Llano DDR3 1600mhz compatability

Hey there!

I just picked up a DV6-6128ca from Bestbuy about a weeek ago and am loving every bit of it. What I was most impressed about was the fact that it's advertised as having a A6-3400m cpu on the website, but when I purchased it, I noticed that it actually has a A6-3410MX cpu in it instead! Niceee...

Specs:

A6-3410mx (HD 6520G)
HD 6750m (GDDR5 1gb)
HD 6755G2 Dual
4GB 1333 (3.45 useable)
750gb 5400 (swapped out for momentus XT 500gb)
720p screen (1366x768)

All for 599CDN + tax. So happy.

So my question is, how is the compatability with sodimm ddr3 1600mhz memory with the Pavillion DV6's? My notebook only has 3.45gb useable and I need more memory for programs I use associated with protein synthesis, so it's already a done deal that the memory will be maxed out to 8gb. I just though that since the CPU is sucking 45W instead of 35W, I had might as well get all the performance I can get especially considering how bandwidth dependent these APUs are.

Anybody have any knowledge on the subject?? I know that the memory controller on the CPU is rated as supporting 1600mhz memory, but I just don't know if HP came along and fudged up something along the way? I would call CS, but I have a feeling that I would be better off talking to the wall.

Thanks in advance!

 

Bump for input!

 

here are two good articles to read about the difference in memory speed on this type of platform... this is on the desktop chips but they are practically the same as the laptop versions so the same rules will apply.

to sum it up you do see a pretty noticeable improvement moving from 1333 to 1600

AnandTech - The AMD A8-3850 Review: Llano on the Desktop

Making Memory Performance Matter Again : AMD A8-3850 Review: Llano Rocks Entry-Level Desktops

 

If I understand it right, the MX processors (like your A6-3410MX) can handle 1600 mhz, but the M processors (for example, the A6-3400M and A8-3500M) only handle 1333 speeds.

 

Novaguy's got the right answer. But maybe AMD will pull an Intel and the chips will support speeds that they are not advertised as supporting (e.g. i7-2630qm 1600mhz support).

 

@ R3d can you link an article on this ? I am interested
Thanks,
shasta7

 

I may be wrong here, but I think what he is asking is if HP put support for 1600 ram on the motherboard. I know AMD says the MX mobile chips will support it, but I don't know if HP can choose to not support it with the motherboard design. If someone more knowledgeable on this could weigh in on this, it would be appreciated. I should have mine by next week and if we don't have a definate answer I will probably bite the bullet order 8Gb of 1600 and try it.

 

About the memory support? Here's the specs from AMD's website (Look at the "DDR3 Speed" column).

About the i7 and 1600mhz RAM? Here's a link, but apparently you have to OC the RAM in BIOS.

@67tempest: Well, the memory controller is integrated onto the APU die... There might be a problem with using XMP profiles but that can probably be solved by just using non XMP 1600mhz RAM.

 

The Kingston "Plug N Play" RAM does eliminate the need to OC the RAM in BIOS and it run well in the Intel version of DV6.