1600Mhz RAM on 1333MHZ max board

[Noctra]

Okay so I have a MSI G41M-P34 MOBO and according to specs it is only rated for 1333Mhz RAM.
I have 2 sticks of Corsair XMS3 DDR3 4GB (2x2GB) CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 at 9-9-9-24 1.65v
This is a 2 part question.

1: Will using these sticks on the above MOBO cause the BIOS to see them as only half?
Meaning I put in both sticks and it only reads 4gb of ram both on the BIOS and in Windows

2: Is there some possible way of making the MOBO or Windows see all 8gb or ram?

 

[jsrudd]

You can just run the RAM at 1333mhz.

You board not supporting 1600mhz does not mean that it will only see half the RAM. If you have Windows 32-bit then you will only get 4gb of total RAM.

 

[Noctra]

OOPS, forgive me for not saying I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit just so that is out of the way.
Also I ran CPU-z and it shows both Ram Chips as only 2gb each.

 

[jaquith]

MSI G41M-P34 - http://www.msi.com/product/mb/G41M-P34.html#?div=Detail
Supports two unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 800/1066/1333* (OC) DRAM, 8GB Max

First, personally I won't get a DDR3-1600 kit for a DDR3-1333 (OC) MOBO. Next, the Default 'SDP' is dependent upon the Intel CPU used.

ANS:
1. If the RAM works (2x2GB) is 4GB so yes, the MOBO will/should see all 4GB but some will be HW reserved even with a 64-bit OS.
2. If you get a 2x4GB kit, IMO DDR3-1333 @ 1.50v, then sure Windows will see the majority of the 8GB. *Problem = CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 is a 4GB kit NOT an 8GB kit. Your MOBO only has 2xDIMM slots so 2x4GB is required plus a 64-bit OS.

 

[Noctra]

Okay wait, am I just retarded then? Is each individual stick only 2gb? Have I been tearing my hair out and up all night over a nonexistent problem? The reason I ask is because I looked up pictures of the serial number and all the ones I saw were blue and black and mine is just black.
As for getting the kit I already have it.
The CPU being used is an Intel Celeron Processor E3300 (1M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
I swear I am going to facepalm myself REALLY hard if that is the case.

 

[jaquith]

Okay so I have a MSI G41M-P34 Running Windows7 Ultimate 64Bit
I have 2 sticks of Corsair XMS3 DDR3 4GB (2x2GB) CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 at 9-9-9-24 1.65v
So a Total of 8gb.
I have tried both sticks in the machine separately and Windows and BIOS and CPUZ only show them at 2gb each.
I thought it might have been that I was only using one at a time (Bios was showing single channel when only one was in.)
So I put both in, BIOS now shows Dual channel but still only half the ram at 4gb of ram.
I have looked all over Google trying to fix this. There is no Memory Remapping on my BIOS, the BIOS is the latest version.
I changed the DRAM voltage to 1.651 (so that it matches what is on the sticks) even though the BIOS said it wasn't recommended and still CPUZ, Windows and BIOS only sees half my RAM.
I am at my wits end.

Do not set the DRAM Voltage -> 1.65v; 1.65v is only for the Rated DDR3-1600 and I assume the RAM is running DDR3-1066 or slower and the correct Voltage is 1.50v or Auto.

Use CPU-z http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html look at the 'Memory' tab,
** Q - What does it list? It should look similar as below.

Next, open the Windows 7 Resource Monitor.
** Q - What are the: 1. Hardware Reserved, 2. Total and 3. Installed values?

CPU-z Memory tab:

Windows 7 Resource Monitor:

 

[jaquith]

Okay wait, am I just retarded then? Is each individual stick only 2gb? Have I been tearing my hair out and up all night over a nonexistent problem? The reason I ask is because I looked up pictures of the serial number and all the ones I saw were blue and black and mine is just black.
As for getting the kit I already have it.
The CPU being used is an Intel Celeron Processor E3300 (1M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 800 MHz FSB)
I swear I am going to facepalm myself REALLY hard if that is the case.

Specifications Corsair XMS3 DDR3 4GB (2x2GB) CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 (4GB) Kit - http://www.corsair.com/cmx4gx3m2a1600c9.html

No you simply made a mistake.

 

[Noctra]

Okay so I have one more question, I see that those are blue and black and mine are simply black. Do they make them with different colors? I didn;t see any of the 2x2GB modules that were all black. Does that mean mine are older?

Also I checked my CPUZ and it says
400.0 MHZ
FSB: DRAM 1:2
6.0 clocks
6 clocks
6 clocks
15 clocks
64 clocks
2t

And as for the Resource manager
it is
Reserved 35MB
Total 4061 MB
Installed 4096 MB

P.S. Is there a way to get it to the 9-9-9-24 or is lower better?

 

[jaquith]

The CAS Timings 6-6-6-15 are considerably faster than 9-9-9-24. edit: your RAM and settings appear to be correct and fine.

'Memory Speed' is a function of Frequency (higher = faster), CAS Timings (lower = faster), and the CPU's Integrated Memory Controller (IMC) or Memory Chip Controller (MCC). Think of CAS like pauses (ns), the higher the CAS the longer the wait.

Further, in CPU-z look at the 'SPD' tab and available Frequencies / CAS aka JEDEC. Exceeding them can yield undesirable results; BSOD/Errors/Post failure. If there's a 400MHz (same as DDR3-800) with say 5-5-5-15 then sure it might be worth while to modify the BIOS otherwise IMO leave it alone. DDR = Double Data Rate ; DRAM Frequency = 400MHz is DDR3-800.

Here's a Frequency to CAS Timings Chart:

 

[Noctra]

Best answer selected by Noctra.

 

[Noctra]

Thank you jaquith very much for all your help. I appreciate it greatly.

 

[nikorr]

This topic has been closed by Nikorr