How do I install RAM?

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Treeroy

Treeroy

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Jan 11, 2012
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New RAM arrived today and I haven't installed memory before. Is it just a matter of replacing the sticks and the speeds and everything will be sorted automatically? Or do I have to go into the BIOS first? The new sticks are different size, different speed and different timings.

Motherboard is an Asus F1A55-m LE, RAM is Corsair Vengeance LP 2x 4GB (1866MHz).

I just want to know if I can plug it in and play or if there's something I have to tune in the BIOS before using it.
 
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noise

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Apr 27, 2012
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Pop your new DIMMs in (with the PC switched off of course!). Enter the BIOS afterward to check they are running at the expected speed and adjust if necessary. Often DIMMs will be detected at speeds lower than their maximum potential so you have to push them up. I don't recommend doing this before inserting the new DIMMs as you might fry your old DIMMs.
 
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Treeroy

Treeroy

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Okay, I'll check that they're at the right speed.

Since it's dual-channel, does that mean they should actually be running at 933MHz? I ask because I've noticed before that my current RAM appears to run at 667MHz. (It's 1333)

 
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RCguitarist

RCguitarist

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Windows and programs like CPUID will see the ram at half the 1333 rating because they are seeing it's rated speed and not it's max potential speed. The DDR in the ram specs means "Double data rate" hance why your 667 ram runs at 1333. Your bios should see it at its DDR speed.

You motherboard should detect the new ram automatically and set itself up to utilize it proporly. But like was said before, check in the bios just to make sure it is reading right. if the bios shows the ram at 1866 or at 933, then it set itself up properly.
 
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Treeroy

Treeroy

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No I actually meant the BIOS showed it as running at 667MHz the other day.

Anyway, mission accomplished. I had to up the speed in the BIOS to 1866 from the default 1333, now working excellently. Thanks for the help!

 
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epicoverclock

epicoverclock

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download and install hwinfo. run prime95 and hwinfo and when the cpu throttles, sceenshot all the temperatures (it tells you the motherboard, gpu and cpu temps.

if its not the temperatures causing throttling then i dont know what else is causing it
 
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