Use faster RAM than what CPU vendor suggests

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R_1
if the voltages are okay it should down clock to the slower speed. you just will not be able to use it at full speed.
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soewhaty

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OK, and the speed the system can take I suppose is, as indicated by Intel http://ark.intel.com/products/53469/Intel-Core-i7-2670QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_10-GHz 1333? So even if I use DDR3 2133 it will perform as if it were 1333 at most?

If that's correct then I suppose the only meaningful upgrade would be to slot in 2x8gb instead of the current 2x4gb ... that ought to make things better, at least when having loads of ram-hungry apps running in the same time, eh?
 
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Tradesman1

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In what regards? The interleaving increases overall performance whether in in single channel or dual channel mode, however in dual channel you can see up to a roughly 10-15% increase. Theoretically, dual channel should double the overall bandwidth but it just doesn't happen
 
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soewhaty

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Thanks! And the speed the system can take I suppose is, as indicated by Intel http://ark.intel.com/products/53469/Intel-Core-i7-2670Q... 1333? So even if I use DDR3 2133 it will perform as if it were 1333 at most, right?

If that's correct then I suppose the only meaningful upgrade in my case would be to slot in 2x8gb instead of the current 2x4gb ... at least when having loads of ram-hungry apps running in the same time, eh?
 
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soewhaty

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Other than with CPU-z, how otherwise can I check if my RAM is running in dual channel mode? I'm asking because on another PC I have 2x4gb same RAM sticks, but CPU-Z says they are not in dual channel mode. And that tells me that perhaps I didn't buy the sticks in a kit, but separately instead, and maybe that's the reason cpu-z shows ram isn't in dual channel mode.

EDIT: http://diaryofdennis.com/2012/11/12/how-to-check-if-your-computer-memory-is-running-in-dual-channel-mode/ this is what I was referring to when I mentioned cpu-z
 
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soewhaty

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Ermm alright but how can i check other than with cpu-z whether i'm in dual or single mode ..?
The notebook in question is 'Compaq Presario CQ50-112EO' and it ain't got really advanced BIOS settings, so i can't tweak anything from there, as far as I recall. Anything in particular to look for (although i'm pretty sure i've looked through it all and no RAM options were present)? As a comparison to the BIOS of the Compaq Presario CQ50-112EO, my HP Pavilion dv7-6b76eo does allow me to access its advanced BIOS upon booting by pressing f10+a. So unless someone knows the trick to access the advanced BIOS mode on the Compaq Presario CQ50-112EO then I don't recall being able to tweak any RAM stuff in the standard BIOS mode.
 
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R_1

R_1

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it may have been removed from the BIOS. I cannot find a way to access the hidden part of the BIOS. I thought it was worth a look.

"but how can i check other than with cpu-z whether i'm in dual or single mode ..?"

in the bios disable the splash screen/full screen logo. disable fast boot/quick boot<- doing this the system will check the ram, the ram check will take a few seconds and on the screen it should tell you the configuration of the memory. before you boot windows no less.

when you are done verifying, be sure to re-enable fast boot. the splash screen/logo is up to you if you want to or not.
 
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R_1

R_1

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no it should be in the BIOS unless it is in the hidden area.
I just skimmed the user manual for your laptop and the service manual, the HP, I couldn't find anything on the advanced settings but that is a simple BIOS. from what I can gather the memory test (triggered by quick/fast boot) has to be triggered in the self diagnostics, so the advice I gave about earlier about the splash screen and quick boot would seem to not apply here.

 
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soewhaty

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1. User manual AND the service manual, you say? Is this the service manual for the Compaq Presario CQ50-112EO www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01572022.pdf cos I wasn't sure ... and where is the user manual then .. couldn't find it?

2. If I didn't buy the RAM modules as a kit but instead separately is it guaranteed that they will run in single mode instead of dual?

3. Alright .. so your advice doesn't apply. Rats! No other way to check what mode my RAM is in - single/dual? Gotta be something...
 
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R_1

R_1

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if the modules have different timings, voltages, then they may not run in dual channel mode.
even the same model/manufacturer ram units may not work in dual channel unless sold together as a kit. kits are tested to match in all the ways that matter.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01662442 this is the setup utility manual, HP talk for BIOS, such as it is. I have literally seen more detailed descriptions in toy manuals.

here is the page with all the guides for that series
http://support.hp.com/gb-en/product/Compaq-Presario-CQ50-Notebook-PC-series/3739787/model/3758202/manuals.

that was the service manual you have, and everything in the user manual is in there. Or it was in your model.
 
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soewhaty

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Yeah .. thanks for the info. 'I have literally seen more detailed descriptions in toy manuals.' - could not have put it better myself.

Last question - since I didn't buy the RAM modules I have in right now as a kit then is there a way I could now purchase 1 extra module of 4gb that would work in dual channel mode with either one of the 2 modules I currently have? It's not possible, right? Cos as you said they can only work in dual-channel if they are sold together as a kit, so I have no way of ever finding in the whole world another 4gb ram stick that would work in dual-channel with either one of the 2 ram sticks i have in right now. Rats! That means I have to buy 2x4gb kit now ... should have known this info back then when I was buying the ram sticks. I was thinking I bought them as a kit, but it turns out I was wrong... I must have bought them separately cos otherwise they'd work in dual channel? Is it possible that I actually bought them as a kit and they worked in dual-channel mode but now something got messed up and they no longer work in dual channel mode?
 
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R_1

R_1

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not only work if in a kit, guaranteed to work in a kit.
I have heard of people using different brand units but dual channel working. its a crap shoot, a coin toss, unless they are in a kit.
if you can test the ram stick you want to keep, timings, voltage, speed. look for a replacement with those same settings or as close as you can find, it just increases the odds a bit, but still this is no guarantee.

if the budget is a major variable in the equation, you can try used RAM. you can get a deal on a used set. most memories have a lifetime warranty.
 
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soewhaty

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yeah, yeah, that's what i was saying ... if they are in a kit, it will definitely work in dual-channel mode. My problem is that i don't remember how i bought it ... in a kit or not. I got some contrary results from cpu-z and AIDA and now they confuse me even further. Aida says dual (however unganged) whereas cpu-z says nothing/blank ... implying single mode IMHO... that's why i'm trying to explore all possible ways to reach to the truth i.e. am I running in dual or single mode. I have 15 different programs similar to aida and cpu-z ... all for pc specs and stats. The thing is ... what can i do when i get those contrary results, as i got from aida vs cpu-z. where's the truth? nobody knows.

You're prolly right ... buy a kit ... new or used. at least this way i'm sure it will work in dual! :)

Edit: sorry, had to edit the comment a bit, cos i got mixed ...
 
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