Vostro 470 Memory Upgrade

Question

I just got a Dell Vostro 470 and it was equipped with 4GB @ 1333 MHz , which is really inadequate for Windows 10.  The owners manual states that this computer can run 1600 MHz RAM.  Dell Command|Update reports that my computer is up to date I went to Newegg and used to their memory configurator to order the following upgrade: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M2A1600C9 My computer now runs great but I see that the memory speed is still 1333 MHz.  Since there doesn't appear to be a memory speed setting in the BIOS, how do I get my computer to recognize the faster speed of this RAM?

Vostro470 · Answer

Thanks for the prompt response.  I wasn't expecting a reply that quickly. Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3450 CPU @ 3.10GHz 3.10 GHz

U2CAMEB4ME · Answer

Welcome to the Dell Community @Vostro470

The memory speed is dependent on the CPU and the slowest speed of any memory installed.

The system will clock down the faster memory to that speed.

What CPU do you have installed???

Best regards,

U2

Vostro470 · Answer

I tried both options.  I wasn't sure if having more RAM offsets a faster clock speed so I ran Novabench and found that running 2x4GB + 2x8GB get a slightly better score than 2 x 8GB.  I only discovered that the memory speed hadn't changed for only running the 2 faster sticks from the benchmarking test.

U2CAMEB4ME · Answer

@Vostro470  CPU is good. Have you tried just running the 2 ' CORSAIR ' sticks??? Then check the speed. The system will run at the slowest speed of the slowest memory installed. Regards, U2

Vostro

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