Answer five questions about your PC or laptop and get a plain verdict: what RAM generation, form factor, capacity and speed to buy.
Updated 11 Nov 2026 · 3 min read
Quick answer
Use the checker below: tell it your device type, motherboard/CPU generation and what you want to do. It applies the four compatibility rules — generation, form factor, capacity and speed — and tells you exactly what to buy. The full reasoning is in our compatibility checker guide.
RAM Compatibility Checker
Answer five questions about your PC or laptop and get a plain verdict: what RAM generation, form factor, capacity and speed to buy.
How to use this checker
- Pick desktop or laptop (this sets DIMM vs SO-DIMM).
- Select the memory generation your motherboard uses — check CPU-Z’s Memory tab if unsure. DDR generations are never interchangeable.
- Tell it your platform and goal; it returns a buy-spec you can paste into any store’s search.
Frequently asked questions
I don’t know my motherboard’s DDR generation. How do I find it?
Install CPU-Z and open the Memory tab — ‘Type’ shows DDR3, DDR4 or DDR5. Or check the stick label: DDR4 desktop sticks are 288-pin and usually marked PC4; DDR5 is marked PC5.
The checker says my speed will downclock. Is the kit wasted?
No — it will work perfectly at the lower speed. You only overpaid for headroom; enable XMP/EXPO if your board supports it to use the full rating.