Component Compatibility Matrix
Last updated: August 2025
CPU and Motherboard Compatibility
Intel Socket Compatibility (2025)
| CPU Generation |
Socket |
Chipsets |
DDR Support |
PCIe |
| 15th Gen (Arrow Lake) |
LGA 1851 |
Z890, B860, H810 |
DDR5-5600+ |
PCIe 5.0 |
| 14th Gen (Raptor Lake-S) |
LGA 1700 |
Z790, B760, H770 |
DDR4/DDR5 |
PCIe 5.0/4.0 |
| 13th Gen (Raptor Lake) |
LGA 1700 |
Z790, Z690, B760, B660 |
DDR4/DDR5 |
PCIe 5.0/4.0 |
| 12th Gen (Alder Lake) |
LGA 1700 |
Z690, B660, H670, H610 |
DDR4/DDR5 |
PCIe 5.0/4.0 |
Key Notes:
- LGA 1851: New socket for 15th Gen, NOT compatible with LGA 1700
- LGA 1700: Supports 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen with BIOS update
- DDR4/DDR5: Cannot mix on same motherboard - choose one type
AMD Socket Compatibility (2025)
| CPU Generation |
Socket |
Chipsets |
DDR Support |
PCIe |
| Ryzen 9000 (Zen 5) |
AM5 |
X870E, X870, B850 |
DDR5-5600+ |
PCIe 5.0 |
| Ryzen 8000 (APUs) |
AM5 |
X670E, X670, B650E, B650 |
DDR5-5200+ |
PCIe 5.0/4.0 |
| Ryzen 7000 (Zen 4) |
AM5 |
X670E, X670, B650E, B650 |
DDR5-5200+ |
PCIe 5.0/4.0 |
| Ryzen 5000 (Zen 3) |
AM4 |
X570, B550, A520 |
DDR4-3200+ |
PCIe 4.0 |
Key Notes:
- AM5: All Ryzen 7000+ series, DDR5 only, PCIe 5.0 support
- AM4: Legacy socket, DDR4 only, still viable for budget builds
- Chipset features: Higher-end chipsets offer more USB, SATA, PCIe lanes
Memory Compatibility
DDR4 vs DDR5 Motherboard Support
| Platform |
DDR4 Support |
DDR5 Support |
Notes |
| Intel LGA 1851 |
❌ No |
✅ Yes |
DDR5 only |
| Intel LGA 1700 |
✅ Yes* |
✅ Yes* |
Choose one type |
| AMD AM5 |
❌ No |
✅ Yes |
DDR5 only |
| AMD AM4 |
✅ Yes |
❌ No |
DDR4 only |
*Individual motherboards support either DDR4 OR DDR5, not both
Intel Memory Support (2025)
| CPU Series |
JEDEC Standard |
XMP/Overclocked |
| 15th Gen |
DDR5-5600 |
DDR5-8000+ |
| 14th Gen |
DDR5-5600 |
DDR5-7200+ |
| 13th Gen |
DDR5-4800 |
DDR5-6400+ |
| 12th Gen |
DDR5-4800 |
DDR5-6000+ |
AMD Memory Support (2025)
| CPU Series |
JEDEC Standard |
EXPO/Overclocked |
| Ryzen 9000 |
DDR5-5600 |
DDR5-8000+ |
| Ryzen 8000 |
DDR5-5200 |
DDR5-6400+ |
| Ryzen 7000 |
DDR5-5200 |
DDR5-6000+ |
| Ryzen 5000 |
DDR4-3200 |
DDR4-4000+ |
Memory Configuration Guidelines
Channel Configuration
| Motherboard Slots |
Recommended Population |
Performance |
| 2 slots |
Slot 1 + Slot 2 |
Dual Channel |
| 4 slots |
Slot 2 + Slot 4 |
Dual Channel |
| 4 slots |
All 4 slots |
Dual Channel |
Key Rules:
- Always populate slots of same color first
- Use identical memory modules for best compatibility
- Check motherboard QVL (Qualified Vendor List) for guaranteed compatibility
Graphics Card Compatibility
PCIe Slot Compatibility
| GPU Generation |
PCIe Required |
Backward Compatible |
| RTX 50 Series |
PCIe 4.0 x16 |
PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| RTX 40 Series |
PCIe 4.0 x16 |
PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| RX 9000 Series |
PCIe 4.0 x16 |
PCIe 3.0 x16 |
Performance Impact:
- PCIe 3.0 vs 4.0: <5% performance difference in most games
- PCIe x8 vs x16: <3% performance difference for gaming
- Future proofing: PCIe 4.0 recommended for RTX 5080/5090
Power Supply Requirements for RTX 50 Series
| GPU Model |
TGP |
12V-2x6 |
Legacy Connectors |
Min PSU |
| RTX 5060 |
115W |
Optional |
1x 8-pin |
500W |
| RTX 5060 Ti |
165W |
Optional |
1x 8-pin |
600W |
| RTX 5070 |
220W |
Recommended |
1x 12+4pin |
700W |
| RTX 5070 Ti |
285W |
Required |
2x 8-pin |
800W |
| RTX 5080 |
400W |
Required |
3x 8-pin |
850W |
| RTX 5090 |
575W |
Required |
4x 8-pin |
1000W |
GPU Physical Clearance
Length Clearance by Case Type
| Case Type |
Typical Max Length |
RTX 50 Compatibility |
| Mini-ITX |
280-320mm |
RTX 5060/5060 Ti |
| Micro-ATX |
320-350mm |
Up to RTX 5070 Ti |
| Mid-Tower |
350-400mm |
All RTX 50 series |
| Full-Tower |
400mm+ |
All RTX 50 series |
Height Clearance (Slot Width)
| GPU Model |
Slot Width |
Case Requirement |
| RTX 5060 |
2.0 slots |
Standard |
| RTX 5060 Ti |
2.5 slots |
Standard |
| RTX 5070 |
2.75 slots |
Check clearance |
| RTX 5070 Ti |
3.0 slots |
Verify fit |
| RTX 5080 |
3.0 slots |
Verify fit |
| RTX 5090 |
3.5 slots |
Large case needed |
CPU Cooler Compatibility
Socket Mounting Compatibility
Intel Cooler Compatibility
| Socket |
Compatible Coolers |
Notes |
| LGA 1851 |
LGA 1851 specific |
New mounting mechanism |
| LGA 1700 |
LGA 1700, some 115x* |
Check manufacturer |
| LGA 1200 |
LGA 115x series |
Wide compatibility |
*Some LGA 115x coolers compatible with adapter
AMD Cooler Compatibility
| Socket |
Compatible Coolers |
Notes |
| AM5 |
AM5, AM4 (most) |
Check manufacturer |
| AM4 |
AM4, AM3/AM3+ |
Wide compatibility |
CPU Cooler Height Clearance
| Case Type |
Typical Max Height |
Compatible Coolers |
| Mini-ITX |
70mm |
Low profile only |
| Micro-ATX |
155mm |
Most tower coolers |
| Mid-Tower |
165mm |
All tower coolers |
| Full-Tower |
170mm+ |
All coolers |
AIO Radiator Compatibility
| Radiator Size |
Case Support |
Performance Level |
| 120mm |
Most cases |
Entry level |
| 240mm |
Mid-tower+ |
Good performance |
| 280mm |
Mid-tower+ |
Better performance |
| 360mm |
Full-tower |
High performance |
| 420mm |
Full-tower |
Maximum performance |
Storage Compatibility
M.2 Slot Types and Speeds
| Interface |
Max Speed |
Compatible Drives |
| M.2 SATA |
600 MB/s |
SATA M.2 SSDs |
| M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 |
~3,500 MB/s |
NVMe SSDs |
| M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 |
~7,000 MB/s |
PCIe 4.0 NVMe |
| M.2 PCIe 5.0 x4 |
~12,000 MB/s |
PCIe 5.0 NVMe |
Intel Motherboards
| Chipset |
CPU M.2 Slots |
Chipset M.2 Slots |
Total Slots |
| Z890 |
1x PCIe 5.0 |
2-4x PCIe 4.0 |
3-5 |
| B860 |
1x PCIe 4.0 |
1-2x PCIe 4.0 |
2-3 |
| H810 |
1x PCIe 4.0 |
1x PCIe 4.0 |
2 |
AMD Motherboards
| Chipset |
CPU M.2 Slots |
Chipset M.2 Slots |
Total Slots |
| X870E |
1x PCIe 5.0 |
2-4x PCIe 4.0 |
3-5 |
| X870 |
1x PCIe 5.0 |
2-3x PCIe 4.0 |
3-4 |
| B850 |
1x PCIe 4.0 |
1-2x PCIe 4.0 |
2-3 |
PCIe Lane Sharing Considerations
Common Conflicts:
- Some M.2 slots share lanes with SATA ports
- Using M.2_2 may disable SATA 5-6 ports
- PCIe slots may share lanes with M.2 slots
- Check motherboard manual for specific limitations
Power Supply Compatibility
| PSU Type |
Motherboard Support |
Case Requirement |
| ATX |
ATX, Micro-ATX |
Mid-tower+ |
| SFX |
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX |
Compact cases |
| SFX-L |
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX |
Some compact cases |
Connector Compatibility
Essential Connectors (All PSUs)
- 24-pin ATX motherboard power
- 8-pin (4+4) CPU power
- 6-pin/8-pin PCIe for graphics cards
- SATA power for drives
Modern Connectors (2025)
- 12V-2x6: RTX 50 series native connector
- 12VHPWR: Previous generation (still compatible)
- Multiple PCIe 8-pin: For high-end GPUs without native connector
PSU Length Compatibility
| Case Type |
Max PSU Length |
Standard ATX |
| Mini-ITX |
140-160mm |
Check case specs |
| Micro-ATX |
160-180mm |
Most ATX PSUs |
| Mid-Tower |
180mm+ |
All ATX PSUs |
| Full-Tower |
200mm+ |
All PSU types |
Case and Component Compatibility
| Case Type |
Supported Motherboards |
| Mini-ITX |
Mini-ITX only |
| Micro-ATX |
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX |
| Mid-Tower |
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX |
| Full-Tower |
All form factors |
Drive Bay Compatibility
| Drive Type |
Bay Size |
Modern Support |
| 3.5" HDD |
3.5" bay |
Most cases |
| 2.5" SSD |
2.5" bay |
Universal |
| M.2 NVMe |
Motherboard |
No case space needed |
Clearance Checklist
Before Building:
- ✅ GPU length vs case clearance
- ✅ CPU cooler height vs case clearance
- ✅ PSU length vs case space
- ✅ RAM height vs CPU cooler clearance
- ✅ Cable routing space
- ✅ Radiator mounting positions
Troubleshooting Compatibility Issues
Common Compatibility Problems
Boot Issues
Symptoms: No POST, black screen
Common causes:
- Incompatible RAM speed/voltage
- Insufficient PSU wattage
- CPU/motherboard mismatch
- Loose connections
Symptoms: Lower than expected performance
Common causes:
- RAM not running at XMP speeds
- GPU in wrong PCIe slot (x8 instead of x16)
- Thermal throttling from inadequate cooling
- PCIe version limitations
Stability Issues
Symptoms: Random crashes, BSODs
Common causes:
- Overclocked RAM unstable
- Insufficient PSU power delivery
- Thermal throttling
- Incompatible component combinations
Before Purchase:
- Check motherboard QVL for RAM
- Verify CPU socket compatibility
- Confirm PSU wattage requirements
- Measure case clearances
After Assembly:
- Run CPU-Z to verify specifications
- Check RAM speed in BIOS
- Monitor temperatures with HWiNFO64
- Stress test with Prime95 + FurMark
When to Seek Help
Contact manufacturer support if:
- Components are listed as compatible but don't work
- Performance significantly below specifications
- Repeated stability issues after troubleshooting
- Physical compatibility issues despite meeting requirements
Quick Reference Tables
Socket Quick Reference
- Intel 15th Gen: LGA 1851 only
- Intel 12-14th Gen: LGA 1700 only
- AMD Ryzen 7000+: AM5 only
- AMD Ryzen 5000: AM4 only
Memory Quick Reference
- AM5 + LGA 1851: DDR5 only
- LGA 1700: DDR4 OR DDR5 (choose one)
- AM4: DDR4 only
GPU Power Quick Reference
- RTX 5060/5060 Ti: 500-600W PSU
- RTX 5070/5070 Ti: 700-800W PSU
- RTX 5080: 850W PSU minimum
- RTX 5090: 1000W PSU minimum
This compatibility matrix reflects August 2025 hardware standards and verified component interactions. Always consult individual manufacturer specifications for definitive compatibility confirmation.