Question RAM marked as AMD EXPO/Intel XMP iCUE Compatible

[Ancipital]

My 12 years old computer dies on my (rest in peace). So, I am building a new computer now.
My strategy: I want a better mobo (x870) and some cheap CPU and RAM and upgrade later the CPU and the RAM (32gb DDR5 8000) as they get cheaper.

I have chosen:

• Ryzen 7 7700X
• GIGABYTE X870 Gaming X WiFi

Now I am searching for some RAM .

• RAM 16GB DDR4/DDR5 (which one?)

Question 1: Many RAM kits modules are marked as AMD compatible. Others are marked as Intel compatible. Others as both. 12 years ago when I built my PC, the memory was compatible with both Intel and AMD. So, its this a marketing gimmick or the memory today is CPU specific?

Question 2: Can you recommend some cheap but still fast (temporary) memory for my new system? As I said, I intend to upgrade it in 1-2 years. Maybe something like this or this? But I cannot find it in 2x8GB kit.

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Budget RAM: 100-150 euro.
Total budget: 1200 euro (but I intend to reuse parts from my 12 years old PC).
PC usage: Mostly compiling (single CPU). Not much gaming (maybe only Starcraft 2).

 

[Lutfij]

You could easily placed your build on PCPartPicker;

https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/

and for us to look at instead of the spreadsheet.

But I cannot find it in 2x8GB kit.
You won't survive for long with 16GB's of ram in 2024/2025. 16GB is the bare minimum for gaming system's.

PC usage: Mostly compiling (single CPU). Not much gaming (maybe only Starcraft 2).
Speaking of which, what sort of tasks will you be taxing the system with, if not gaming? Please mention apps without stating etc in that sentence.

So, its this a marketing gimmick or the memory today is CPU specific?
Not a gimmick, respective kits are meant to give you maximum stability at those clocks, timings and voltages.

1| Look for ram kits that have AMD's E.X.P.O advertised on them. Yes there are kits that have both profiles baked into them.

2| https://de.pcpartpicker.com/product...ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-f5-6000j3038f16gx2-tz5n

 

[Ancipital]

> gaming system

As I said, this is not really a gaming system. I will use it mostly for programming.

 

[Ancipital]

You could easily placed your build on PCPartPicker;

https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/

It does not offer the same flexibility.