Required : DDR3L RAM compatibility crash course

[ItsJohnny]

I have a laptop from 2013 that I want to add another ram stick to. Problem is, I do not know how RAM compatibility works for laptops.

I read some reviews on DDR3L RAMs on amazon and I got to know that I should match every single detail(from CPU-z) of my current RAM to the one I'm planning to add.

They told not to have any sort of mismatch, no matter how small. So I am confused as to what should I look for when doing a memory upgrade as I do not want to just go by what amazon reviews say.

 

These are my current memory specs, if they are of any use:

 

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

 

Update :

I went to a local hardware shop and asked the dude to do his thing and he installed the other stick. Turns out, it is 1.5V , yet it still works ( Atleast in normal situations, I haven't stress tested the memory ). He did not make any changes in the bios, just plopped in a stick and handed the laptop to me.

 

Spoiler

 

[Haro]

Make sure they have the same specs 

More importantly the latency as the frequency for the most part doesn't matter if it was different (although the cpu will run all sticks at the same speed at the slowest stick) 

And please check the compatibility list for your laptops board 

It should be on their site

[Dedayog]

Why do you think you have DDR3L?  This is what you have according to that model number...

 

Micron 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 1600MHz Laptop Memory 

 

Any of these will work...

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=16ktf-51264hz-1g6m1&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS879US879&oq=16ktf-51264hz-1g6m1&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.5638j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

 

 

[Jurrunio]

Then you must get DDR3L, laptops that use DDR3L often dont raise voltage when you put DDR3 in them.

 

5 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Why do you think you have DDR3L?  This is what you have according to that model number...

 

Micron 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 1600MHz Laptop Memory 

 

Any of these will work...

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=16ktf-51264hz-1g6m1&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS879US879&oq=16ktf-51264hz-1g6m1&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.5638j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

 

 

SPD profiles specify 1.35v, so it's DDR3L

[Dedayog]

Just now, Jurrunio said:

Then you must get DDR3L, laptops that use DDR3L often dont raise voltage when you put DDR3 in them.

 

SPD profiles specify 1.35v, so it's DDR3L

Interesting, the model number comes up as regular DDR3. Am I missing something?

[ItsJohnny]

8 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Why do you think you have DDR3L?

I guess because the voltage was showing as 1.35v and DDR3 ram sticks I checked online had 1.5v and I assumed the L meant low powered/laptop.

I see that CPU-z does say the RAM type as DDR3 along with the part number page

So, are DDR3L and DDR3 intercompatible?

[Jurrunio]

8 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Interesting, the model number comes up as regular DDR3. Am I missing something?

My search results for the modrl number either dont mention voltage or specify 1.35v

[ItsJohnny]

20 minutes ago, TofuHaroto said:

Make sure they have the same specs 

More importantly the latency ...

This first one says the CAS latency is 9-9-9-28, and the one which I have already in my laptop has the CAS latency of 9-9-9-24 ( if I'm not looking at the wrong numbers. Am I? )

So if I buy this first G.Skill stick, will it work for my device.

And This second one has the CAS latency of 9-9-9-24 but it says DDR3 and has a voltage of 1.5V.

So which one should be the one I get? The first or the second?

[Jurrunio]

21 minutes ago, ItsJohnny said:

I guess because the voltage was showing as 1.35v and DDR3 ram sticks I checked online had 1.5v and I assumed the L meant low powered/laptop.

I see that CPU-z does say the RAM type as DDR3 along with the part number page

So, are DDR3L and DDR3 intercompatible?

They are compatible if you get RAM voltage control, sadly you don't on most laptops.

[ItsJohnny]

On 5/26/2020 at 10:30 PM, Jurrunio said:

They are compatible if you get RAM voltage control, sadly you don't on most laptops.

Hey, I updated the post.

The new RAM has 1.5V and it works well(till now) without any tweaks.

[Jurrunio]

27 minutes ago, ItsJohnny said:

Hey, I updated the post.

The new RAM has 1.5V and it works well(till now) without any tweaks.

Then either the hardware is capable of.adjusting voltage according to SPD (my old laptop doesnt) or it's running 1.5V all along even if you use DDR3L on it.

[i_build_nanosuits]

1 minute ago, Jurrunio said:

Then either the hardware is capable of.adjusting voltage according to SPD (my old laptop doesnt) or it's running 1.5V all along even if you use DDR3L on it.

Or..more likely...the machine automatically set the ram to what it's standard is which is 1.3v

 

Op it's all good. Don't worry, your upgrade is complete and it'll work fine forever.

[Jurrunio]

16 minutes ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

Or..more likely...the machine automatically set the ram to what it's standard is which is 1.3v

 

When has DDR3 ever used 1.3V standard?

[i_build_nanosuits]

18 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

When has DDR3 ever used 1.3V standard?

Not what I meant ...I mean the laptop is probably set in the bios to use 1.3v for DRAM regardless of what Memory stick is installed.

[Jurrunio]

8 minutes ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

Not what I meant ...I mean the laptop is probably set in the bios to use 1.3v for DRAM regardless of what Memory stick is installed.

So it's meant to undervolt all sticks going in? Hmmm now I wanna OC that 1.5V stick

[i_build_nanosuits]

1 minute ago, Jurrunio said:

So it's meant to undervolt all sticks going in? Hmmm now I wanna OC that 1.5V stick

It's a laptop...you won't be pushing 1.5v through anytime soon.

[Jurrunio]

28 minutes ago, i_build_nanosuits said:

It's a laptop...you won't be pushing 1.5v through anytime soon.

SODIMM to DIMM adapter is a thing

[i_build_nanosuits]

Just now, Jurrunio said:

SODIMM to DIMM adapter is a thing

I'm sure you will still have issues pushing 1.5v even if you try really hard...