Compatibility Academy
Practical explanations designed to help you understand, troubleshoot and safely improve a gaming PC.
CPU sockets explainedA CPU must physically and electrically match the motherboard socket, but socket matching alone does not guarantee BIOS or chipset support.Chipsets and BIOS compatibilityMotherboards using the same socket can support different processor generations depending on chipset and BIOS version.DDR4 vs DDR5 compatibilityDDR4 and DDR5 DIMMs have different electrical designs and are not interchangeable even when capacities appear similar.PCIe compatibility explainedPCIe generations are generally backward compatible, but available lanes, slot wiring and bandwidth can vary by motherboard and CPU.How to check GPU clearanceCheck graphics-card length, height, slot thickness and power-connector space against the case and any front radiator or fans.GPU and PSU power connectorsModern GPUs may use traditional PCIe 6/8-pin connectors or newer high-power connectors. The PSU must provide the correct safe connection.CPU cooler compatibilityA cooler needs the correct socket mounting hardware and enough case, RAM and motherboard clearance.