Question about ram frequency

[rRansom]

Does RAM compatibility solely depend on the motherboard or does the CPU affect it in a major way?

I currently have a Phenom II 965 BE running on a Sabertooth R2.0 and plan to upgrade my RAM. My assumption is that even if I purchase a 2400MHz, as long as it's in the QVL list of my motherboard, it will work since the motherboard will automatically dial it down to 1333MHz which my CPU is rated to handly [by default]. I plan to upgrade to either an 8350 or a 6300 soon and those are rated to work with 1866MHz RAM so that's probably what I'll get.

Phenom II 965 BE + Asus Sabertooth R2.0 + 2x4GB 1866MHz RAM = No issue since the motherboard will dial down the RAM to run at 1333MHz?

 

[Tradesman1]

Actually it's more the CPU than the mobo - just because a mobo 'says' it supports a particular freq doesn't really mean a whole lot - i.e. if your says it supports 2400 that's all well and good - if you want to run at 1333 it will run there....the 965 was the first AMD CPU that could fairly reliably run 1600 sticks ( and that generally takes a CPU OC) - the newer FX CPUs are rated UP TO 1866 AT 1 DIMM PER CHANNEL - or two sticks of 1866 (and their testing was done with 4GB sticks) - have seen few 8350s that can run more than 8GB of 2133 and offhand can't remember any running 2400 at 2400 - best bet for a 965 is 1600

 

[rRansom]

Sounds good. Looks like I'll have to hold off on getting me the 1866MHz RAM until after I upgrade my CPU.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Tradesman1]

Let us know how it goes 😉