How to check what's my max ram speed?

[randomy220]

Alright i have a 4gb ddr3 ram in my laptop and i would like to upgrade it to 8 but i don't know what's my max speed.
CPU-Z shows current speed is 667mhz(witch to my knowledge is x2=1333mhz. The problem is that i can't find ram with that speed(only 1600mhz).
I've heard that you can change it in BIOS but ,again, i can't seem to find it.

So i want to ask you am I blind or is my rams max speed 1333?

 

[faalin]

What is the make and model for the laptop? Most likely the ram setting is going to be locked at 1333Mhz so even if you buy 1600MHz ram the bios will downclock it to 1333Mhz. DDR3 ram is getting harder to find now that DDr4 is mainstream so even if you could find 1333MHz 1600MHz might still be cheaper.

 

[geofelt]

If there are faster speeds available for your ram, you will find it in the SPD tab in CPU-Z.

If you want to add ram, go to a ram vendor web site such as Kingston or crucial.
Access their ram upgrade app.
Enter the make/model of your laptop, and you will get a list of supported upgrades.

The 4gb on your laptop may be soldered in.
If so, any additional ram will need to be compatible as to speed, voltage and cas.

I would try to buy more ram vs. faster ram.
And... if you really want better laptop performance look into replacing a HDD with a SSD.

 

[The Paladin]

1. please tell us make and model of your laptop
this will define for our search what your laptop an actually handle. (considering ddr3 only goes to 1866 for laptops and rare are the gaming laptops with 2133 ram speeds in DDR3)
2. tell use make and model is possible (open back of laptop) of the ram you have and how many sticks you have already in your system
you may have 4gb but if you have 2 slots, and are using both, you will have to replace both instead of adding to an empty slot.

 

[randomy220]

If there are faster speeds available for your ram, you will find it in the SPD tab in CPU-Z.

If you want to add ram, go to a ram vendor web site such as Kingston or crucial.
Access their ram upgrade app.
Enter the make/model of your laptop, and you will get a list of supported upgrades.

The 4gb on your laptop may be soldered in.
If so, any additional ram will need to be compatible as to speed, voltage and cas.

I would try to buy more ram vs. faster ram.
And... if you really want better laptop performance look into replacing a HDD with a SSD.

I checked and it isn't soldered but it is on unknown brand.
CPU-Z says Max bandwidth PC3-12800 (800MHz)
So does that mean that it can accept 1600MHz ram?

 

[randomy220]

1. please tell us make and model of your laptop
this will define for our search what your laptop an actually handle. (considering ddr3 only goes to 1866 for laptops and rare are the gaming laptops with 2133 ram speeds in DDR3)
2. tell use make and model is possible (open back of laptop) of the ram you have and how many sticks you have already in your system
you may have 4gb but if you have 2 slots, and are using both, you will have to replace both instead of adding to an empty slot.

-Acer Aspire E15-551G
-It has one 4GB stick(removable) and one empty slot

 

[randomy220]

What is the make and model for the laptop? Most likely the ram setting is going to be locked at 1333Mhz so even if you buy 1600MHz ram the bios will downclock it to 1333Mhz. DDR3 ram is getting harder to find now that DDr4 is mainstream so even if you could find 1333MHz 1600MHz might still be cheaper.

I tough of that but when I opened bios I couldn't find anything about ram.I watched some tutorials but they all simply change the settings to XPM( or something like that) but on my LP it's nowhere to be found

 

[geofelt]

You likely have lots of upgrade options.
You could replace with a 2 x 4gb or 2 x 8gb kit.
Or, you could buy a 4gb or 8gb extra stick if it is compatible.

Really, the best thing to do is to go to Kingston or crucial and see hat they think your options are.
You do not need to buy from them, but get the exact part number of one of the options and shop for that.

I think you are talking about XMP.
Some ram which can run at higher speeds than stock have overclock settings stored in the XMP profile imbedded in the ram.
You select one of those settings to run at higher speeds.
That assumes your motherboard bios supports XMP. Likely, yours does not.

 

[randomy220]

You likely have lots of upgrade options.
You could replace with a 2 x 4gb or 2 x 8gb kit.
Or, you could buy a 4gb or 8gb extra stick if it is compatible.

Really, the best thing to do is to go to Kingston or crucial and see hat they think your options are.
You do not need to buy from them, but get the exact part number of one of the options and shop for that.

I think you are talking about XMP.
Some ram which can run at higher speeds than stock have overclock settings stored in the XMP profile imbedded in the ram.
You select one of those settings to run at higher speeds.
That assumes your motherboard bios supports XMP. Likely, yours does not.

So even if i buy 1600MHz I would still only get 1333? Too bad.

 

[geofelt]

No telling if you will get 1600.
But, not to worry.

First of all, with only one stick, you are running in single channel, likely 667 speed.
Upgrading to a second stick will double that.
Dual channel is particularly important for integrated graphics performance.

For apps, ram speed does not matter much.
You are looking at low single % differences.
More ram will usually trump faster ram.

 

[The Paladin]

okay according to my research and based on not only acer web site but memory site and cnet tech report on this obscure model of laptop here is what it boils down to

RAM Memory Speed 1600 MHz
Configuration Features
2 x 4 GB
Technology DDR3L SDRAM
Installed Size 8 GB

2 things to notice 1600 MHZ and DDR3L <- this is important.

So you can load 2x4GB DDR3L-1600MHZ (also known as 1600MHz DDR3L (PC3-12800) 1.35V Non-ECC SODIMM RAM)

Cheers enjoy your new ram load on your laptop.

 

[geofelt]

If you want to add another stick, it needs to match the specs of the stick you now have.
Under the spd tab in cpu-z, you will find the specs, manufacturer, part number of what you have installed.
If you can find and buy the exact same part number that is what you should do.
If you can't find the same part number, look for ram with the same specs.
DDR3l first, then voltage, speed, then cas numbers.
Laptop ram seems to be fairly accommodating of a second stick, but there is no guarantee.

Better, yet, buy a single kit of 2 x 4gb. Again, with the specs that match what you have.
If you buy 1600 speed and it turns out that 1600 is not supported, it will default to the standard 1333.
Again, to be safe, go to Kingston, crucial or another ram vendor to find a kit that is supported on your laptop.