Is there a such thing as brand specific RAM

[earv19]

I just built a PC and I'm having problems booting. And was wondering if might be my RAM since when I bought it said Alienware/Dell ram

 

[T_T]

Nope. All that matters is the DDR class. Consider this example:

If your mobo requires you to use DDR3, so long as you use DDR3 RAM in it, there should be no problem. Even if your mobo only supports up to 1600 MHz, and you installed 1866, your mobo/BIOS would only be able to use up to the 1600.

The only exception to this is Registered RAM, but this would really only apply to server boards. Registered RAM isn't brand specific, but the exception is that if a mobo requires use of Registered RAM, you must use that type.

Registered RAM uses less energy, and isn't universal, as is the case with unbuffered/ Non-ECC RAM.