Memory, Motherboard, FSB, compatibility question

Question

If I have memory spec'd at 1066mhz and a motherboard with a FSB of 800mhz, will the memory be able to run at 1066mhz?

Bios shows memory is 800mhz. Dell reps said that is wrong. It should still show 1066mhz even though the motherboard isn't able to run at that speed. Am I right in thinking that the memory is geared down to meet the motherboards speed and the bios will show the speed the memory is running at and not what it's spec'd at?

Any documentation that can explain the correct answer would be helpful too....

Thanks for the help.

RaggzTN · Answer

I apologize. It's the xps 1640

ejn63 · Answer

It's just about impossible to point you to that, without knowing exactly which model you're asking about.

RaggzTN · Answer

any documentation that can back that up?

ejn63 · Answer

If the system uses a Core 2, the memory is DDR-2 and either 667 or 800 MHz depending on the CPU.

If it's a Core i system, which uses DDR-3, it's either 800 MHz or 1066 (again, depending on the CPU).

The tech specs on the PM45 chipset are here:

http://www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/datasheet/320122.pdf

The Studio XPS 16 was/is built both ways - depends on your CPU and RAM type as to which mainboard you get (DDR-2 or -3; they're mutually exclusive).

ejn63 · Answer

Depends on the system model -- only the newer Core i systems will run memory at 1066 MHz.  If you have an older Core 2 system (even one with a 1066 MHz FSB) it will not.

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Memory, Motherboard, FSB, compatibility question

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