Equivalent RAM Speed Reference

This is a solution article that explains what memory names are the same as another. For example, DDR-400 and PC-3200 are one and the same.

DDR/PC 

Friendly NameIndustry Name
DDR-200PC-1600
DDR-266PC-2100
DDR-333PC-2700
DDR-400PC-3200

DDR2/PC2 

Friendly NameIndustry Name
DDR2-400PC2-3200
DDR2-533PC2-4200
DDR2-667PC2-5300
DDR2-800PC2-6400
DDR2-1066PC2-8500

DDR3/PC3 

Friendly NameIndustry Name
DDR3-800PC3-6400
DDR3-1066PC3-8500
DDR3-1333PC3-10600
DDR3-1600PC3-12800
DDR3-1866PC3-14900
DDR3-2133PC3-17000

DDR4/PC4 

Friendly NameIndustry Name
DDR4-1600PC4-12800
DDR4-1866PC4-14900
DDR4-2133PC4-17000
DDR4-2400PC4-19200
DDR4-2667PC4-21333
DDR4-2933PC4-23466
DDR4-3000PC4-24000
DDR4-3200PC4-25600

Supported Maximum RAM Per Computer Platform

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.

ChipsetYearMax CPU FSBMax RAM capacity & speedNotes
Mobile Intel 940/943GML2006533MHz2GB DDR2-533X
Mobile Intel 945GM/PM/GME2006667MHz4GB DDR2-6671
Mobile Intel GM/PM9652007800MHz8GB DDR2-667X
Mobile Intel GL402008800MHz8GB DDR2-800/DDR3-1066X
Mobile Intel GS402008800MHz4GB DDR2-800/DDR3-1066X
Mobile Intel GM/PM4520081066MHz8GB DDR2-800/DDR3-10662
  1. Only supports 32-bit memory addressing; only up to 3.5GB will be usable, no matter how much you go above it.
  2. 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.

CPUYearMax RAM capacity & speed
Core i7 1st-gen Quad-Core20098GB DDR3-1333
Celeron/Pentium/Core 1st-gen Dual-Core20108GB DDR3-1066
Core i7 Extreme 2nd-gen201116GB DDR3-1600
Core i7 2nd-gen Quad-Core201116GB DDR3-1333
Core i3/i5/i7 2nd-gen Dual-Core20118GB DDR3-1333
Pentium/Core i3/i5/i7 3rd-gen201232GB DDR3-1600
Core i3/i5/i7 4th-gen Dual-Core201332GB DDR3/DDR3L-1600
Core i7 4th-gen Quad-Core201432GB DDR3L-1600
Core i3 5th-gen20158GB DDR3L-1600
Core i5/i7 5th-gen Dual-Core201516GB DDR3L-1600
Core i7 5th-gen Quad-Core201532GB DDR3L-1866
Core i3 6th-gen201532GB DDR4-2133
Core i5/i7 6th-gen201532GB DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133
Core i3/i5/i7 7th-gen “U”-models201632GB DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2133
Core i5/i7 7th-gen Quad-Core201764GB DDR3L-1600/DDR4-2400
Core i3/i5/i7 8th-gen “U”-models201732GB DDR4-2400
Core i7 8th-gen Hexa-Core & 8th-gen “H”-model i5s201864GB DDR4-2667