i5 6600 with DDR3?

[MobyX521]

The title says it all, and I am hearing mixed opinions. I don't have much money to spend on upgrades, so I want to know if I can use my current ddr3 (not ddr3l) ram with a 6600, given that the mobo supports the ram.

 

[Supernova1138]

It might work but you do run the risk of burning out the CPU's memory controller over long term usage. If you really need to keep the RAM, then you might want to look at an older platform, the only other alternative is that you underclock your RAM so it will run stable at the 1.35V maximum that is specified for the Skylake memory controller.

 

[Ecky]

You can, but most here would recommend against it. All 1151 motherboards I've seen that support DDR3 claim support for 1.5v DDR3. Intel recommends not using memory above 1.35v as it can damage the memory controller and potentially kill your CPU, but I've not personally heard any reports of this happening. Older Intel CPUs only technically supported 1.5v RAM but plenty of people ran 1.65v memory, and are still running it years later. Make of it what you will.

 

[Jasjar]

Over time the ddr3 will damage the memory controller you need ddr3l http://www.tomshardware.com/news/skylake-memory-support,30185.html

 

[Vegard pig]

it does support ddr3 but you might need to downclock your ram because of the high voltage as supernova said

 

[MobyX521]

It might work but you do run the risk of burning out the CPU's memory controller over long term usage. If you really need to keep the RAM, then you might want to look at an older platform, the only other alternative is that you underclock your RAM so it will run stable at the 1.35V maximum that is specified for the Skylake memory controller.

Thanks, I have decided to just save for a i5 6500. Can you answer one more question very quickly? If a mobo says it supports DDR4 2133, what does that mean? does that mean that the max freq of the DDR4 is 2133 mhz? Does this mean if I have higher freq ram that it will be capped?

 

[Ecky]

Only Z170 chipsets can run memory at speeds higher than 2133mhz. Memory rated at a higher speed will only run at 2133mhz on a non-Z170 chipset, but if DDR4 2400 is the same price, you might as well go for that instead. You might get slightly tighter timings at 2133.