Qualified Vendors List (Qvl: Fill & Download for Free

Brand for most computer parts do not matter - as long as they are reputable / known brands and possibly not some fly-by-night-no-name-generic make.Several things to watch for when buying ANY brand of RAM(1) Check your motherboard QVL (qualified vendor list) for compatibility. This assures you that the memory module has been tested to work properly with your motherboard and it’s bios revision. Pay particular attention to the numbers and not just the brand. For example, just because ADATA is listed as being compatible doesn’t mean all ADATA modules will be compatible. Pay attention to the actual module Part number because slight variations may mean incompatibility or different performance. For example, AX4U3600316G14C-DW50 is a Samsung B-die and runs at 1.45V while AX4U3600316G18A-SW50 is a Spectek chip that runs at 1.35V. Both may run properly and has been tested on one motherboard, but not on another motherboard.(2) Warranty issues. Depending on your market or regional location, some brands may be easier (and even cheaper) to RMA if you need to return it to the manufacturer for warranty claims. Some manufacturers will have free RMA shipping both ways, while others require you to pay for at least one way shipping. For example, I had a friend with an ADATA ssd that failed within 3 months of ownership. Adata paid for shipping both ways but it took 6 weeks for the entire process. Another person I know had an issue with a WD SN550 and she had to pay for 1 ways shipping, but the entire process only took 10 days. I am located in Canada and had an Asus 1150 motherboard fail on me> To RMA it, I had to ship it to another Canadian province via registered Canada post and it cost me $ to do so. Another incident had me sending a Gigabyte motherboard for RMA and this time it had to be sent to a US/California depot via registered shipper (usually UPS) and that cost me $$ to do. So check RMA/support centers if possible to minimize any future costs(3) Check reviews and if possible people with similar configurations as you. Sometimes, once brand component may work better when paired with XX components vs another brand component paired with YY components. Although this is unlikely in most cases as inter-compatbility is generally a non-issue for computer components.(4) Your application and usage. Are you planning on overclocking your memory or just keeping it at XMP profiles? Are you pairing it with say an AMD APU or a stronger Ryzen 3–9 CPU? If going with an APU, then generally, faster memory and tighter timing may be of more benefit than brand. However, if you intend to overclock, you may find that an ADATA AX4U3600316G14C-DT50 might be better than a Kingston HX434C17FB4/16. If your intention is just to run them an XMP settings then you might find that Kingston HX436C18FB4K4/64 may give you better performance than a set of ADATA AX4U3200316G16-SB30. So depending on scenario, neither brand will be better than the other as a blanket statement.(5) Default voltage. Generally DDR4 runs at 1.2V. Some modules require higher voltages to run at XMP levels. Even though you are NOT doing any outright overclocking, XMP generally “overclocks” the IMC. When you enable XMP/AMP/DOCP, it feeds the module higher voltage in order to run. For longevity, less voltage = less heat = better longevity. For performance, more voltage = more heat = lower longevity. Although this is a generalized argument, it can be inferred that a module running at 1.2volts could “potentially” run longer than a module running at 1.45volts or higher. So an 8GB Kingston KVR32N22S8/8 running at 1.2V could theoretically outlive another Kingston HX446C19PB3K2/16 which requires 1.5V. How much longer? Hard to tell but maybe well beyond the useful lifespan of the component.

Take your pickASUS Z170 DELUXE MOTHERBOARDCPUIntel® Socket 1151 for 7th/6thGeneration Core™ i7/Core™ i5/Core™ i3/Pentium®/Celeron® ProcessorsSupports Intel® 14 nm CPUSupports Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0* The Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 support depends on the CPU types.* Refer to www.asus.com for CPU support listChipsetIntel® Z170Memory4 x DIMM, Max. 64GB, DDR4 4000(O.C.)/3866(O.C.)/3800(O.C.)/3733(O.C.)/3600(O.C.)/3466(O.C.)/3400(O.C.)/3333(O.C.)/3300(O.C.)/3200(O.C.)/3000(O.C.)/2800(O.C.)/2666(O.C.)/2400(O.C.)/2133 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered MemoryDual Channel Memory ArchitectureSupports Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)* Hyper DIMM support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.* Refer to www.asus.com for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendors Lists).GraphicIntegrated Graphics Processor- Intel® HD Graphics supportMulti-VGA output support : HDMI/DisplayPort ports- Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 4096 x 2160 @ 60 Hz- Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2304 @ 24 Hz / 4096 x 2304 @ 60 HzMaximum shared memory of 512 MBSupports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™Supports up to 2 displays simultaneouslyDP 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport compliant, supports DP 1.2 monitor daisy chain up to 3 displaysMulti-GPU SupportSupports NVIDIA® Quad-GPU SLI™ TechnologySupports NVIDIA® 2-Way SLI™ TechnologySupports AMD Quad-GPU CrossFireX™ TechnologySupports AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™ TechnologyExpansion Slots2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode) *14 x PCIe x1StorageIntel® Z170 chipset :1 x SATA Express port, Compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports1 x M.2 x4 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2242/2260/2280/22110 storage devices support (both SATA & PCIE mode)*26 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), graySupport Raid 0, 1, 5, 10Intel® Rapid Storage Technology supports*3Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology*4ASMedia® SATA 6Gb/s controller : *52 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), black,LANIntel® I219V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s)Intel® I211-AT, 1 x Gigabit LANGigabit Intel® LAN Connection- 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) applianceASUS Turbo LAN UtilityASUS LAN GuardWireless Data NetworkWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/acSupports dual band frequency 2.4/5 GHzSupport ASUS Wi-Fi Go! UtilityUp to 1300Mbps transfer speedBluetoothBluetooth V4.0AudioRealtek® ALC1150 8-Channel High Definition Audio CODEC featuring Crystal Sound 3- Supports : Multi-streaming, Front Panel MIC Jack-retasking- High quality 112 dB SNR stereo playback output (Line-out at rear) and 104 dB SNR recording input (Line-in)Audio Feature :- DTS Connect- DTS Studio Sound- Optical S/PDIF out port(s) at back panel- BD Audio Layer Content Protection- Audio Shielding: Ensures precision analog/digital separation and greatly reduced multi-lateral interference- Dedicated audio PCB layers: Separate layers for left and right channels to guard the quality of the sensitive audio signals- Audio amplifier: Provides the highest-quality sound for headphone and speakers- Premium Japanese-made audio capacitors: Provide warm, natural and immersive sound with exceptional clarity and fidelity- Unique de-pop circuit: Reduces start-up popping noise to audio outputs- Top notch audio sensation delivers according to the audio configuration- Absolute Pitch 192khz/24bit true BD lossless soundSeparate layer for left and right track, ensuring both sound deliver equal qualityUSB PortsIntel® Z170 chipset :5 x USB 3.0/2.0 port(s) (1 at back panel, blue, Type-A, 4 at mid-board)Intel® Z170 chipset :5 x USB 2.0/1.1 port(s) (1 at back panel, black, Type-A, 4 at mid-board)ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller :5 x USB 3.1/3.0/2.0 port(s) (5 at back panel, teal blue, Type-A)ASMedia® USB 3.1 controller :1 x USB 3.1/3.0/2.0 port(s) (1 at back panel, , Type-C, Reversible)GigabyteGA-Z270X-UD5 (rev. 1.0)Supports 7th/ 6th Generation Intel® Core™ ProcessorsDual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs, DDR4 4133+(OC)Extreme 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt™ 3Intel® USB 3.1 Gen 2 with USB Type-C™ support Power Delivery 2.0 for up to 36W2-Way SLI™ & 3-Way CrossFire™ Multi-Graphics SupportTurbo B-CLOCK, Built-in Advanced Performance Tuning ICTriple NVMe PCIe SSDs in RAID 0 SupportIntel® Optane™ Memory ReadyUltra-Fast M.2 with PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA interfaceNVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 U.2 ConnectorALC1220 120dB SNR HD Audio with Smart Headphone AmpDual Intel® GbE LAN with cFosSpeed Internet Accelerator SoftwareSmart Fan 5 features Multiple Temperature Sensors and Hybrid Fan HeadersGold Plating for CPU Socket, Memory DIMMs with 2X Copper PCBUltra Durable™ Metal Shielding over PCIe and DDR SlotsSupports 2 SATA Disk on Modules for Storage ExpansionSupports Power Management Bus interfaceEasy access front panel USB ConnectorGIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS™APP Center Including EasyTune™ and Cloud Station™ Utilities

I would have to agree with most of the answers that have already been provided by other quora members, 99% of the time RAM should not matter. If you dig deep enough into each ram module, you would find that the chips are actually made by a handful of manufacturers like micron, samsung, sk hynix, nanya (among others). This means that you can purchase G.skill and Kingston ballistix branded memory that have the same Samsung chips in them. Similarly, you can get Crucial, Kingston and Adata with the same Micron chips installed. These vendors purchase the RAM chips from the manufacturers and generally add their own in-house modifications and even RGB lighting and heatspeader kits to set them apart from the other brands. However, you are essentially getting the same base chip.So as long as you keep to several “rules” you should generally have no issues with RAM modules. FIRST and most obvious is RAM type. If your system requires DDR4, then you should not be trying to fit in DDR3 modules. Most DDR4 memory will also run at a base frequency of 2133MHz. This is what they will always will be when you take them out of the package and install them in your computer. Regardless of whatever MHz (frequency) is marked or labelled on the packaging, 4000MHz (or higher speed), will always have a base frequency of 2133MHz. You have to set your bios to recognize XMP (intel) /AMP (amd) /DOCP (asus)/EOCP (gigabyte) memory profiles in order to have them run at advertised speed. Running these profiles is ALWAYS and overclock. Some DDR4 will be perfectly happy running at 1.3–1.35V for 2133MHz but will need 1.45–1.5V to reach advertised speeds. Examples of these are several Corsair 3866, Adata 4800 and Ballistix 5100 that all require 1.5V to run at optimum speeds. Some motherboards do not like being “overclocked” (even if it’s only for the memory). But more than 99% of the time, any DDR4 memory will run on any compatible motherboard at 2133MHz*.(Most memory run at a native 2133MHz but there are modules that are 2400–2666MHz native).Avoid using mixed modules. For example, If your computer has X-brand memory in a 2x8GB at 3200MHz configuration and you want to upgrade to 32GB (4-slots mobo), then try and get the same X-brand modules with the same speed. However, even this is not a guarantee. I remember a few year ago purchasing Avexir memory in a 2x8 configuration. About a year and a half later, I bought the same exact kit and also in a 2x8 set. The second set had different memory chips inside but had the same exact part number. Avexir is a 3rd party OEM manufacturer for Geil Mushkin and OCZ.Even if you had to use say, 3200 and 3000MHz memory together, they should technically work. They would usually match the lowest speed module - in this case 3000MHz.What sets the higher speed memories apart is that some motherboards have them listed in their QVL (qualified vendor list). This is why you need to be very careful to purchase BLM8G51C19U48 memory instead of BLM8G51C19U4B (note 8 vs B for the last digit) memory if you motherboard is compatible with one but not the other. This also means that the motherboard manufacturer has spent time testing a specific kit to work properly and as expected on a specific motherboard. Naturally, it would be almost impossible to test ALL of the memory models from all vendors.The SECOND “rule” applies if you need specialty software to run certain features of the memory module. For example, Asus motherboards generally run Aura software, Gigabyte runs Fusion and MSi uses Mystic lighting. A memory module may work with Fusion but not with Mystic, etc. In most cases, they should be inter-operable but if you have more than one RGB device (additional fans, controllers, led strips and peripherals) that need to be controlled by different software, then you may run across some issues. In this scenario, the “memory-part” of the RAM modules will still work, but the lighting feature may not.FINALLY there is the issue with memory density. Some motherboards may be listed with compatibility with up to 64GB (or more) but only in a 4x16 configuration, while others will work perfectly with 2x32.Many years ago, I had a 970 motherboard that would only take 16GB of DDR3 in a 2x8 configuration. If I ran 4x4, I get random crashes. Conversely I had another 890 motherboard that would only take 16GB of DDR3 in a 4x4 but not in a 2x8. Unfortunately at that time, a lot of the memory modules listed on the QVL for these motherboards were harder to find.My latest issues with memory was with a 3950x on an x570i motherboard. Being mini-ITX, it was limited to only two slots. The motherboard manufacturer listed it as being capable of up to 64GB of memory but did not have any 2x32GB modules in their QVL. I initially tested with 3600MHz (2x16GB) because this was all I had at the moment and had no issues. As soon as I moved up to 2x32, I had mixed results. When I used Corsair, I could only get the pc to boot with a single module using 3200 or 3000. No boot with Corsair 3600s. A total no boot/post with Patriots at 3200 as well. Finally, I tried G.skill Trident Z at 3200 and it worked without any mishaps. The bios was updated to what was the latest at that time (F11). Do take note, that as I have mentioned earlier, this motherboard did not have any 64GB modules listed in the QVL (even up to today) so this was really a hit-and-miss exercise. A later bios update (F21) allowed me to run Trident Z Neo 3600 to date.As you can see on my final example, motherboard and memory compatibility can still be fairly important. You might have the odd issue as stated in my first and second “rules” but those remain very rare. The third regarding density only happens when you are maxing out board capacity. This is probably one of the best reasons to make sure that memory is on the QVL list. However, if you are running 2x8 or even 4x4 or 4x8 on a regular motherboard (and not pushing insane high memory overclocks), then most users should be OK.