Help me choose the right memory!

[ngrass92]

So I'd like to upgrade the RAM on my desktop. It is currently running 4GB of DDR3 1066MHz RAM on an Intel P43 Gigabyte motherboard and an Intel Q6600 CPU. The last time I tried to upgrade the memory (went for DDR3 1600MHz), I couldn't get the system to boot. I believe this is because I didn't OC the CPU, but I could be wrong, never been big into OCing.

Anyways, my question is... will I be okay purchasing DDR3 1333MHz RAM this time around and not have to worry about messing with the CPU? I am looking to upgrade to 8 GB and something like this would seem affordable.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[J_E_D_70]

Go to the gigabyte support site and search for your specific mobo - there is a supported memory list there. You might be better off buying a 2x4gb kit than trying to get a single stick to work with your old one.

No need to overclock the cpu.

 

[ngrass92]

Thanks Jed.

Unfortunately, the QVL list is small (in terms of brands) and most of the sticks are outdated, in which case I will be spending more money on older sticks that aren't readily available. The memory I listed above is not on the QVL, but I shouldn't run into any problems (theoretically), right?

 

[J_E_D_70]

Well... I've never checked for compatibility and never had a problem, but seen plenty of folks here who have. Would try to find a pair of sticks and just give it a go. Can go to a site like crucial memory's and run it thru their compatibilty checker.

 

[Tradesman1]

Problems with the 1600 were indeed the need to OC - with 775 mobos to run a particular freq of DRAM the FSB has to be equal to or greater than the freq you want to run the DRAM at. Raising the the FSB also OCs the CPU (which you can generally lower the CPU multiplier, i.e. to run 1600 sticks would require a 1600 FSB which would kick your Q6600 from it's stock 2.4GHz to 3.6GHz (which most Q6600s can handle (will want a good cooler ), but I've got a couple of those still in the family running at 4GHz (one of them goes 24/7, my son uses it as a home server). I'd look to a 2x4GB set of 1066 like the Ripjaws

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308

 

[J_E_D_70]

Doh - I'd completely forgotten about the bad old days of fsb tied to everything.

 

[Tradesman1]

Still a lot of those out there