Question about 1st generation i3-i5-i7 processors and memory compatibility

[GSake]

Hello,

I have this system since Feb,2010:

CPU: i3-530 @ 2.93GHz (LGA1156 socket)

motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H57M-USB3 (ver1.0)

Memory: CORSAIR 2x2 GB TW3X4G1333C9A (XMS3, 1333MHz, 2x2 GB, 9-9-9-24, 1.5V, ver2.2)

Lately, I decided to upgrade my memory. Motherboard has 4 sockets and its manual says that it supports memory up to 16 GB, 4GB per socket.

i3 530 supports memory up to 16GB.

So, I decided to buy 2 more modules of 4GB each and have a total of 12 GB memory.

I bought 2 single modules of CMX4GX3M1A1333C9 (XMS3, 1333MHz, 2x2 GB, 9-9-9-24, 1.5V, ver7.21). Although they are compatible with the motherboard, they did not work.

CORSAIR informed me that the problem is incompatibility of 1st generation i3 processors with modules over 2GB.

This is what they told me: "The first generation i3 processors can only utilize memory modules using up to 2Gb IC".

I wanted to ask you if this is a problem with all 1st generation processors (i3, i5, i7) as I saw somewhere else. And if so, why there is no such information for customers.

Regards,

George.

[Kevin_M_Intel]

Hello bbj,

Based on the processor Datasheet, you can use memory sticks of 1GB and 2GB only but no more than that. You can check this in the following link, page 12:

https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/pentium/core-i5-600-i3-500-pentium-6000-datasheet-vol-1.html https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/pentium/core-i5-600-i3-500-pentium-6000-datasheet-vol-1.html

Kevin M

[GSake]

Hello Kevin, thank you for your reply.

Does this happen for all of the 1st generation i3-i5-i7 processors?

If not, is there a list of 1st generation i-processors that support memory sticks of 4 GB ?

[GSake]

I found this list

http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3307 http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=3307

Could you tell me which models from this list support 4 GB per memory stick?

[GSake]

The Lynnfield processors of the above list can use memory sticks more than 2GB?

[Kevin_M_Intel]

You can check the processors datasheet at this link:

Intel® Core™ i7 Processor Series Datasheet, Vol. 1, Page 11:

https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/core/core-i7-900-ee-and-desktop-processor-series-datasheet-vol-1.html https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/core/core-i7-900-ee-and-desktop-processor-series-datasheet-vol-1.html

Intel® Core™, Pentium® Desktop Processor Series Datasheet, Vol. 1, Page 11:

https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/pentium/core-i5-600-i3-500-pentium-6000-datasheet-vol-1.html https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/pentium/core-i5-600-i3-500-pentium-6000-datasheet-vol-1.html

Intel® Core™ i7-800/i5-700 Desktop Processors: Datasheet, Vol. 1, Page 11:

https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/intelligent-systems/piketon/core-i7-800-i5-700-desktop-datasheet-vol-1.html https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/intelligent-systems/piketon/core-i7-800-i5-700-desktop-datasheet-vol-1.html

Checking all these documents, I can say that first generation processors support memory sticks up to 2GB.

[GSake]

Many many thanks Kevin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards,

George

[Kevin_M_Intel]

You are more than welcome!

[RMill16]

Hi Bbj, I have a Dell Studio laptop I bought in 2010 and came with an Intel Core i7 processor and I 4gigs memory. I later increased the mem to 8gig and now thinking of increasing it again. I have as told by a Dell tech that men can only be increased by squires after 2gig... 1gig, 2gig, 4,g, 8g,16,g and so on. Therefore 12gig would only show 8gig according to my understanding. If you learn different, please let me know. Good luck.

[RMill16]

If I'm not mistaken, memory can only progress by squares 1gig, 2g, 4g, 8g, 16g ... Therefore 12gig would only show 8gig. I maybe wrong, but this s is what I have as told long ago and yet to be disputed as far as I know. Please let me know if you learn different.