I just got a stick of brand new unopened 8GB ddr3 ($25.00 US) but it was the wrong kind of ddr3, (EBay) Kingston ddr3l 1600 is what it turned out to be. Them stupid numbers and that price 25$ got me.

I needed ddr3 1333 my Laptop does not even see the other RAM plugged in with my other 8gb ddr3 1333, when I plugged it in all by itself I couldn't even get into BIOS it just made my lights on the keyboard started flashing instead.

This mother board has a rPGA988B for the CPU
i5 2520M in it right now.


but the i7 with the same rPGA988B for the CPU has
can I still use this 8GB ddr3l in that?

I don't think i can, so I'm pretty much screwed on this RAM?

seller said too bad no returns take it up with EBAY, something I am not sure that they will refund me even if they do and i get to keep this ram it is still useless?

I read that it has something to do with the motherboard. Me thinking it is in the CPU because of the CPU Specs saying what types of RAM it can handle.

I just read somewhere on line that the ddr3L can handle dual voltages but 3rd gen intel CPU,
which is backwards capable with my CPU slot square thingy -- where the CPU goes. some of the 3rd gen CPU's are made for the same rPGA988B

so the other question is with the motherboard using max 1333, if I put this i7 that can take up to 1600 ddr3 will the motherboard even accept it?

I know it will fall back to the slowest speed being 1333.


what dictates the volts and types of RAM the motherboard takes the CPU or some chip set on the MotherBoard, or does the BIOS too play some part in this as well?

Every major RAM manufacturer has a web-based memory configurator. Use one of them to find correct RAM.

I too use the web for what is recommended. However you may be able to use downlevel or uplevel speed/volts and in some cases up level speed ram.


To answer the bold part of the question. The motherboard design dictates the ram. Bios may have settings that allow a wide range of ram to be used manually or automatically picking the correct settings. Some boards bios's let you select way out of range settings (for ram used) but they would only let you select the settings that the board should handle.

that does not even come close to answering my question.

what dictates the RAM TYPE, if I change out CPU's and that CPU takes another higher or new type of RAM then can this new type pf RAM be used on the same board that once could not accept that type of RAM.

Which dictates that RAM type the Board or CPU?

The design of the board. That includes the chips selected and other features of the design.

Bios will only let you select the settings that the designer believes will be used for the wide array of parts that may be selected. You won't be able to pick some ram settings that won't be supported by the board.

The only thing that relies also on CPU is ECC, you need your CPU to support ECC in order to use it.

so its more motherboard due to the chip set more then the CPU itself regardless if you replace it with a newer CPU that can accept faster RAM speeds and lower voltage, and more RAM 32GB MAX with newer 2nd gen as apposed to the 16GB MAX with the older 2nd gen CPU. so one would still have to obey the old types of RAM limits ??

Why don't you try one of those "useless" memory configurators and see if they ask for your CPU?

this is not "what kind of RAM do I put into my current system" question.

this is not an ordinary upgrade of RAM it is a DOES A different CPU change the ability of the motherboard to handle a different type of RAM -- 1333 is top speed for an i5 (2nd gen) 1600 is top speed for an i7 (2nd gen) -- the motherboard was created to take both CPUs, but, what changes besdies the CPU?

the top speed of RAM types both being DDR3 but the speed changes does the CPU or MOTHERBOARD handle this?

if the manufactor build it with a i5 top speed RAM 1333 and someone drops in a i7 which is rated top speed RAM 1600 can that someone then Upgrade the RAM to 1600 along with the CPU and still have the RAM work at MAX speed, 1600?

that is what this post boiled down to.

Generally unless some oddity of frequency divider or multiplier shows up, no amount of CPU would switch how bios can select ram settings.


However now that you explain it a bit more I believe that the core series may have some effect on ram. Generally it is the side chipset that controls access to ram along with how cpu can access it. I still would think that the only way a cpu would affect ram is by some cpu support for side chips or some oddity of how bios selects parameters for that cpu.

Your manual for the motherboard almost always tells how to use cpu and ram settings. Do you have that manual read? That manual would tell or show if a cpu change would affect settings usually.

If the board has BIOS/Firmware that can handle the i7, then it will be able to use 1600 when a processor designed to use it is inserted. However, some manufacturers use slightly different firmware on otherwise identical boards that keeps them from being able to use faster processors.

As to the problem you ran into, it's most likely because you got DDR3L, not DDR3. DDR3L is designed to run at lower voltages than DDR3, it's perfectly fine at downclocking to run at 1333, but won't work at full voltage. If I remember correctly, DDR3L support was added with the 3rd generation core architecture, so 2nd generation chips won't recognize it, and nothing can be done to change that, regardless of the speed the cpu uses.

thank you for your decise answer. That last part was forming another question in my head as of yesturday. the spec sheet on this HP Elitebook 8460p reads i7 2720qm, Processor Base Frequency 2.2 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency 3.3 GHz. But logic tells me that this board has to have a (rPGA988B) socket because it is holding a i5 2520m 2.5GHz - Turbo 3.2GHz , but Intel makes a i7 2760qm 2.4 GHz turbo 3.5GHz and higher up to the i7-2820QM which the base Frequency drops to 2.3 GHz but the Max Turbo Frequency is 3.4 GHz.

two probelms if I was to upgrade to a i7 to drop the base speed below what my i5 is already running makes it slower over all. I do not see the point in it. Every time I've plugged in i5 2520 vs i7 wichever one it is, the i5 2520 always wins out according to the scale they use. in over all everything. CPUBOSS ...

trying to keep the cose under $100 for a CPU the extra 4 threads is the only real change, because it looks to me that the base Frequency do not improve they just add more cores to get more threads out of it. So I question myself it is really worth it to get an i7 just to see if it will get me better performace?

but what you just confirmed for me is that some people make the board so it will not even work with any processor that meets the requirments to fit in the slot. they (A$$ H0|es) still give it limits preventing the board to be used to its full potentual.



that is happened looking at numbers all of them different ones you have to check especailly after I type in '8GB DDR3 1333 204 pin' in the search window and eBay still gives me everything under the sun just so they can try to sell me anything they do not care all they want is their cut of the sale. I was looking at some brand I've never even heard of for 25$ 8GB stick then seen this kingston brand new never opened 8GB ddr3 stick for the same price with free shipping. that fit the bill, buy it get it, then find out it is not what I was needing, he posted the right numbers that do not come out nad state exaly what it is. I just diddnt look hard enough is all.

I'm not upset about it just disapointed that it is DDR3L 1600 and not just DDR3 1600 so it is entirely usless to me. Brand New never been used before lifetime warranty Kingston that is completely usless to me. they really need to stop making all of this different stuff like that.

life goes on.

So, buy a laptop with a 3rd generation core processor up to 5th generation core (6th generation uses DDR4), and you can use your DDR3L. OK, maybe spending a few $$$ more than you want, but it'll let you use it!

I was already playing with the idea of upgrading the CPU already ready ..so that basicly what I was leaning towards just go a head and ugrade the cpu that accepts 1600 but noooo its DDR3L 1600 not DDR3 1600 ..


ran that other one through my head too pay out 300 $ give or take just for a system that takes it just so I can use a 25 $ stick of 8GB Ram lol .... cost effect ? Hell YES LMAO

can't even use my other DDR3 8GB stick with a ~1.3V DDR3L because it uses ~1.5V

If you watch, you can get some really good deals on ebay. I just bought 2xElitebook Folio 1020 G1's that are 1080P 12.5", Core M-5Y71 (5th generation Core), 8 GB ram, 256 GB SSD for $850 TOTAL. Got one loaded with Debian for me and the other will get Windows 10 for my wife to carry with to school.