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    How can I tell if my laptop will be able to run the RAM at full clock speed?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by metrosuperstar, Jan 8, 2011.

  1. metrosuperstar

    metrosuperstar Notebook Consultant

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    Hi, I own a Clevo M570 with currently 4GB of PC3-8500 RAM. Crucial's memory advisor tool says I can upgrade to 8GB of PC3-8500 or PC3-10600. If I purchase the PC-10600 I want to make sure I will be able to use the extra speed I am paying for, rather than reducing its speed to 1066Mz. Is there any way I can find out if despite the PC-10600 being "compatible", if it will actually be capable of running at full speed on my system?
     
    metrosuperstar, Jan 8, 2011
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  2. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    simple, look up the capabilities of your chipset, what kind of memory clevo originally sold with your machine, and make an educated guess.
     
    newsposter, Jan 8, 2011
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  3. metrosuperstar

    metrosuperstar Notebook Consultant

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    CPU is Intel Mobile Core 2 Quad Q9000 @ 2.00Ghz
    Core speed is: 1596.0Mhz
    Multiplier is: x 6.0
    Bus Speed is: 266.0Mhz
    Rated FSB is: 1064.0 Mhz

    Does this give enough info to find out if PC-10600 could run at full 1333Mhz?
     
    metrosuperstar, Jan 8, 2011
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  4. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Intel ARK will tell you the answer. Either way memory speed won't affect performance at all, just get whichever is cheaper.
     
    sgogeta4, Jan 8, 2011
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  5. metrosuperstar

    metrosuperstar Notebook Consultant

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    Intel ARK showed that this for my processor:

    FSB Speed
    1066 MHz

    So, I guess this means that I wont see any difference in performance between RAM that runs at 1333Mhz (PC10600) and RAM that runs at 1066Mhz (PC-8500). Is this correct? The FSB speed for the chipset is the max that the RAM can go?

    Please confirm my understanding...

    PS> To sgogeta4: I'm writing from Toronto too!
     
    metrosuperstar, Jan 8, 2011
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  6. s2odin

    s2odin Merrica!

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    As stated before, yes.
     
    s2odin, Jan 8, 2011
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  7. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    They were asking about your chipset, not your CPU. RAM speed in the C2D era depends on the memory controller embedded in your chipset. From all appearances, though, it seems that the maximum RAM speed supported by that chipset is 1066 MHz.
     
    Judicator, Jan 8, 2011
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  8. metrosuperstar

    metrosuperstar Notebook Consultant

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    K, last question...I like Kingston for memory but Im not familiar with the ValueRAM line... comments? I use my laptop for RAM intensive apps, like Adobe rendering and music workstation...
     
    metrosuperstar, Jan 8, 2011
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  9. metrosuperstar

    metrosuperstar Notebook Consultant

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    Oops, chipset is PM45.
     
    metrosuperstar, Jan 8, 2011
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  10. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    As has been often stated by many others, RAM is RAM is RAM. Unless you're overclocking or playing around with it, just get the cheapest you can find with a lifetime warranty from a reputable company (which Kingston is). It's kind of like gasoline; no real reason to pick one brand over another beyond price, unless you have special needs.
     
    Judicator, Jan 8, 2011
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  11. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    Judicator, Jan 8, 2011
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  12. metrosuperstar

    metrosuperstar Notebook Consultant

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    Thank you. ;)
     
    metrosuperstar, Jan 8, 2011
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  13. metrosuperstar

    metrosuperstar Notebook Consultant

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    Hmm, just when I thought I was ready to buy...

    CPU-Z says my current memory is Dual Channel and Symmetric.

    But the Crucial website's Memory Advisor said that multi-channel support was unavailable or not applicable to my system. So I'm kinda confused now because I've found some cheap RAM by Corsair that does not specify Dual Channel, but then I found even cheaper RAM by GSkill that specifies MultiChannel Support for Dual channel.

    Advice?
     
    metrosuperstar, Jan 8, 2011
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  14. Panther214

    Panther214 Notebook Evangelist

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    Get the GSkill.. RAM is RAM.. crucial's memory checker isn't that accurate so i wouldn't trust it.. all you need is 2 sticks of the same RAM to get proper dual channel which is all you can get with core 2 architecture.

    Panther214
     
    Panther214, Jan 8, 2011
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  15. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Doesn't matter, won't make a difference in the end. Any kit with two sticks will perform under dual channel.
     
    sgogeta4, Jan 8, 2011
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  16. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    Dual channel is handled by the memory controller in the chipset, not by the RAM sticks. I don't know why the Memory Advisor says that multi-channel support is unavailable or not applicable. The Corsair RAM might not specify dual channel if it's an individual stick, which means it isn't specifically "matched" to be paired with another one. The GSkill might specify it if it is a kit, with 2 matched pairs. This is speculation on my part, since I don't know exactly which sticks you're looking at. In the end, though, Sgogeta4 is right; it doesn't really matter, they'll run in dual-channel anyway, unless one stick has different timings than the other.
     
    Judicator, Jan 9, 2011
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