Ram Compatibility question

[austinstheboss]

I am upgrading ram and My motherboard supports ddr4 ram so I go to look at ddr4 and theres several kinds what is compatible with an msi b250m bazooka motherboard and what is best for gaming

 

[askinatr]

All DDR4 Rams are compatible with every motherboard that supports DDR4. So compatability is not an issue.

When it comes to "what is best for gaming", it depends. Mostly 16GB is the sweet-spot. anything over that is unnecessary. The best would of course be the highest speeds possible, but as it seems you are on a budget, i would maybe recommend some 3000 speed RAM. Perhaps something like the G.Skill Trident Z Sticks could be good.

 

[Zerk2012]

Thats not really true about all DDR4.
Fastest it will run is 2133 or 2400 depending on the CPU that you use.

 

[raisonjohn]

I am upgrading ram and My motherboard supports ddr4 ram so I go to look at ddr4 and theres several kinds what is compatible with an msi b250m bazooka motherboard and what is best for gaming

You can check the motherboard's QVL (Qualified Vendors List) for memory brands/models tested here: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/B250M-BAZOOKA.html#support-mem

If you are using a Skylake (6th-gen) CPU, the max. speed that the RAM can run is its default 2133 MHz. If you are using a Kaby Lake (7th-gen) CPU, the RAM speed can go as high as 2400 MHz (but not all models). This means whether you buy a faster rated RAM, such as 2666MHz, 2800MHz, or 3000MHz, it will only downscale to the max. speed the motherboard can support.

The B250M Bazooka also has 4x RAM slots, so, you can fit in up to 4-stick RAM kit. Since the motherboard memory is only dual-channel, it is advisable to use a 2-stick RAM kit (i.e., 1 stick per channel) which puts less stress on the memory controller. For gaming, the minimum you want is 8GB (i.e., a 2 x 4GB kit). If you have the budget and want longevity, 16GB is recommended (i.e., a 2 x 8GB kit).

Here are some recommended models to choose from (tested to work on your motherboard):

G.Skill F4-2400C15D-8GVR
G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($72.99 @ Newegg)

HyperX HX424C15FBK2/8
Kingston - FURY 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($75.99 @ Newegg)

G.Skill F4-2400C15D-16GVR
G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($135.88 @ OutletPC)

HyperX HX424C15FBK2/16
Kingston - FURY 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($149.89 @ OutletPC)

*Note that other RAM brands/models not found in the motherboard's QVL may also work.