Laptop's RAM runs at 1333MHz instead of 1600MHz

[dvid123]

Hello.

I like to ask for help regarding my Laptop's RAM problem.

Since I bought this Laptop around June 28, 2016, until yesterday, I didn't even have any single bit of understanding about Hardware such as RAM. I learned about it after I tried benchmarking my Laptop for the first time using https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Software

This is the result of the benchmark: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/48865113

After finding out that the website was telling me that my RAM was underperforming, I thought my RAM was damaged or had an error. So I did a checkup using Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool and MemTest86. And yet, the two tests informed me that there are no errors in my two installed RAM.

Then I checked my Laptop's CPU information on many websites. Many of them listed the CPU supports 1600MHz.

1. https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-A-Series-A6-5200-Notebook-Processor.92895.0.html

2. http://cpuboss.com/cpu/AMD-A6-5200

3. https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Jaguar/AMD-A6-Series%20A6-5200.html

Then I checked my CPU's benchmarked Laptops in the previous website I mentioned.

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/SpeedTest/4574/AMD-A6-5200-APU-with-RadeonTM-HD-Graphics

Note: The two IDN-User is me. Just different OS and Graphics Driver.

During that time, I realized that something was wrong with my Laptop, even though everyone on the list was using the same CPU. Because all of the other people except me are running at 1600MHz. Even though some were running at 800MHz, I concluded that the benchmark misread their Laptops' RAM. So, instead of listing it as 1600MHz, the benchmark listed it with: DRAM Frequency multiplied by 2 = Memory Frequency. (800MHz x 2 = 1600MHz.)

I tried many things to make sure the benchmark didn't misread my RAM. My hopes were broken after Task Manager, CPU-Z, and CMD listed the speed as 1333MHz.

Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LSTB's Task Manager:

CPU-Z 1.98.0.x64:

Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LSTB's CMD:

My friend who was experienced in disassembling Laptops helped me try to install only the factory's original 2GB RAM in the slot. But it's still on 1333MHz. The same speed also appears when the 4GB RAM was the only RAM installed.

Laptop: HP 14-af115au

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (Changed back to Windows 7 after friend's suggestion of installing factory's original OS (Windows 10) doesn't work.)

CPU: AMD A6-5200 APU

GPU: Radeon™ HD 8400

Graphics Driver: Radeon™ Software Adrenalin 21.5.2

BIOS: F.24 Rev.A (Downloaded from HP's official Drivers website of this Laptop: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-14-notebook-pc-series/8499324/model/8960088)

Factory's original RAM: HMT425S6CFR6A-PB (SK Hynix 2GB DDR3L-1600)

Ram that I bought before 22 October 2020: HMT351S6EFR8A-PB (SK Hynix 4GB DDR3L-1600)

My apologies if there was a hard-to-understand or broken English. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Huffer]

Yes the memory is "supposed to" run at 800 x 2 = 1600 speed. I do not believe it would make any significant difference to the performance of the laptop. There are not going to be any BIOS setting you can use to make it faster. On a newer model I would say you could try using AMP which is the AMD version of XMP but AFAIK that is not a thing for you on that vintage of hardware. 

[dvid123]

Hello. I'm sorry for my very late reply.

So, are there no chances for my Laptop's RAM to run at 1600MHz? Even though there are many other Laptops with the same CPU running at 1600MHz RAM speed?
I always wondered what RAM speed my Laptop runs at before I bought and installed the 4GB one. Perhaps I did something during that 6GB RAM period. I read in other forums that the same RAM problem can be fixed by resetting the BIOS by reinstalling the CMOS Battery in the motherboard.
Also, while I mentioned BIOS, did upgrading the BIOS version perhaps effecting the RAM speed? I remember vaguely that the original BIOS version was either F.13 or F.15. And I upgraded it probably three times because I noticed that the HP driver website keeps providing the new BIOS versions even though it was not frequent. Which makes me think it was better for me to take it. Hence I upgraded it to 3 different, more recent versions. (F.24 is the latest I installed.)
I would try the CMOS Battery reset thing if it was a possible fix for my issue. Sorry again for the late reply, and thanks for taking your time to comment on my post. Any other responses or help will be appreciated. Thank You very much.

[Huffer]

Updating the BIOS has some very small chance of doing something positive. The CMOS battery reset thing is not going to work. I am not even sure your laptop has a CMOS battery. You can accomplish the same thing with a hard reset which means remove AC adapter and battery and hold down power button for 30 seconds. Still, I do not think a hard reset is going to magically speed up the memory. It might be a quirky problem with the specific memory you are using but if the original memory supplied by HP also runs at 1333 I don't think that theory holds much water. I think it may have something to do with your CPU being in the 5th gen series of AMD and not the 6th series as some other models in your product family use. I note that the lower end models with the budget processors run the memory at 1333 and yours is on the low end of the AMD A series processors. I would not worry much about this, frankly. 

[dvid123]

Hello. Thank you again for your response.

Perhaps it was all the Motherboard's fault. After looking through the complete list of benchmarked PC/Laptops with the same CPU & GPU as my Laptop, I figured out something:

Note:

1. Radeon™ HD 8400 GPU is paired/integrated with AMD A6-5200 APU CPU

2. Click/open "11,773 More >>" for the complete list of the benchmarked PC/Laptops.

https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/SpeedTest/11160/AMD-Radeon-HD-8400--R3

My Motherboard model is named: 8133 (CPU-Z) and HP 8133 (The benchmarking site)

When I used ctrl+f (text finder feature in my browser) in the complete list of benchmarked Laptops of the same CPU/GPU to search the Users who are using the same Motherboard model as my Laptop by typing "8133," I found 6 Users. Because two of the eight were me, I will disregard myself.

When I opened the benchmark results of those six Users using the HP 8133 Motherboard model, their RAM was 1333MHz, the same as mine.

However, the weird thing is, in the complete list of the benchmarked Devices of the same CPU & GPU, all seven of us HP 8133 Motherboard model users' RAM could outperform other Users' RAM, which is having their RAM listed as 1600MHz RAM speed.

My first rough guess is perhaps the HP 8133 Motherboard is wrongly functioning that Task Manager, CPU-Z, and CMD informed the wrong RAM speed. Or maybe the HP 8133 Motherboard model doesn't support 1600MHz at all?

Well, I shouldn't continue my uneducated & rough guessing more since my knowledge in Hardware is still tiny.

Honestly, I'm fine if it was the Motherboard model's fault for not supporting 1600MHz RAM speed since I couldn't do anything about it. But, if the first rough guessing turned out to be accurate, then I will be relieved.

Thank you again, Mr. Huffer, for taking your time to reply to my post. If, by chance, there is a person who opened my post and knew how to resolve my RAM issue, I'll await your answer. Thank you.