Why do DDR3 MOBOs default to 1066

[Fogold]

Why do DDR3 motherboards optimal default settings always go to 1066 RAM speed when the sloweset DDR3 RAM is 1333-Even when the RAM SPD is 1333? Surely 1066 is a failsafe setting rather than optimal?

 

[cmndr_andi]

It isn't optimal - its just a safe default level. To get the optimal setting you need to input the RAM's specified settings or activate a pre-loaded profile in the BIOS.

The reason it defaults so low is that chips like the i7 (s1366) are only rated by intel to run the RAM at 1066MHz. Anything faster than this is technically overclocking.

 

[Fogold]

Ok, got it