Hi Bill,
Thanks for sharing this; it's a solid and reliable method. Using the memory manufacturer's compatibility tools (like Kingston's or Crucial's) is arguably the safest way to ensure a pain-free RAM upgrade for most systems. Newegg is also a great source for components.
Your post brings to mind an important point for others on the list who might be building or specifying high-end workstations and servers, particularly those using powerful CPUs like a 26-core Intel Xeon (e.g., scaling to a 2.1GHz base clock).
For these professional-grade platforms, memory compatibility becomes even more critical. While the Kingston tool is excellent, it's also wise to consult two additional sources:
The Motherboard/Server Manufacturer's QVL (Qualified Vendor List): Companies like Supermicro, ASUS, Tyan, and Dell publish specific lists of memory modules (by part number) they have tested and certified to work flawlessly with each of their motherboards. A Xeon system is often pushing the limits of the memory controller, so staying on the QVL is the best practice for stability.
The CPU's Memory Specification: Intel's Ark site details the maximum supported memory speed, type (DDR4, DDR5), and capacity for each specific Xeon processor. A 26-core Xeon https://serverorbit.com/cpus-and-processors/xeon-26-core/2-1ghz-en has a massive appetite for data, and ensuring you're using the optimal memory configuration is key to avoiding bottlenecks and letting all those cores perform to their potential.
The principle is the same as what you outlined—do your research before buying—but the stakes are higher with enterprise-level hardware. A system with that much processing power needs to be fed data reliably to justify the investment.
Thanks again for the great advice.
Best regards,