[SOLVED] Why RAM manufacturers recommend 1.35V for my laptop when it's fitted with 1.5V sticks.

[kamieniarzk]

So I have a Samsung NP550P7C-S02UK laptop with 6GB RAM 1600MHZ DDR3 PC3-12800S-11-11-F3 memory which from what I've read works on 1.5V. (it's 2GB + 4GB, the serial number of the 4GB stick is M471B5273DH0-CK0). Now I want to upgrade it to 12GB (swap the 2GB stick with a new 8GB stick) but I struggle to find some consistent information about the voltages. I checked the Kingston and Crucial websites and they recommend 1.35V sticks, also I couldn't find any Samsung sticks working on 1.5V (only m471b1g73qh0-yk0 which are 1.35V). Also on the motherboard of my laptop where the memory sits it says "1.5V DDR3 REV". Should I find some 1.5V stick or will the 1.35V ones work?

 

[Nemesia]

I upgraded my laptop last week and I had to buy a 8GB stick. I used Crucial to see what kind of RAM it was and it's the same as yours.

DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.35V.

It doesn't have to be crucial. I bought this one - https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/gp/product/B07L89T9HQ/

 

[kamieniarzk]

I upgraded my laptop last week and I had to buy a 8GB stick. I used Crucial to see what kind of RAM it was and it's the same as yours.

DDR3 PC3-12800 • CL=11 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR3-1600 • 1.35V.

It doesn't have to be crucial. I bought this one - https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/gp/product/B07L89T9HQ/

That doesn't answer my question. I know what manufacturers recommend. I posted this question because I have doubts as the currently fitted ones are 1.5V and what makes me even more concerned is the "1.5V DDR3 REV" written on my mobo. What I want to know is can the 1.35V sticks work on 1.5V or the other way around?

 

[Nemesia]

That doesn't answer my question. I know what manufacturers recommend. I posted this question because I have doubts as the currently fitted ones are 1.5V and what makes me even more concerned is the "1.5V DDR3 REV" written on my mobo. What I want to know is can the 1.35V sticks work on 1.5V or the other way around?

Yes, you can use a low voltage RAM module, rated at 1.35 V or 1.25V with a normal RAM module rated at 1.5 V. The Low voltage RAMs (DDR3L) are backwards compatible so they would work with most of the CPU and Motherboard combinations.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Should I find some 1.5V stick or will the 1.35V ones work?

Get a kit of 2 ram modules for your laptop.
Do not mix different voltage modules. They probably will not work well together.

Upgrade to 16GB instead (2x8GB).

 

[Nemesia]

I agree. Just get a kit so you're sure you have no issues. The laptop I upgraded only had 1 RAM slot so no mixing issues can happen.

 

[kamieniarzk]

Thank you both!

 

[lga1156_ftw]

So I have a Samsung NP550P7C-S02UK laptop with 6GB RAM 1600MHZ DDR3 PC3-12800S-11-11-F3 memory which from what I've read works on 1.5V. (it's 2GB + 4GB, the serial number of the 4GB stick is M471B5273DH0-CK0). Now I want to upgrade it to 12GB (swap the 2GB stick with a new 8GB stick) but I struggle to find some consistent information about the voltages. I checked the Kingston and Crucial websites and they recommend 1.35V sticks, also I couldn't find any Samsung sticks working on 1.5V (only m471b1g73qh0-yk0 which are 1.35V). Also on the motherboard of my laptop where the memory sits it says "1.5V DDR3 REV". Should I find some 1.5V stick or will the 1.35V ones work?

As "Skynetrising" said.

1.35v rated sticks are backwards compatible, however not the other way around.

I never needed more than 4x2gb for laptop though, you need 16gb for sure? Doubt it if you only have gtx 650m you need more than 8 , for games that work well on that gpu. Unless you running egpu setup.

 

[kamieniarzk]

As "Skynetrising" said.

1.35v rated sticks are backwards compatible, however not the other way around.

I never needed more than 4x2gb for laptop though, you need 16gb for sure? Doubt it if you only have gtx 650m you need more than 8 , for games that work well on that gpu. Unless you running egpu setup.

Well I use that laptop for coding and often times I'm running a virtual machine and for instance some android emulator so I could definitely use 16GB.

 

[lga1156_ftw]

Well I use that laptop for coding and often times I'm running a virtual machine and for instance some android emulator so I could definitely use 16GB.

In that case go for it.