com/products/53469/Intel-Core-i7-2670QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_10-GHz says

Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type) 32 GB

[REO51ST]

@nematsvehclav

Lets take this first.

1. People may put faster memory in there system but memory speed is not governed solely by the speed of the memory.

It is also governed by the speed of the CPU's memory bus speed.

Your processor's Max Bandwidth.

Max Memory Bandwidth

21.3 GB/s

That is what DDR3-1333 is rated at.

You may be able to put faster memory in and it works but it will be at the Max Bandwidth of the CPU.

2. The difference's between the memories is just the speed of the memory.

Low Voltage memory would be DDR3L, PC3L, DDR3U or PCLU.

3. "Interchangablity"  Some say yes some say no.

I would go by what is recommend for your laptop.

REO

[nematsvehclav]

Thanks! And LASTLY ... you and the manual for my notebook say max 16gb ram when the link you supplied - http://ark.intel.com/products/53469/Intel-Core-i7-2670QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_10-GHz says

Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type) 32 GB

What am I to make of this then? What's the real max?

[REO51ST]

@nematsvehclav

I have a Dell E6500 at home that is an i7 and I have 4 memory slots with a total of 32gb of memory.

Your processor can handle 32gb but the laptop can't.

I know it's a shame sorry.

REO

[nematsvehclav]

oh okay ... so its a limitation cos of the numbers of slots then ... i thought with my 2 slots I could just insert 2x16gb and have an overall of 32gb, no?