Confused by RAM. Need Help!!!

[SirGazz47]

hi. I am looking at buying a new Ryzen pc but the only DDR4 RAM I can find is 'Intel' RAM. does this matter? I am going to be using the ROG Strix X370 Gaming Motherboard for the build so any tips would be great

[Sernefarian]

How do you mean intel ram? you mean kits that explicitly state support for Intel, but don't mention AMD?

[SirGazz47]

what I mean is on the filter it has a compatibility area which says Intel X299, Intel 300 Series, etc.

 

[Sernefarian]

If you look through the linked document below then every RAM kit that ASUS has pre-tested the board with will be on it. It might take some time, but you should quite easily be able to find RAM that you know will work with your board.

 

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/SocketAM4/ROG_STRIX_X370-F_GAMING/ROG-STRIX-X370-F-GAMING-SUMMIT-Memory-QVL.pdf

 

 

QVLs are your friend. Though in the most general sense as long as the DDR4 modules are not defective they will work in any board that has both DDR4 support and enough slots. Worst case scenario for fully functional DDR4 modules is that you either have a motherboard that just will, for whatever reason, downclock the modules below their vendor rated speed. This only happens above, if I remember correctly, 2400MHZ clock speed regardless of board.

 

If in doubt just go with your desired total RAM quantity with a kit that is sold with at least 2 sticks in one package at whichever price point is most palatable to you, in that scenario preferably the lowest cost RAM.

 

As a side note, remember that if you do go with RAM above 2400MHZ that you will in all likelihood need to enter your BIOS and enable a profile that causes the RAM to operate at the vendor rated capability as opposed to a Jedec standard spec.