Can I use 1600mhz ram on a 1333/1066 motherboard?

[rasslytam1]

Hi, I'm wondering if I'm able to use two 1600mhz ram sticks on a motherboard that uses 1333 or 1066mhz?

motherboard - Asus M5A78L-M LX
ram sticks - G.Skill Ripjaws Gaming - DDR3 1600 mhz - 2 x 4GB

 

[jaquith]

Welcome back to Tom's Forum!

Yes you can use DDR3-1600 or even faster on your ASUS M5A78L-M LX, but it depends on the CPU itself. Phenom X4 are fine with DDR3-1600 with FSB OC (DOCP), Phenom X6 up to DDR3-2000 with same OC, and FX's DDR3-1866 is native speed up to the highest non-XMP frequency and if the JEDEC offers DDR3-1866 then at full native frequency.

 

[rasslytam1]

Welcome back to Tom's Forum!

Yes you can use DDR3-1600 or even faster on your ASUS M5A78L-M LX, but it depends on the CPU itself. Phenom X4 are fine with DDR3-1600 with FSB OC (DOCP), Phenom X6 up to DDR3-2000 with same OC, and FX's DDR3-1866 is native speed up to the highest non-XMP frequency and if the JEDEC offers DDR3-1866 then at full native frequency.

Ok... Sorry, I'm not too good at this Could you tell how the Athlon II X3 460 will perform?

 

[jaquith]

IMO it's best to stick with DDR3-1333, but DDR3-1600 will by default run at DDR3-1333 frequency. Running the Athlon II X3 460 at DDR3-1333 vs DDR3-1600 won't be more than a ~1%~2% gain and the added instability burden wouldn't be my choice.

So if the DDR3-1600 set you're looking at is cheaper than competing DDR3-1333 choose the cheapest per your budget.

 

[rasslytam1]

Best answer selected by rasslytam1.

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey