Max speed of memory

[AKALIS]

Hi all,

I would like to know what the maximum speed is that my baseboard supports for my RAM memory chips.

It now holds 2 * 2Gb 800 Mhz, but I want to upgrade to 2 * 4Gb and a higher speed. What is my max?

(I couldn't find this info anywhere on the web. Not even on the HP product support site)

Thanks!

Aart

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You raise an interesting question...

There are no offical specs for your model so I had to find them from another website.

http://ark.intel.com/products/37255/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-T6600-2M-Cache-2_20-GHz-800-MHz-FSB

This site states that your notebook has a T6600 processor and runs on DDR3 memory.

If you know for a fact that your notebook has DDR3 memory, the fastest the motherboard in your PC can run the memory at is 1066 MHz.

However, the T6600 can only run the memory at 800 MHz, so even if you installed PC3-8500 memory in your notebook, it would only run at 800 MHz.

I have zipped up and attached a free utility below, that will give you all kinds of info about your notebook's hardware including the type of memory installed (DDR2/DDR3).

[AKALIS]

Thanks for your reply!

Everything you say is correct! I would never have thought of looking at the intel website for the exact specs.

I also used the tool you included:

The actual memory speed is only 399 Mhz. Can I adjust any settings to start using the full potential of the chips?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

What you see is normal.

The reports show the memory running at 1/2 of the Dual Data Rate (DDR) speed.

So, 800 MHz memory reports at 400 MHz, 1333 MHz Memory reports at 667 MHz, etc.

Multiply the report by 2 for any memory you test.

[AKALIS]

Thanks Paul!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.