[SOLVED] 1333Mhz or 1600Mhz with an AMD Phenom processor?

[conthejedi]

Hey everyone,

I'm upgrading my RAM as one of my sticks has died and was looking at the Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 1600Mhz - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMY16GX3M2A1600C9R-Vengeance-1600Mhz-Performance/dp/B00D5XAN06.

However, on checking if it was compatible with the rest of my system, I've noticed that my processor (AMD Phenom II X4 965) says it supports a maximum speed of 1333Mhz. Am I right in thinking that if I put the 1600Mhz RAM in, it will just drop down to the 1333Mhz speed and work correctly?

Just for the record, I am not interested in any sort of overclocking - I'm happy with my processor running at stock speeds - I just want to check that the RAM will still work at a decreased speed rather than not work at all. I can't find any 16GB 1333Mhz RAM that looks as good as the Corsair products for a similar price, so I'm happy accepting that I'll be paying for one speed and getting something slightly lower.

The rest of the PC spec's if you need them;

AMD Phenom II X4 965 CPU
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo CPU Cooler
Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 Motherboard
MSI Radeon RX 470 4GB GPU (not currently installed)
OCZ Vertex 4 128GB SSD
Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB HDD
Antec HCG 520W PSU
Antec Six Hundred Case
Windows 10 64-bit

Thanks!

 

[Mrgr74]

Yes, if you like the RAM and it'll work , it'll just under clock from 1600mhz to 1333mhz. I just did a quick search and it shows your mobo & CPU can have up to 2000mhz RAM. Have you tried different speeds other than 1333mhz? The 1600mhz kit you found should run nicely.

https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Motherboard/GA-990FXA-UD3-rev-10#ov

What Rev.# is your mobo? Bios Ver?

​

Processor	Clock speed	Form factor	L2 cache (total)	L3 cache (shared)	Memory controller speed (up to)	Voltage	TDP
Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition	3.4GHz	AM3	2MB	6MB	2.0GHz	0.875 - 1.5V	140W

 

[conthejedi]

Yes, if you like the RAM and it'll work , it'll just under clock from 1600mhz to 1333mhz. I just did a quick search and it shows your mobo & RAM can have up to 2000mhz. Have you tried different speeds? The 1600mhz kit you found should run nicely.

https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Motherboard/GA-990FXA-UD3-rev-10#ov

What Rev.# is your mobo? Bios Ver?

​

Processor	Clock speed	Form factor	L2 cache (total)	L3 cache (shared)	Memory controller speed (up to)	Voltage	TDP
Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition	3.4GHz	AM3	2MB	6MB	2.0GHz	0.875 - 1.5V	140W

Hey - thanks for the quick response!

Will I have to do anything to underclock it or will the BIOS do that for me? I'm not sure on what Rev# I have - I'm not at my PC at the moment but will check and get back to you!

Thanks

 

[Mrgr74]

Hey - thanks for the quick response!

Will I have to do anything to underclock it or will the BIOS do that for me? I'm not sure on what Rev# I have - I'm not at my PC at the moment but will check and get back to you!

Thanks

It'll under clock all by itself.

Here is an interesting post from 2012.

 

[conthejedi]

It'll under clock all by itself.

Here is an interesting post from 2012.

Sorry for taking so long to get back - work got in the way!

I went ahead and installed the 16GB RAM and as you said, it underclocked automatically - PC is running nice and smoothly with all RAM detected. Whether I'm brave enough to try overclocking it or not I'm not sure - is there a noticeable difference between 1333Mhz and 1600Mhz?

Also, my 990FXA-UD3 is Rev 3.0

Thanks for the advice - always good to get a second opinion with these things before doing them!