Z170A-X1/3.1 Motherboard

moehunter wrote: This MB is currently on sale for under $90.00 and that's why I'm looking at a build using this MB. I'm not a gamer rather I'm a photographer so I put my money into V-Cards and software but I'm struggling to find compatible memory and having never used a ASRock MB I'm sticking to the compatible lists Some one suggested this memory below and its well priced at $87.00 but its not on the compatible list? G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 3000 (PC4 24000) Intel X99 Platform Extreme Performance Memory Model F4-3000C15D-16GRBB My CPU is an i56600k on W-10 and I have the 850 EVO 250 GiB SSD all other storage is external. Any  help, suggestions or pointers would be gladly welcomed Thanks, Moe

The G.SKILL memory model you listed, F4-3000C15D-16GRBB, has a QVL, Qualified Vendor List, on its information page, here:

http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-3000c15d-16grbb

If you click the QVL tab, you'll only find X99 chipset boards are recommended for use with this memory. That includes all the other mother board manufactures.

The voltages required for certain things like the System Agent and VCCIO are different between X99 and Z170 processors. The memory controller is on the CPU itself, so the board is not as much a determining factor as the processor is regarding memory compatibility.

I'm surprised that you are having trouble sourcing memory for that board, since Trenton Ontario is hardly an isolated location. There is easily 150 models of memory included in the memory support list, many more than some other boards have.

To help you find a source for compatible memory, open the Memory Support list, highlight a model number, left click on it and select "Search for...". You'll get pages with hits for that memory model, which will include retailers in your area.

For example, this is a G.SKILL memory model from the memory support list that is virtually the same price as you quoted (but this one is in American dollars, so not quite the same), at the same memory speed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231911&cm_re=F4-3000C15D-16GTZ-_-20-231-911-_-Product

In general, the G.SKILL TridentZ DDR4 memory models will  be compatible with your CPU and board. Always double check that.

I have found the Crucial DDR4 memory to be compatible with both X99 and Z170 platforms, and should be easy to find.

If price is an issue, you'll need to back down on the speed a bit, which will make little to zero difference in actual use.

Edited by moehunter - 15 Jul 2016 at 12:28pm