Underclocking RAM for compatibility?

[Marsigne]

The motherboard and CPU support only 1333 and 1600MHz RAM to run, but I've seen many people say that you can underclock it and you can get better timings, for example a RAM in 1600 MHz underclocked to 1333MHz and to CAS 7 from 9 vs 1333 CAS 9 RAM default, so that's why it's good getting more speeds.

The reason I want to do this is because 1866 and 1600 MHz RAM are at same price, so I want to get 1866 MHz RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550) and underclock it to 1600MHz with CAS 7 timings (or at least 8, to have advantage over cas 9 regular one), as I've read a guy who did got a 1600 MHz RAM and underclocked it to 1333 MHz with CAS 7 timings.

Motherboard: ASRock H81M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core i3-4130T 2.9GHz Dual-Core Processor

So the question is: Can I get a 1866MHz RAM and put it to a maximum capable 1600MHz MB and CPU and go to BIOS and underclock RAM to 1600MHz? This way, I can get advantage over 1600MHz default one with less CAS times, like 7, or 8, over the 9 that comes with the 1600MHz default RAM.

 

[iceclock]

yes thats possible.

ram can be underclocked without an issue.

 

[Marsigne]

yes thats possible.

ram can be underclocked without an issue.

Wow that was fast lol, so that means I can get into BIOS/UEFI with 1866MHz even it only allows 1600MHz, right?

 

[iceclock]

u go in bios and change dram clockspeed. simple as butter 😀

 

[Tradesman1]

Couple of things - think of what CL you want to run at 1600 - then look at 1866 sticks that have a Cl of no more than 1 higher i.e. if you want to run 1600/CL8 then look at 1866/9 or better (1866/8) - also when first installed mobo will default the DRAM to 1333 - so you'll want to manually set the freq, timings and DRAM voltage

 

[Marsigne]

u go in bios and change dram clockspeed. simple as butter 😀

Ok but you forgot to tell me about default ram and cas lol but thanks

Couple of things - think of what CL you want to run at 1600 - then look at 1866 sticks that have a Cl of no more than 1 higher i.e. if you want to run 1600/CL8 then look at 1866/9 or better (1866/8) - also when first installed mobo will default the DRAM to 1333 - so you'll want to manually set the freq, timings and DRAM voltage

Ok, thanks for recommendation, so with your information, I can: get even a 2666 ram and it will get to 1333 default so I get to 1600 with cas 6 So with 1866 its cas 8, ok

 

[Supahos]

no it doesn't work that way exactly, there are cas 8 sticks at 1866, and cas 7 1600 sticks... I guess maybe if you got lucky you could throw 1.65~1.70 volts at a really good kit and get something like 6-8-8-22 to boot. so yes 1866 cas 8 or 1600 cas 7 sticks would be what I would go for in this situation.

 

[Tradesman1]

2666/11 will prob clock down to 1600/7 or 1866/8 maybe better, will need to set manually - prob about 1.5 - 1.53 or so