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Intel Corp.’s latest “Skylake” processors officially support only DDR3L and DDR4 memory, but there are motherboards for the new chips that can also use DDR3. While the chips can work with previous-gen memory, prolonged usage of such dynamic random access memory (DRAM) can damage microprocessors, according to Intel.
DDR4 memory has default voltage of 1.2V, whereas DDR3L memory has 1.35V supply voltage. By contrast, default voltage of DDR3 is 1.5V. Moreover, some enthusiast-class DDR3 have 1.65V supply voltage. DDR3 and DDR3L are compatible and DDR3 modules will work with Intel “Skylake” processors, however, 1.5V memory voltage can damage integrated memory controller of the central processing unit, according to Intel.
Even if DDR3 works initially on an appropriate LGA1151 motherboard, there is no guarantee that under stress the memory controller will not break down over time, reports Tom’s Hardware.
It should be noted that there are DDR3 memory modules with 1.35V default voltage. There are also DDR3L modules available from companies like Kingston.
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KitGuru Says: It looks like if you plan to use Intel “Skylake” processors, you should upgrade to DDR4 and not stick to your current modules…
So if you kill your DDR3 bit will the DDR4 bit still work?
Since when did VDIMM voltage come from the memory controller in the CPU? Last I checked it comes from the motherboard’s memory power phases
Well, not afaik, from what I’m reading basically using DDR3 memories can quite literally damage the CPU itself to the point where it just doesn’t work because of the voltages having a prolonged affect. No matter if you use DDR4 memories from then on, or more like try to, it will just not work at all. It’s not the memory that gets damaged, it’s the CPU. At least that’s what I’m getting out of this article.
So if you want to overclock your RAM you will burn the CPU? Sounds like a deal breaker for enthusiastics.
Good point, but I’m guessing that the memory controller on the chip operates at certain settings that relate to the RAM voltage, not necessarily receiving that voltage (1.3, 1.5, or even 1.65v). I’d have to read and learn more about Intel’s Skylake memory controller, but it is likely operating outside normal operating settings when using the DDR3. Maybe this is similar to overclocking a CPU, without adjusting voltages, which could still damage the chip.
serious prob…..only one solution – ditch ddr3 nd jump to ddr4 coz intel cant teach everyone,, on other side if some thing go wrong people will blame innocent intel.
If you want to overclock the ram you can just use DDR4 which is much faster anyway. The DDR3 compatibility is just so people don’t have to change their RAM if they already have DDR3L, makes the upgrade cheaper.
But it says the problem pop from the higher voltage of ddr3, so if you want to increase the voltage in ddr4 is fine with the cpu?
This is like when suddenly, the only voltage allowed for ram even for the nehalem/westmere generation was 1,5, when at first all ddr3 had 1,65 as standard, and if you had a 1,65 ram they told you it was out of spec and maybe would not give you a warranty substitution.
Good point.
I can’t understand those statements about voltage yet, more word from MotherBoards vendors need to come out. And by the way i don’t see any performance increase in ddr4 yet, bad timings. Good ddr3 from any brand beats ddr4. You only use mhz if you are using integrated grafic. Benchmarks show ddr3 ahead of ddr4 in almost all games with discreet grafics. To realy see the value of ram you need to calculate frequêncy/timmings.
i hope some MB vendors can clarify us soon enough how they are ocing for ddr3 1.5 ou 1.65.
The IMC gets it’s own power from the board, it’s completely different. It’s labelled as IOD/IOA + System agent voltage in the BIOS. Voltage given to RAM should be COMPLETELY separated from the rest of the memory circuitry. I think this is Intel / memory manufacturers trying to scare people into just buying DDR4.
There’s extreme overclockers that have been messing with 1.7v-1.85v on the RAM for months now since Skylake was just engineering sample, even with X99, and I haven’t seen a single complaint about anyone killing their CPU’s or IMC’s with lots of RAM voltage.
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Not all DDR3 modules are 1.5V. Tons of DDR3 even years ago was already running at 1.35V.
and what this have to do with what we said so far?
I think it’s more like a FUD.Intel wants people to move to DDR4 so they can sell their new processors and help those who depend on Intel technologies who make RAMs, Motherboards. so Intel scared people.
Can someone please link the statement from intel regarding this, I haven’t been able to find it http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/search.html?toplevelcategory=none&keyword=skylake+ddr3+IMC