1600mhz 8GB modules downclock for Sandy Bridge

I am looking to buy 2x8gb RAM for a Sandy Bridge laptop running i7-2630qm. Officially they support 1333mhz RAM, but can I use 1600mhz instead? Is it going to detect a necessary frequency and downclock itself to 1333mhz? I would buy 1333mhz and don't bother, but surprisingly 1600mhz is slightly cheaper and easier to find.
Thanks

 

Hi,
I have a Sandy Bridge 2760qm CPU and am running 4x8gb @1600mhz. Think it should run at 1600 but will also work ok at 1333. It might set it to 1333 by default and have the option to change it in the bios, It depends on the laptop.

 

Thanks Fred,
The laptop is dell xps l502x. As far as I know it doesn't support 2x8gb of RAM officially but those who have tried to install it reported that it works without problems. We will see. I am going to buy 2x8gb 1600mhz Corsair Value Ram for it.

 

Mine is Corsair Vengeance. At the time I got it, it was the cheapest about and should not be much different to the value stuff so you should be ok.

 

I can confirm that 2x8gb 1600mhz Corsair modules work in XPS 15 2011. CPU-Z states that modules run at 798.2mhz 11-11-11-30 1:6 ratio. tRAS is a little bit higher than it should be, but everything seems to work.

 

Thanks for updating your thread with what worked, this is a great help for anyone searching for the same topic.

The performance difference between 1333MHz and 1600MHz is probably minimal but hey, who's complaining.

Make sure you run memtest86+ on that new memory for 24 hours to make sure it's stable:
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

 

Thanks. I plan to leave memtest86+ over night, but that's after I repaste CPU sometime this week I hope. Want to be sure that it doesn't overheat while running tests.