Do Processor Determines Memory Speed?

[P5BDeluxe]

Hello,

 

I am building a new gaming rig and need some advise concerning the ram speed with the CPU.

 

here the specs

 

Intel I5 3570

Asus P8Z77-V PRO

Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 1866MHZ

 

 

According to the Mobo specs, the board is able to handle up to 2600MHZ. While the CPU is able to handle up to DDR3-1333/1600. The questions am i only limit up to 1600MHZ on the ram speed? What if i choose to ignore it and go for a higher speed like the 1866MHZ? Will my ram then only will be able to run at 1600MHZ?

 

Is there a possibility of setting the ram speed in the bios?

 

here's the link to the Mobo specs and CPU.

 

http://ark.intel.com/products/65702/Intel-Core-i5-3570-Processor-6M-Cache-3_40-GHz

 

http://my.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8Z77V_PRO/#specifications

[peanutz94]

According to the Mobo specs, the board is able to handle up to 2600MHZ. While the CPU is able to handle up to DDR3-1333/1600. The questions am i only limit up to 1600MHZ on the ram speed? What if i choose to ignore it and go for a higher speed like the 1866MHZ? Will my ram then only will be able to run at 1600MHZ?

Yes, your CPU plays a huge role in your memory speeds. Your CPU as you know only officially supports 1600mhz memory and if you choose to run faster memory then that is overclocking. Each CPU has a memory controller built in to it and it is the strength or weakness of that memory controller that determines how fast you can run your memory despite what the MB supports.

Most gaming boards support MUCH faster memory for enthusiasts how use liquid nitrogen,dry ice,ect for the sole purpose of running a 30 second bench mark just to say they got their CPU to run that fast. But those crazy speeds are not something that is achievable for 24/7 stable use.

 

With your CPU , you could safely run 1866mhz memory without much trouble. All you should have to do is enable the XMP profile in your BIOS. Infact you could run 2133mhz memory without much trouble either...It's when you start getting much higherr than that does it start to become a bit more involved . But when overclocking memory there are other considerations to make such as CPU cooling because higher memory overclocks will raise your CPU temps. And also when overclocking is concerned there are no guarantees, meaning, that if you see someone with the same hardware as your and they are getting higher overclocks then that in no way means your CPU will be capable of the same thing.

[P5BDeluxe]

Nothing Less than coming from a pro. By the way do you use the QVL list provided by asus to see if corsair memory rams are supported with the parts no and the size of the ram?

[peanutz94]

I just answered this in another thread so instead of typing it all out again, I'll just copy it all to give you a better understanding!;):

QVL are just a list of modules that were tested with that MB. They never update those QVL either and with so may different memory manufacturers and kits available it would be impossible to test them all.

Then i was asked the same question about Corsairs modules specifically. Myself and RamGuys responses were as follows..

 

peanutz94 is 110% CORRECT!

We do not send our modules to any MB manufacturer to have them validate our modules. However, we do on occasion do products swaps and the QVL list that ASUS provides is just what they have tested on the MB at the time of pre-production but what will or will not work with that MB.

 

Not unlike out Memory Configuration tool which we may not have tested a specific MB but we do test with all of the tom Manufacturers MB's and certainly one using the same chipset so we have a good idea what will work on most MB's

In addition to that we do test all of our modules on a MB at the rated speed so there is a less likely chance of running into problems.

 

Link to the original thread....

http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=114793

I hope that helps you some!

Cheers!

[P5BDeluxe]

Peanutz, one last question regarding the rams. How do i check the limit of ram for one dimm on the motherboard? can't seem to find out that info i need.

[peanutz94]

I don't quite understand that question, there is no real limit for one DIMM. Again it would fall back on the memory controller in your CPU. With just one dimm you might reach higher overclocks , but your only running single channel then and basically cutting memory operations in have since you would not be taking advantage of the dual channel archiature the board/cpu is capable of.

[P5BDeluxe]

You've answered my question so far. Just to be sure what i was trying to ask was, we know that Asus P8Z77-V PRO is able to handle up to 32gb of rams. Now would one DIMM on the mobo just handle 32gb alone on one DIMM. That was what i wanted to ask.

 

Anyway i think you have answered it. So then if i decide to go with a 16gb of rams with 2 sticks of 8Gb that would be fine right?. Because you mention that there's no limit for one DIMM.

[Wired]

Total memory / number of slots = mem per slot

 

There is a limitation per slot because of the size of the ICs used.

[peanutz94]

You've answered my question so far. Just to be sure what i was trying to ask was, we know that Asus P8Z77-V PRO is able to handle up to 32gb of rams. Now would one DIMM on the mobo just handle 32gb alone on one DIMM. That was what i wanted to ask.

 

Anyway i think you have answered it. So then if i decide to go with a 16gb of rams with 2 sticks of 8Gb that would be fine right?. Because you mention that there's no limit for one DIMM.

Like wired said you have your total amount of memory supported by the MB divided by the number of slots. which wold be 8 gig 's per slot.

 

There are no single 32 gig modules. Right now the largest made would be an 8 gig module anyway.,So ,Yes, if you wanted 16 gig,you would want a 2x8gig kit.

[P5BDeluxe]

Thanks for the info folks. That's what i needed to know. Have a nice day.