Mismatching memory speeds for motherboard

spl00g · 07-02-2009, 05:27 PM

I am curious what would happen if you had say a motherboard that supported only 1600 ddr3 ram and without paying close attention you ordered 1800 ddr3 ram.

When starting up the system it runs fine and recognizes the ram at 1066....but when trying to install vista or 7 freezes every time before it even gets started installing more less splash screen bam frozen. Does this sound like a ram problem? I am thinking I just need to send the ram back and get the correct speed, but I want to make sure it is the ram and nothing else because my 30 days is going fast.

**johnb35** · 07-02-2009, 07:47 PM

You might want to check the ram specs to see if it automatically downclocks itself. If not then your best bet is to return them and get the recommended memory.

spl00g · 07-02-2009, 08:32 PM

it did automatically downclock its self to 1066, when setting the timings and speed back to 1333 or 1600 it always returns to the downclocked 1066.

I guess what I would like to know is if there is a way to get this ram to run stable at 1600 or if it isn't possible because I will have to pay about 30 bucks more to get the lower speed 1600 memory. I have tried adjusting everything I can think of in the bios to no avail.

time to send it back?

Springy182 · 07-05-2009, 06:50 PM

Run Memtest, make sure the timings arent too low, try different slots

Random freezing could be anything, something could be not plugged in right, something could be overheating, bad power supply, any component could cause it

07-02-2009, 05:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
spl00g Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 28	Mismatching memory speeds for motherboard I am curious what would happen if you had say a motherboard that supported only 1600 ddr3 ram and without paying close attention you ordered 1800 ddr3 ram. When starting up the system it runs fine and recognizes the ram at 1066....but when trying to install vista or 7 freezes every time before it even gets started installing more less splash screen bam frozen. Does this sound like a ram problem? I am thinking I just need to send the ram back and get the correct speed, but I want to make sure it is the ram and nothing else because my 30 days is going fast.

07-02-2009, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnb35 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Near Joliet Illinois Age: 39 Posts: 3,619	You might want to check the ram specs to see if it automatically downclocks itself. If not then your best bet is to return them and get the recommended memory. __________________ Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R CPU - E8400 Memory - 2GB Corsair XMS2 (2x 1gb) Graphics - ATI HD3870 Hard Drives - 250GB Seagate DVD Drive - Lite-On DVD Burner - Lite-On Power Supply - Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W 22" Acer widescreen AL2216WBD

07-05-2009, 06:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Springy182 Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 300	Run Memtest, make sure the timings arent too low, try different slots Random freezing could be anything, something could be not plugged in right, something could be overheating, bad power supply, any component could cause it __________________ CPU: Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 3400MHz 1.25V RAM: OCZ Reaper 4GB DDR2 1066MHz 5-5-5-15 2.1V HDDs: SATA 1000GB Samsung, SATA 500GB 750GB Seagate, IDE 500GB PSU: 600W OCZ StealthXStream ODD: LG SATA DVDRW GPU: EVGA 9800GT (Dual slot) 750-1875-2000 Mobo: EVGA 780i SLI "FTW" Case: Coolermaster NV-690 (NVidia Edition)

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07-02-2009, 08:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
spl00g Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 28	it did automatically downclock its self to 1066, when setting the timings and speed back to 1333 or 1600 it always returns to the downclocked 1066. I guess what I would like to know is if there is a way to get this ram to run stable at 1600 or if it isn't possible because I will have to pay about 30 bucks more to get the lower speed 1600 memory. I have tried adjusting everything I can think of in the bios to no avail. time to send it back?