How important is RAM product code?

[smbdsmn]

I was just about to order some DDR5 sticks when I accidentally found out they have a product code. By suggestion of some random post on reddit, I checked my motherboard's Memory Support List and they weren't on it. The exact sticks are Corsair CMK32GX5M2B6000Z30. Upon further investigation I learnt that the Z at the end means it's for AMD EXPO and C means it's for Intel XMP. Also, the K at the beginning suggests it's from a list of RAM that were recalled by Corsair at some point, or something like that. If I switch the K for an H, it appears on the motherboard list, but only with C/Z 32 or more (which is the cas latency).

 

It was all good so far, but then I found a comment on a seller's website from someone who used XMP ram on AMD & said that it's fine (they seemed to not even be aware of the product code). Now I'm confused, how relevant is that code? Do people just buy random ram without even checking and get away with it?

 

I know ram sticks are basically the same, but I wanted to get Corsair because I've heard their heatsinks are the best, but now if I take the product code into account I can only find overpriced ones (waaay overpriced). I've found cheaper Kingston & Adata that are "compatible" with everything, but I've heard Kingston's "cooling is mediocre at best" & Adata is just lower on the tier list. How should I go about this?

 

References:

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/meaning-of-ram-product-item-numbers-codes.3113155/

https://www.slashgear.com/1350690/best-ram-brands-memory/

[RONOTHAN##]

2 minutes ago, smbdsmn said:

but then I found a comment on a seller's website from someone who used XMP ram on AMD & said that it's fine

It is, can confirm. EXPO works just fine on Intel and XMP works just fine on AMD, barring some weird BIOS issues that show up on initial releases. 

 

3 minutes ago, smbdsmn said:

Now I'm confused, how relevant is that code? Do people just buy random ram without even checking and get away with it?

A lot of the time yeah. For the most part, the kits are actually identical, the SPD is just programmed differently. 

 

4 minutes ago, smbdsmn said:

I wanted to get Corsair because I've heard their heatsinks are the best

From what I know that honor actually goes to TeamGroup, though practically unless you're doing rather extreme memory overclocking with high voltages (I.E. 6400 CL26 at 1.6V or something stupid like that) this just doesn't matter. 

 

6 minutes ago, smbdsmn said:

How should I go about this?

I would get one of the cheaper Kingston/Adata kits instead. 

[AndrewAsd]

6 minutes ago, smbdsmn said:

Now I'm confused, how relevant is that code? Do people just buy random ram without even checking and get away with it?

Yes. Compatibility lists don't really mean much. The manufacturer doesn't have time to test every single stick of ram made out there.

[Somerandomtechyboi]

just get the cheapest thing available thats 6000c30/32 as the heatsink diffs dont matter till you overclock

 

and if you are going to overclock anyways might aswell buy some 5600c46 hynix/klevv save some cash maybe even a 5600c46 teamgroup if you dont want to do diy heatsinks as they should all be hynix a die afaik

 

reccomendations may be outdated but still some handy info here nonetheless

 

2 hours ago, RONOTHAN## said:

From what I know that honor actually goes to TeamGroup, though practically unless you're doing rather extreme memory overclocking with high voltages (I.E. 6400 CL26 at 1.6V or something stupid like that) this just doesn't matter. 

i guess those heatsinks are as functional as they look, cant say the same for the gskill tridentz5 heatsinks though