What is DDR3 1600(O.C.)? Will DDR3 1600 work in an ASUS M4A78T-E?

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Motherboards What is DDR3 1600(O.C.)? Will DDR3 1600 work in an ASUS M4A78T-E?

I'm planning on buying an ASUS M4A78T-E motherboard, which "supports DDR3 memory that features data transfer rates of 1600(O.C.)/1333/1066 MHz."

I have no clue what "1600(O.C.)" means. Will regular DDR3 1600Mhz memory work in it? Or should I use 1333Mhz DDR3?

Reply to rozsand

O.C. means overclocked.

Reply to GhislainG

Does that mean non-overclocked 1600Mhz memory is incompatable? (I.e., the ASUS M4A78T-E only supports 1333Mhz DDR3 memory that's been overclocked to 1600Mhz)?

I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but newegg doesn't allow a refund if I buy the wrong RAM. It seems crazy to me that a motherboard will accept overclocked RAM, but not RAM which defaults to 1600Mhz.

Reply to rozsand

It means that 1600 MHz memory is supported by overclocking the memory controller.

Check the QVL before getting 1600 MHz memory. You can't install more than 2 of those modules. Can you live with that limitation?

You can install 4 modules of 1333 MHz RAM (when column C is checked).

Reply to GhislainG

memory is backward compatible it will read in bios as 1333 if you
overclock your fsb the memory will allso go higher
if your not going to oc 1333 is the highest officially supported

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Reply to marco324

marco324 wrote :

memory is backward compatible it will read in bios as 1333 if you
overclock your fsb the memory will allso go higher
if your not going to oc 1333 is the highest officially supported

I have this board and have tried to add 1600 memory (OC) and have found that it results in errors that only Memtest86+ could find (Prime95 ran for 24 hours without a hitch).. the result was that some memory hog programs (like Fallout 3 at high graphic setttings) would run unstable.
Make sure that the memory you get is on the list of compatible 1600 sticks in the MB documentation

Reply to sberesni

I will just add really quick that I spent a fair amount of time playing with timings and voltages with the memory to try to get it to pass the memtest86+ tests, but I certainly dont think I did a completely comprehensive job.
My knowledge of memory overclocking is limited to DRAM command rate timings and voltage settings, which I dont think is all of the possible things you can configure to overclock memory.

Reply to sberesni

i accidently bought a 1600 RAM but I just realize that I bought a MOBO that saids DDR3 1600(O.C)/1333. Am i ok? Im not planning on OC though....

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Reply to pdpAchilles

pdpAchilles wrote :

i accidently bought a 1600 RAM but I just realize that I bought a MOBO that saids DDR3 1600(O.C)/1333. Am i ok? Im not planning on OC though....

Just from what I have been reading, and from the prior posts here, I think you are okay. Basically, my understanding is that, if you put 1600 in a MB that supports 1600(OC)/1333, the 1600 sticks you put in will default to 1333, and run at 1333, which would mean it is not running at the speed you bought it for (or bought by mistake). However, you can go into your BIOS and change the settings to get the memory to clock at 1600 - which is its potential. But other than that, the 1600 will just be read by the BIOS and MB as 1333, so you are fine, there shouldn't be any real problem.

Edit: I am not an expert in any fashion, so please correct me if I am wrong.

Message edited by jared51182 on 08-24-2009 at 12:30:51 AM

Reply to jared51182

Usually, what it means is that the speed specified as OC isn't officially supported by the memory controller, but it has been tested by the mobo manufacturer and works fine regardless. I wouldn't worry about it.

Message edited by cjl on 08-24-2009 at 08:44:58 AM

Reply to cjl

I know this is an old post but for anyone who happens upon it I have the same board and am running the 1600 without issue.

Also, despite what one of the posters said some 1600 sticks are supported in all 4 slots. Check the QVL for that info.

Reply to imgod82203

I have the same MB and made the same "mistake" and the memory works fine.

Reply to rareandfirsts

Hi, My ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP has the same thing, if you read your manual it will tell you that if you use the 1600 then you can only put it in DIMM's 1 & 2, I think mine says I can put one in slot 3 as well, not 100% sure on that.
I took no notice of it at first but after 3 or 4 sticks crashed I decided to check DOH!!! thank god for life tome warranties aye.
Anyway read your manual and see where and how much you can use, cheers Bill.

Reply to snafu11

I bought a gigabyte 790xta-ud4 mobo. I wanted to use corsair 4 gig kit that is xms3 series DDR3 Ram. It defaults to 1333mhz when I look at my bios, by award. Does any one know what voltage I should use when going for 1600Mhz through the bios set up? When I stay at default 1.5v with x8 1600 Mhz speed, the system utility says it is not supporting 1600 Mhz just 1333.

Message edited by xxsoulhunterxx on 05-03-2010 at 12:04:11 PM

Reply to xxsoulhunterxx

Sorry to resurrect an old topic; ASUS P8P67-M mobo. I want to use the G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM; The G.Skill support page says that the motherboard is supported but the official documentation from ASUS does not list it. Does this just mean they didn't test this specific kit? I wanted a CAS 8 1.5v 8GB kit at 1600mhz with only two chips and this seemed like the only suitable option.

I'm gonna go ahead and order it but I would really appreciate a vote of confidence.

Message edited by shallow_breath on 05-23-2012 at 02:11:18 PM

Reply to shallow_breath