Maximum RAM Speed on i5 4460

[Bhathiya]

Please be kind enough to tell me whats the Maximum RAM Speed compatible on the below system:

Intel Core i5-4460 Processor
Gigabyte Z97-D3H Motherboard
Aerocool 550W PSU
Nvidia GTX 760 Graphics Card

Thank you

 

[Darkbreeze]

The limitation isn't really with the CPU, it's with the motherboard. That configuration should be able to run DDR3 2133mhz modules without problem, and that's probably the fastest module that makes sense right now according to price anyhow.

Gigabyte Z97-D3H:

3.Support for DDR3 3100(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2600(O.C.) / 2500(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2200(O.C.) / 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1800(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 MHz memory modules

 

[smorizio]

intel stock speed is 1600 at 1.5v that the yrate there memory controller in the cpu at. it will run faster but if it burns out intel can denied the rma claim.

 

[Darkbreeze]

True, but we run 2133mhz modules on Haswell refresh chips all the time without issue. Almost every Intel chip shows a 1600mhz limitation, but if that was the case, none of the motherboard manufacturers would bother with support for higher speed modules.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Interestingly the new asus H97m-plus micro atx board advertises 2400 support I believe.

Not according to their specs on the product page. I'm not aware of any H97 boards that support speeds faster than 1600mhz.

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/H97MPLUS/specifications/

 

[smorizio]

yes dark it starnage that intel with there strick 1600 ram speed. there shooting themself in the foot on doing it as there cpu memory controllers dont have any issue with newer ram that out there.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I know, right? Dummies.

 

[Darkbreeze]

It must be Amazon's screw up as the ASUS page for that board clearly shows 1600mhz max.

 

[Vergilangleos]

every non K cpu support ddr3 1600 at max
only Z mb and 5th gen cpu or K versions support higher than 1600

 

[Bhathiya]

I have heard that there is a setting to enable XMP profile which will then support RAM Speeds more than 1600Mhz, is it possible and if I do so will it have any adverse effects?

 

[Darkbreeze]

every non K cpu support ddr3 1600 at max
only Z mb and 5th gen cpu or K versions support higher than 1600

Wrong. The memory controller on the 4460 handles DDR3 2133mhz memory just fine. 1600mhz is simply the native speed supported. If you use it on an H97 board, then yes, you are limited to 1600mhz because all H97 boards are limited to that speed. When used with a Z series board, the processor supports faster module speeds.


Z87 and Z97 boards support XMP profiles. So far as I know, there are no H97, B85 or H81 boards that do aside from maybe one MSI board that supports 1600mhz XMP profiles, which is stupid anyhow.

 

[Tradesman1]

A 4460 should run 1600 and prob/possibly 1866....2133 might be a stretch, the mobo chipset can handle most any DRAM, but the determining factor in fact is the MC (memory controller) of your individual CPU. And i say individual as not all 4460s are exactly the same - you'll find 4460s that are the 'norm' but some are stronger and can run faster DRAM data rates, as also some can OC higher via use of the BCLK than others. The days of the mobo being the determining factor went by the wayside back about 2009 when the MC moved from the mobo chipset to the CPU itself proper

 

[Darkbreeze]

I guess I've been fortunate then because as per one of our prior conversations, I've used in it a few builds with locked HR chips and haven't had problems with those builds.

In your case, since there's really not that much in all honestly, to be gained from the faster RAM, it would probably be best to simply use 1600/1866mhz modules and avoid ANY potential issues.

Thanks for the clarification T1.