Question I have a question about CPU memory compatibility.

[teaisyumfan]

For example, AMD A8-5600k needs DDR3-1866. If I were to plug it into a mobo that supports DDR3 1333,1600,1866.. BUT with a ram stick that is only DDR3 1333 or 1600, will it still work? or do I absolutely need a 1866 mem card?

 

[ZuRriX]

AMD A8-5600k needs DDR3-1866

I don't know what you mean by your CPU 'needing' DDR3 @1866MHz.

First of, what is the maximum RAM speed your MOBO supports? You can find it in the manual of the MOBO and it usually says:
'Motherboard supports RAM memory up to XXXXMHz'.
For example: if your MOBO runs the maximum DDR3 RAM speed of 1333MHz, yet you bought a 1600MHz DDR3 RAM stick, you can still install it onto your MOBO, but it won't run at 1600MHz but at 1333MHz, because that's the max speed of RAM the MOBO supports.

My current MOBO is H270M Fatal1ty Performance from ASRock and it supports max RAM speed of 2400MHz. I run a 7th Gen i3 (the i3 7100) with a stick of 8GB DDR4 RAM @3200MHz, but my MOBO doesn't allow it to run at that speed so it clocks it down to the supported 2400MHz.

That's it. Use the RAM you have, just make sure your MOBO supports it.

 

[teaisyumfan]

I don't know what you mean by your CPU 'needing' DDR3 @1866MHz.

The supported memory DDR3-1866 listed here http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-A8-Series A8-5600K.html confused me. Does it mean upto DDR3- 1866? or only DDR3-1866. I asked because some CPUs need DDR4, DDR3L

Okay. So what I'm getting from your comment is that it doesn't matter as long as the CPU is compatible with the MOBO socket? If MOBO supports the mem card, it'll work. .