Question Which type of DDR3 RAM for an old destop PC ?

[eylshl]

I would like to extend the life of my old desktop computer for a while by maxing out it's memory without spending too much on it (it's old...)
The motherboard is
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P8H61-M LX
Which I understand can support 2 sticks of DDR3 with 1333mhz.

I want to order memory from abroad, and I live in a country where it's not cheap to return stuff to amazon by mail. So whatever I buy has to be compatible, otherwise I can't really refund it.

I cannot find cheap ( +/- 50$) memory sticks that are 2x8GB 1333Mhz and are from a well known manufacturer.

I am thinking of either getting off brand 1333mhz memory sticks from the likes of A-Tech: https://www.amazon.com/PC3-10600-DESKTOP-Modules-240-pin-Tech/dp/B00C537AWQ/ref=sr_1_1_ssp

Or getting some branded 1600mhz ones such as https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-original-240-pin-PC3-12800-desktop/dp/B00G1H3UUI/ref=sr_1_5

Which ones are likely too be better? I've read on some forums that 16000mhz are good on 1333 boards. Is this true?

 

[helpstar]

Which CPU are you using? The memory speed depends on the CPU, because the memory controller is implemented there.

some of these are well known sticks:
https://pcpartpicker.com/products/memory/#ff=ddr3&S=1333,1600&Z=16384002&sort=price&page=1&X=0,5411

 

[SkyNetRising]

Which ones are likely too be better? I've read on some forums that 16000mhz are good on 1333 boards. Is this true?

Plenty of choices - Crucial, Samsung, Hynix.
1600mhz ram would work just fine in 1333mhz mode.

 

[eylshl]

Which CPU are you using? The memory speed depends on the CPU, because the memory controller is implemented there.

some of these are well known sticks:
https://pcpartpicker.com/products/memory/#ff=ddr3&S=1333,1600&Z=16384002&sort=price&page=1&X=0,5411

I am using:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2400 CPU @ 3.10GHz 3.10 GHz
The specs do not show 1600
https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...r-6m-cache-up-to-3-40-ghz/specifications.html
Does this means I need 1333? Or is 1600 all right and it will simply be downclocked?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Does this means I need 1333? Or is 1600 all right and it will simply be downclocked?

It means - your ram can not work faster than 1333mhz.
1600mhz ram can work in 1333mhz mode too. That's not a problem.

BTW this is H61 chipset limitation (motherboard).
If you had Z68 or Z77 chipset board, it would allow ram overclocking. You could use DDR3 1866mhz (up to 3000mhz) ram as well .

 

[BFG-9000]

1600 would work fine, so long as it is low-density 4Gbit per chip RAM or lower. No Sandy Bridge CPU supports modern 8Gbit high density DDR3 (which used to be called "AMD memory" a dozen years ago when your system was new). This means 8GB sticks must each have 16 chips on them to work.

The only Ivy Bridge CPUs that support 8Gbit DDR3 chips are HEDT Ivy Bridge-E (i7-4960x, 4930k and 4820k) and those are socket 2011, not 1155.

 

[eylshl]

We've established that my motherboard supports 16GB memory, and I can get 1600 which will work at 1333MHZ, right?
https://icecat.biz/p/asus/p8h61-m+lx/motherboards-p8h61-m+lx-11053730.html

The only Ivy Bridge CPUs that support 8Gbit DDR3 chips are HEDT Ivy Bridge-E (i7-4960x, 4930k and 4820k) and those are socket 2011, not 1155.

This is important: I want to go with 2x 8GB DDR3.


Are you saying though, that I cannot buy any 1600Mhz 8GB sticks with my combination of motherboard and CPU?
https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...r-6m-cache-up-to-3-40-ghz/specifications.html

So if I understand correctly, I cannot get the above mentioned Samsungs 1600Mhz, and should buy the A-Tech instead?
https://www.amazon.com/PC3-10600-DESKTOP-Modules-240-pin-Tech/dp/B00C537AWQ/ref=sr_1_1_ssp

Or are you saying that I cannot buy modern 8GB sticks at all?

 

[BFG-9000]

I am saying that no Socket 1155 board in the world will accept 8GB sticks with only 8 chips on them. At least not without reading them as only half-capacity 4GB sticks. So if you want 2x 8GB that actually works, ask the seller if they have 16 total chips on each stick (usually 8 on each side).

Again, 1600 should work fine provided they are low density.

 

[eylshl]

I am saying that no Socket 1155 board in the world will accept 8GB sticks with only 8 chips on them. At least not without reading them as only half-capacity 4GB sticks. So if you want 2x 8GB that actually works, ask the seller if they have 16 total chips on each stick (usually 8 on each side).

Thanks! I am not sure how to find low density chips when shopping online. The term "low density 8GB" does not yeild good results on amazon. Is there a more technical term I should be using to search instead of low density?

 

[Tac 25]

@eylshl

we have the same lga 1155 socket cpu. Although mine has an i7-2600k on it.

how many ram slots does your mobo have?

here's my backup pc. Have 4 slots, and each slot has an 8GB Kingston ddr3 ram, for a total 32 GB.

 

[BFG-9000]

You should ask the seller as they should know if it's Sandy Bridge/Ivy Bridge compatible, or at least if it has 16 chips (notice how Tac 25's 8GB sticks each have 16 chips ). This kind of thing is seldom listed anymore as it's been 10 years since any Intel CPUs requiring this kind of memory have been made.

Think that's bad--Core 2 chipsets required 2Gbit DDR3 chips which would be considered extremely low density nowadays and very difficult to find, except used. So "density" is kind of relative

 

[Bob.B]

I would like to extend the life of my old desktop computer for a while by maxing out it's memory without spending too much on it (it's old...)
The motherboard is
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P8H61-M LX
Which I understand can support 2 sticks of DDR3 with 1333mhz.

I want to order memory from abroad, and I live in a country where it's not cheap to return stuff to amazon by mail. So whatever I buy has to be compatible, otherwise I can't really refund it.

I cannot find cheap ( +/- 50$) memory sticks that are 2x8GB 1333Mhz and are from a well known manufacturer.

I am thinking of either getting off brand 1333mhz memory sticks from the likes of A-Tech: https://www.amazon.com/PC3-10600-DESKTOP-Modules-240-pin-Tech/dp/B00C537AWQ/ref=sr_1_1_ssp

Or getting some branded 1600mhz ones such as https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-original-240-pin-PC3-12800-desktop/dp/B00G1H3UUI/ref=sr_1_5

Which ones are likely too be better? I've read on some forums that 16000mhz are good on 1333 boards. Is this true?

Go here and run the scanner see what it shows.

Crucial

 

[eylshl]

@eylshl

how many ram slots does your mobo have?

I have 2 slots. Currently with 4GB each

 

[Tac 25]

than you need a ram kit of two 8 gb sticks.