# Replacing DDR3L with 1.5V DIMMs -- asking for trouble?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-ddr3l-with-1-5v-dimms-asking-for-trouble/672504>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 28, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-ddr3l-with-1-5v-dimms-asking-for-trouble/672504 "2013-10-28T23:38:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-ddr3l-with-1-5v-dimms-asking-for-trouble/672504/1 "2013-10-28T23:38:46Z")

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I recently bought a new laptop, and I ordered some larger DIMMs online as an upgrade. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice until now that the laptop came with DDR3L (low-voltage) DIMMs by default, while the new ones that I ordered were 1.5V DIMMs (which I believe is standard voltage). I presume that I should just return the new RAM and find a compatible low-voltage DIMM?

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**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-ddr3l-with-1-5v-dimms-asking-for-trouble/672504/2 "2013-10-29T00:18:36Z")

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What model laptop?

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**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-ddr3l-with-1-5v-dimms-asking-for-trouble/672504/3 "2013-10-29T00:25:34Z")

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**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-ddr3l-with-1-5v-dimms-asking-for-trouble/672504/4 "2013-10-29T00:40:58Z")

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> [@Rysto](#):
>
> I recently bought a new laptop, and I ordered some larger DIMMs online as an upgrade. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice until now that the laptop came with DDR3L (low-voltage) DIMMs by default, while the new ones that I ordered were 1.5V DIMMs (which I believe is standard voltage). I presume that I should just return the new RAM and find a compatible low-voltage DIMM?

yes, your laptop will only supply 1.35 volts to the RAM, so you need DDD3L .

see [Model Search - Kingston Technology](http://www.kingston.com/us/memory/search?DeviceType=3&Mfr=ACE&Line=Aspire&Model=85015)

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**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-ddr3l-with-1-5v-dimms-asking-for-trouble/672504/5 "2013-10-29T01:03:37Z")

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No, it doesn’t look like 1.5V will work.