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3177
April 13th, 2017 20:00
Dell 0KWVT8 XPS 8700 Motherboard underclocking RAM.
My dell 0KWVT8 motherboard seems to be underclocking my RAM by over 1000 MHz, and I want to fix it, but I'm worried about messing with bios. Any suggestions? I use PNY Anarchy RAM (Link Here): https://www.amazon.com/PNY-Anarchy-1866MHz-PC3-14900-Desktop/dp/B012DSZKV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492134315&sr=8-1&keywords=Pny+anarchy+ddr3
When I looked up my RAM in speccy, it says it's only running at 800 MHz, along with the other 8 gb of ram I got with the desktop, that also runs at 800 MHz.
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RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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April 14th, 2017 12:00
FIRST...there's a multiplier you have to apply to RAM speeds reported by Speccy.
Speccy shows the real clock speed of the RAM Since it's double data rate (DDR) RAM. the effective clock speed would be twice the number shown by Speccy.
SECOND.. the specs for the XPS 8700 say it only supports RAM up to 1600 MHz. So just because you installed 1866 MHz RAM doesn't mean the RAM will run at 1866.
downloads.dell.com/.../xps-8700_reference guide_en-us.pdf
Doesn't sound like there's a problem - to me...
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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April 14th, 2017 12:00
The other thing to consider is that the memory controller is aboard the CPU - the maximum memory speed is determined by the processor installed (as well as there being a limit, and the fact that DDR memory runs half as fast as the speed quoted -- for the exact reason quoted).
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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April 14th, 2017 12:00
And one more thingy.
Even if the XPS 8700 was able to support 1866 MHz RAM, all installed RAM would run at the speed of the SLOWEST. So with the 1600 MHz factory RAM installed, the 1866 MHz RAM would still only run at 1600.
But as I said above, the motherboard only supports up to 1600 MHz.
You're worrying about nothing!
ContemptGaming
2 Posts
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April 14th, 2017 13:00
Thank you, so it isn't underclocking my ram, it just doesn't support that much? I just wanted to make sure because I was worried it wasn't using half of it's potential.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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April 14th, 2017 14:00
PC only supports up to 1600 MHz. So if Speccy is showing 800, you're running at the max speed supported (2x800 = 1600 MHz) and the 1866 MHz RAM will only run at 1600.
Everything is A-OK!