[SOLVED] Which DDR2 RAM would be best with a Q9650 ?

[scratchee]

Hello,
I have an HP xw4600 (DDR2) workstation, with a Core 2 Quad Q9650 (1333MHz FSB).

My question is about RAM speed. Which RAM is fully compatible with this board & 1333mhz FSB processor.
PC2-6400 or PC2-8500 ?

 

[SamirD]

The q9650 could only support ddr2-800/pc2-6400 at the fastest, so you're fine with that. And you don't need ecc since you're not running a xeon.

Complete specs here:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01683078

I think the reason ecc is recommended for the larger capacities is because you simply need to keep memory errors at bay. This is important in a workstation, hence why they specify it, but I don't think it's actually a requirement.

 

[Third-Eye]

The q9650 could only support ddr2-800/pc2-6400 at the fastest, so you're fine with that.

Do you mean on the OP's specific system? The memory controller is on the chipset for C2D and C2Q. You can run them with DDR3 if the motherboard chipset supports it, like the MSI P43-C51.

 

[SamirD]

Do you mean on the OP's specific system? The memory controller is on the chipset for C2D and C2Q. You can run them with DDR3 if the motherboard chipset supports it, like the MSI P43-C51.

Yep, that old HP workstation wasn't designed for ddr3, just ddr2.