▷ How can I find out the compatibility of my pc components

Knowing the compatibility of my PC components is a concern that most of us have when we are going to buy a computer in parts. This is due to the huge number of components on the market and the different models. So here we will try to give the keys so that we are able to choose well the components of our new PC and that all of them go perfectly when we mount it.

Index of contents

In addition to the large number of components we have, each of its models is also added, very similar to each other, but with small variations. Although it is true that normally these details should concern us for performance and not for compatibility.

What components should we consider when looking at compatibility?

There are many components, but only a few will be critical and necessary to get a computer to work. Precisely in these we will have to look to know the compatibility of the components of my new PC. These will be:

• Microprocessor Motherboard RAM memory Processor heatsink Hard disk Graphics card Power supply Chassis or case

The graphics card will not need compatibility in terms of connectivity, all practical effects will be compatible with current components. The interface of all is the same, that is, PCI-Express Gen 3 x16, but it will be important to choose the power supply and the chassis.

Microprocessor, motherboard and RAM memory compatibility

Without a doubt this is the first compatibility to which we must pay attention. Depending on the processor that we want to buy, our choice of the motherboard will come conditioned to it and also the RAM. These three components are the most important of our computer, and also the most expensive, so all the time we spend searching for their compatibility will be time well spent.

In this aspect we must consider several aspects: the socket of the processor and the chipset of the motherboard and the amount and type of memory that we must use.

Processor socket

As the processor is the heart of our computer and the processor is in charge of all the information that circulates through it, it will be the first that we must choose in our purchase.

The processor socket is the way the processor has to be inserted into the motherboard. With each new architecture or version, we are going to find a different socket, and therefore, we must pay attention to it so that it is the same in CPU and Motherboard. First of all, there are two main manufacturers of Intel and AMD processors:

• Intel: We will identify the Intel models through their “ Intel Core ” nomenclature, in addition to the name of their architecture, Skylake, Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake. The sockets that we currently find in the market are: LGA 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, 1366, 2011, 2011-3 and 2066. AMD: for its part, AMD has a similar nomenclature to name its processors. We currently have the Zen and Zen2 range with the Ryzen, and previously the Bulldozer and Excavator. The sockets that we find in the market at the moment are: FM2 +, AM3 +, AM4 and TR4.

Well, when we go to choose our processor, we have to pay attention to this nomenclature whatever the processor it is and the price it is. If we are looking for something really cheap, the socket probably won't appear here, but the process is exactly the same. Let's take a practical example:

We have decided to buy a computer that has an Intel Core i5-9600K as a CPU, which we have seen in our guide to the best processors on the market. This one has 6 nuclei and is a 9th generation, come on, one of the newest ones. What we would do is go to the official website of Intel (or the vendor) and look at its characteristics.

We see that the socket used by this processor is the LGA 1151. So now we are going to look for a motherboard that suits us for this CPU. In the same way we can go to our guide to the best motherboards on the market. We have chosen the Gigabyte Z370 HD3, now we are going to go to its specifications and we are going to see if they have the same socket.

We see that the socket is the same, but above we see that it says " Support for 8th Generation Intel Core ". Ours, we have seen that it is 9th generation, so we are going to look for another one because this is NOT worth it. Let's look at the Gigabyte Z390 UD, which is an ATX-type motherboard.

This one already looks better, we have the same socket and it supports 9th generation processors. Let's move on to another question of compatibility. We should not forget about the format of the board, since we will then use it to choose the chassis.

Motherboard chipset

The motherboard chipset must also be compatible with our processor. As in the previous case, we must choose a motherboard that is compatible with the manufacturer, Intel or AMD. Each of these will have a different chipset, there are several models for each manufacturer and generation of processor, but knowing that the socket is the same in both cases, we will cover this aspect.

If we have noticed, our processor has the K designation in its model (i5 9600K). This means that it is unlocked and that we can overclock it. The motherboards that we should look for for these processors must have a chipset that has the letter “Z” in its model, for example, the one we have chosen has it, well from us.

In the case of AMD, all Ryzen are unlocked, so the chipsets will be prepared for that, so in this case what we have to know is which one is the most suitable according to cost and technical specifications.

To look at the chipset of a motherboard, we will go back to its specifications:

To find out if this chipset is compatible with our processor, we will look for a "support" or "CPU support" section.

We see that the processor that we have chosen appears in the list, so we can continue. In the case of an AMD processor, the procedure will be exactly the same. After knowing the socket, we must know if the chipset is compatible with the processor.

Compatible RAM memory

At this point we will already have almost 400 euros spent on our PC. But now it is the turn of RAM, the element that is responsible for sending instructions to the CPU, a component of utmost importance and which must also be compatible.

Currently, practically all the RAM memories that we are going to use are DDR4, so the first choice will be outdated if the model that interests us has DDR4 dominance.

Now we will have to know three important things:

• How much RAM does our motherboard support, for example 64 GB, 128 GB etc. What frequency can they have, since in the market there are many types of modules in terms of frequency, from 2133 MHz to 4600 MHz. If it supports configuration in Dual Channel or Quad Channel.

We go back to the specifications of the board and look at the "memory" section.

Here we can see that it supports 4 DDR4 modules up to a maximum of 64 GB, and also in Dual Channel configuration. We could mount, for example, two 8 GB modules in dual Channel, or 4 8 GB modules in Dual Channel two to two, and thus have 32 GB of RAM.

As for the speeds, we see that we have a range from 4266 MHz to 2133 MHz. And they must be of type “ Non ECC ” (the majority of desktop will be Non ECC).

Now we are going to go to our guide to the best RAM memory on the market and we are going to choose one that we like to be DDR4, for example the G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4. As always, we will go to the manufacturer's website and choose this model in a 16 GB kit at a frequency of 3000 MHz. Again we locate the section of its specifications, support or a list of supported manufacturers (QVC or Qualified Vendor List).

In this list the manufacturers and models of motherboards that this memory supports are very well explained. We see that the Gigabyte Z390 is among them, so the job is done. The three main components of our computer are decided and perfectly compatible.

Find a heatsink compatible with our processor

In most cases in which we want to buy a high-end equipment and with powerful processors, it will be necessary to also acquire a powerful heatsink and that surpasses that of the factory, especially in the case of Intel, which the ones it brings are somewhat mediocre. In this section, we will also have two main options:

• Heatsink and fan system: consisting of a finned block with one or two fans to expel heat from the fins. Liquid cooling system: consisting of a circuit that circulates a fluid that collects heat through a block. installed on the CPU and sends it to an exchanger with 1, 2 or 3 fans.

As with the processor and motherboard, we need a heatsink that is compatible with the socket of our processor, otherwise we will not be able to install it correctly on it. In addition, we must look at its measurements so that it will fit later on the chassis where we are going to mount everything. The procedure will be exactly the same for both liquid cooling and heatsinks.

In our guide to the best heatsinks and liquid cooling on the market, we have chosen two options that might interest us for our sample team. A Cryorin H7 if we want a normal heatsink or a Corsair H115i PRO as liquid cooling. Let's now look for the information we need to know about them, to see if they are compatible.

Both in the heatsink and liquid cooling, we see that they are perfectly compatible with socket 1151 of the Intel. On the part of the heatsink we have a height of 145 mm and the cooling requires an installation frame of 280 mm.

Hard Drive Compatibility

The next step that we must do is check the compatibility of the hard drive that we want to buy with our motherboard. Currently we can find various types of hard drives and communication interfaces on the market. Depending on what we want to spend, we will choose one or the other depending on its benefits:

• Mechanical Hard Drives (HDD): These disks do not have any complications, since they all go through the SATA 6 Gbps interface and all the boards today have this connector. 2.5 ”SSD drives: In this case, they are drives that have flash memory to store the data. They are much faster and smaller, but also more expensive. Most of them will also have a SATA 6 Gbps connector. M.2 drives: The M.2 interface is a connector other than SATA, and it is located in the form of a slot on our motherboard. This connector can work well through the SATA protocol, or the NVMe protocol through a PCIe x4 interface, which is much better but more expensive since the speed is much higher.

Well, let's go back to the specifications of our motherboard to find what connections for hard drives we have on it. So we can adapt to what we should look for.

We see that we have an M.2 slot and it also works under a PCIe x4 interface, so we can install maximum-performance M.2 units. We also have 6 SATA 6 Gbps connectors that will serve us for 2.5 ”SSDs or mechanical hard drives of any type.

Now it only remains to go to our guide to the best SSDs on the market and choose the one that best suits us. For example, we could choose a Samsung 970 EVO 250 GB M.2 NVMe for our operating system and some Seagate or WD SATA 2 or 3 TB of 3.5 ” for our files. We must memory the size of these to then know if there is a hole in the chassis to install them.

Graphics card and its consumption

As for the compatibility on graphics cards, it is not a very technical aspect, since all of them are connected to our motherboard using PCI-Express 3.0 x16. As long as the board has that type of expansion slot we will be left over.

What we really must attend to in these devices, is their measurements to see if it fits in the chassis we choose, their power connectors and their TDP or power consumption, and, consequently, the recommended power supply. Let's put a practical example now:

We have looked at a nice MSI RTX 2070 Gaming Armor, from our guide to the best graphics cards on the market. So we are going to go directly to the manufacturer's website to check the TDP of this card and what power it recommends for the power supply.

Here we can see that there is a section dedicated to the TDP which in this case is 185W and another to indicate the recommended PSU, in which case it is 550W. We must also look at the type of power connection it has, so that, when choosing the power source, it has the necessary connectors. In this case we have two connectors, one with 8, and the other with 6 pins. Note that we do not necessarily have to install a 550W source, we can choose a larger one if we want, although it is never recommended that it be less.

And finally we must look at its measurements, specifically the length of the card whose measurement in this case is 309 mm.

Power supply compatibility

We come to the section related to the power supply or PSU that our equipment will have. The source is the power source for all our hardware, responsible for running all our equipment, so we must ensure that it is of quality. A low quality power supply could break our components.

Here we will also have to keep a few things in mind to ensure compatibility with everything we have already chosen:

• That the source has enough power for the entire hardware system. That it is of quality, with a certification of at least 80 Plus Silver or Gold. Of course it has enough power cables so that all our devices are connected.

In our guide to the best power supplies on the market, we have chosen a 550W Corsair TX550M, as recommended by the manufacturer of the graphics card, to see if it is a good one. It is not strictly necessary that it be the same, it may be greater, although it is not recommended that it be less. At this point it would be advisable, although not necessary, to prepare a small list of connectors that we will need so that all our hardware is powered:

• Motherboard: 24-pin ATX connector, 8-pin ATX connector and 4-pin ATX connector Mechanical hard drive: SATA power connector Graphics card: 8 + 6-pin connector.

The rest of the power is obtained directly from the motherboard by the components.

As always, we will go to the manufacturer's website to see what this power supply offers us, and if it meets the requirements of our devices. In the case of Corsair it is a bit tedious to look at the specifications, since we will have to download the specification manual from the entire range of sources, and look for our model. We are going to look for the “ Output cables ” section for our model, the MX550.

And here we find an unpleasant surprise, this source is NOT WORTH. Why ?, because our board needs two EPS connectors for its power supply, one 8 and the other 6, and this source only has one 8-pin (the one that has a 4 × 4-pin CPU). So we have to look for another one, that's why we see that it is so important to look at things before buying.

Let's choose for example the Corsair TX750M which is a higher-end modular ATX type source. We will look for your specifications:

In this case, we do have these two cables, and it also has spare connectors for graphics card and other elements. What can we learn from this? Well, we should not stick to what a graphics card manufacturer recommends, since our system may require more power or more connectivity than has been estimated.

In this case most 550W sources don't have enough connectors because they don't have enough power for everything either. In our case we have assembled a high-end gaming equipment with an unlocked CPU and top-of-the-range chipset, so we have to have a PSU to match.

The final touch, choose a compatible chassis

To mount our computer we will need to introduce all these components in a chassis that has enough space and adequate holes to install the chosen hardware. In the market there are many models of chassis, although there are three main types, the ATX or Middle Tower, which are the most common, the Micro-ATX, smaller and with less space, and Mini ITX for even smaller equipment. What we will need to know to see if a chassis is compatible with our hardware is:

• Make it compatible with our motherboard: E-ATX, ATX, Micro-ATX and ITX. Be wide enough for the chosen heatsink or that the chosen liquid cooling can be installed. That it has space for all hard drives. That the source The power supply fits inside and the graphics card also fits inside.

If we have been doing it correctly until now, we should already have all the data we need. In our case they are the following:

• Gigabyte type motherboard Heatsink height 145mm or 280mm for liquid cooling. Hollow for a 3.5 "hard drive and at least another 2.5" SSD. Space for a graphics card of at least 309mm .

So let's look in our guide to the best boxes on the market for one that interests us and that is attractive. For example, the NZXT H700i, here we will practically not have to do any search, since in the guide we detail everything you should know about it.

Well, we have compatibility with power supplies and ATX plates, capacity for liquid cooling of 280 mm assured, two holes for 3.5 ”disks and 7 for 2.5” disks, capacity for graphics cards up to 413 mm and capacity for heatsinks up to 185 mm.

Final conclusion about knowing the compatibility of my PC components

Well we have finally finished, we have already fully explained all the compatibility with each of the main elements of our computer. We have reviewed step by step what key characteristics we need to know about each of them to ensure the proper functioning of our computer.

In some cases, it is not necessary to follow these lines to the letter, since there are many components and sometimes, although they do not specify anything, they later turn out to be compatible. But it's about our money, and what less than making sure we do things right from the start and avoid misunderstandings.

If this seems too complicated or tedious, we also have a few ready-made and recommended equipment configurations for which uses. If you are interested here you have them.

Now it's your turn to choose the components you want and follow the same steps. What computer do you plan to mount, Intel or AMD? Of course if you want to ask us something about the compatibility of components, we have a very attentive and healthy community with which to speak in our Hardware forum.