As title, WTF?

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought RAM was RAM (subject to speed, latency etc). Now I'm seeing descriptions abound that this RAM is "optmised for Intel" or "optimised for AMD"? Is this just a marketing gimmick?

I'm just about to stuff 8GB of cheap-o Corsair DDR3 ("optimised for i5") into an AMD system, and I know for a fact it's going to boot up, so one can only conclude this is some sort of marketing thing?

+1 don't understand that.

Yeah, I think the manufacturer may have been taking wads of cash from Intel & AMD to put their name on the packaging.

Given that AMD is still re-packaging it's Athlon 64's (k8 etc), latency may still be a factor there. Intel's Core series and beyond don't really care about latency though.

Triple channel RAM is only for an intel 1366 system or the Xeon equivalent...but as for "optimised", no not at all.

Voltages. There have been reported cases of incompatibility between AMD and Intel to to the different voltages at work on AM3 and 1156/1366.

DDR3 for intel cannot require more than 1.65v without risking damage to the CPU.
AMD on the other hand don't care what voltage the RAM runs at.

So "Intel" RAM will go into an AMD system, but not necessarily vice versa?

Yeah, in theory. Although some people running 1.65v Corsair XMS in AMD systems have reported instability when OCing.

I remember seeing RAM branded with an Nvidia SLi logo. That baffles me even more than the CPU branding on the RAM.

that was a technology designed to automatically set the RAM at its maximum rated frequency/timings when put into a compatible motherboard, and was actually quite handy

this whole CPU branding thing sounds pretty daft though. just follow the rule that if it requires more than 1.65v, DONT put it in an Intel rig and you should be pretty well set, id imagine.

To be fair, I had no idea about that particular Intel rule until Sas said about it, but then I don't build Intel systems. Ever*.

*I haven't seen much in the way of RAM that does run at over 1.65 volts anyway.

a few earlier DDR3 sets ran close of the mark, but what with the march of technology most of them are getting more power efficient the new fugly-looking Corsair Vengeance sticks only need 1.50v, for example

I think I put 1.8v DDR3 in my parents AMD PC. Seemed to work fine. I guess it was the cheapest as it was older and used more voltage.