Memory Standard

[CaptainAwesom]

what does it mean when the motherboard's memory is standard. can the motherboard use memory below the standard or above.
example:if the memory standard is 1066 can i use 800?????

 

[PC eye]

The memory standard is the fastest memory speed supported. If you see 1066/800/667 in the product specifications 1066 memory is the fastest the next speed up will run at if installed.

Two speeds higher with the same memory generally doesn' work while the next faster speed of memory simply backclocks down to the standard if it will run on a particular board. Memory slower then the 667 like 533 wouldn't run on a board that sees 1066/800/667 in the specifications being too slow.

 

[CaptainAwesom]

so you can use 800 on a 1066 memory standard motherboard??????

 

[Ramodkk]

It varies depending on the motherboard. My P35-DS3L says standard is 1066 but I'm using 800 and it also accepts 667.

 

[PC eye]

Often many will simply grab a 2gb or 4gb kit of DDR2 800 rather then 1066 especially if they plan on overclocking the memory at all or simply to save on costs overall when building a new case. The focus now however will be leaning towards DDR3 memory in the upcoming months.

 

[oscaryu1]

so you can use 800 on a 1066 memory standard motherboard??????

Doing that on my P31-DS3L right now. OC'd it to 1100MHz before. Works fine.