This page tells you what you can use at a maximum on your motherboard, depending on your system type (desktop or laptop) and chipset/CPU.
Generally, you should NOT try to put faster RAM than your chipset/CPU supports, or else you may encounter crashing, freezing, and who knows what else? Simply avoid it.
Intel-based 2006-2008 Laptops
In older laptops, memory support is judged by the chipset.
| Chipset | Year | Max CPU FSB | Max RAM capacity & speed | Notes |
|---|
| Mobile Intel 940/943GML | 2006 | 533MHz | 2GB DDR2-533 | X |
| Mobile Intel 945GM/PM/GME | 2006 | 667MHz | 4GB DDR2-667 | 1 |
| Mobile Intel GM/PM965 | 2007 | 800MHz | 8GB DDR2-667 | X |
| Mobile Intel GL40 | 2008 | 800MHz | 8GB DDR2-800/DDR3-1066 | X |
| Mobile Intel GS40 | 2008 | 800MHz | 4GB DDR2-800/DDR3-1066 | X |
| Mobile Intel GM/PM45 | 2008 | 1066MHz | 8GB DDR2-800/DDR3-1066 | 2 |
- Only supports 32-bit memory addressing; only up to 3.5GB will be usable, no matter how much you go above it.
- RAM generation depends on your motherboard. DDR2 boards cannot take DDR3 or vice versa.
Intel-based 2009-now Laptops
In newer laptops, memory support is judged by the CPU.
| CPU | Year | Max RAM capacity & speed |
|---|
| Core i7 1st-gen Quad-Core | 2009 | 8GB DDR3-1333 |
| Celeron/Pentium/Core 1st-gen Dual-Core | 2010 | 8GB DDR3-1066 |
| Core i7 Extreme 2nd-gen | 2011 | 16GB DDR3-1600 |
| Core i7 2nd-gen Quad-Core | 2011 | 16GB DDR3-1333 |
| Core i3/i5/i7 2nd-gen Dual-Core | 2011 | 8GB DDR3-1333 |
| Pentium/Core i3/i5/i7 3rd-gen | 2012 | 32GB DDR3-1600 |
| Core i3/i5/i7 4th-gen Dual-Core | 2013 | 32GB DDR3/DDR3L-1600 |
| Core i7 4th-gen Quad-Core | 2014 | 32GB DDR3L-1600 |
| Core i3 5th-gen | 2015 | 8GB DDR3L-1600 |
| Core i5/i7 5th-gen Dual-Core | 2015 | 16GB DDR3L-1600 |
| Core i7 5th-gen Quad-Core | 2015 | 32GB DDR3L-1866 |
| Core i3 6th-gen | 2015 | 32GB DDR4-2133 |
| Core i5/i7 6th-gen | 2015 | 32GB DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133 |
| Core i3/i5/i7 7th-gen “U”-models | 2016 | 32GB DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133 |
| Core i5/i7 7th-gen Quad-Core | 2017 | 64GB DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2400 |
| Core i3/i5/i7 8th-gen “U”-models | 2017 | 32GB DDR4-2400 |
| Core i7 8th-gen Hexa-Core & 8th-gen “H”-model i5s | 2018 | 64GB DDR4-2667 |