RAM Upgrade: Compatibility Check

[ShadowGhost]

Hi All,

I have a HP Pavilion Notebook - 15-p204tx with a 4GB  DDR3L 1600MHz RAM. I want to upgrade it to a 16GB config for playing games. The processor is 5th Gen Core i5.

I am planning to upgrade the RAM to 2x8GB Kingston Technology HyperX Impact Black 8GB 2133MHz DDR3L 1.35V Laptop Memory (HX321LS11IB2/8)

My understanding is that the laptop and the board would support 16GB RAM but I am not sure about the new frequency (2133MHz).

Any guidance on this would be extremely helpful.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I would stick with the 1600 spec.  I don't know if the 2133 memory will downclock to 1600 Mhz, and your notebook is not going to run the memory any faster than 1600 Mhz.

But yes, your notebook will take 2 x 8 GB of memory.

[ShadowGhost]

Hey Paul,

Thanks for your response. Is there any way to know if the laptop would support the 2133MHz RAM? In other words, how do I know what is the maximum RAM frequency supported?

Regards

Bhargav

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The maximum frequency supported is 1600 MHz.

Unfortunately, I would not know if the memory will downclock 2 frequencies to 1600.

Normally memory will downclock one frequency.

The next highest frequency is 1866, then 2100. 

So 1866 MHz would downclock to 1600, and 2100 would downclock to 1866, but will it go from 2100 to 1600? 

That I do not know, and I would not take the risk.  It's not going to run faster than 1600 MHz if it works at all.