Are you in search of the finest RAM for a gaming PC? Whether or not you are constructing a model new rig, or simply in search of the finest RAM improve for an present system, our reminiscence shopping for information takes you thru each the finest DDR4 reminiscence and the finest DDR5 reminiscence, at each price range. If you happen to do not take care of flashing rainbow lights, you will discover the very best quality no-frills reminiscence, and in case you wish to have all of it, we additionally cowl the finest RGB RAM, for many who wish to show their PC’s innards with delight.
Right here is the perfect RAM for gaming in 2024:
- Corsair Vengeance LPX – the perfect price range DDR4 RAM
- Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4 RGB – the perfect low-profile RGB DDR4 RAM
- Corsair Vengeance RGB Professional – the perfect DDR4 RGB RAM
- Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 – the perfect premium DDR4 RGB RAM
- G.Ability Trident Z5 Neo EXPO – the perfect price range AMD DDR5 RAM
- Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 EXPO – the perfect AMD DDR5 RGB RAM
- Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 RGB – the perfect Intel DDR5 RGB RAM
- Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 RGB – the perfect premium DDR5 RGB RAM
1. Corsair Vengeance LPX
The perfect price range DDR4 RAM is the Corsair Vengeance LPX.
Corsair Vengeance LPX specs:
| Efficient frequency | 3600MHz |
| Timings | 18-22-22-42 |
| Voltage | 1.35V |
| Peak (from base) | 33.5mm |
| RGB software program compatibility | N/A |
| Intel XMP and AMD EXPO choices | XMP 2 |
Professionals
- Nice value
- Low profile
- First rate efficiency
Cons
- Bland-looking heatsinks
- No lighting
- Typically restricted overclocking headroom
The amazingly priced Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 reminiscence modules should not solely the perfect entry-level DIMMs obtainable, however in addition they have a really low profile. We have used them in a great deal of price range PC construct guides over the previous couple of years. With a top of simply 33.5mm, you will additionally don’t have any hassle squeezing certainly one of these kits into your motherboard if in case you have a radiator put in within the roof of your case, they usually’re ideally suited for mini-ITX programs the place house is at a premium.
They do not look significantly thrilling, they usually usually do not overclock far past their rated speeds, however their anodized aluminum heatspreaders preserve the reminiscence cool sufficient whereas giving these DIMMs a minimally good look. The present candy spot value for these modules is a 3600MHz package with CL18 latency timings, which we have detailed beneath.
2. Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4 RGB
The perfect low-profile RGB DDR4 RAM is the Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4 RGB.
Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4 RGB specs:
| Efficient frequency | 3600MHz |
| Timings | 16-20-20 |
| Voltage | 1.35V |
| Peak (from base) | 42mm |
| RGB software program compatibility | Kingston Fury CTRL, Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0, MSI Mystic Mild Sync, ASRock Polychrome Sync |
| Intel XMP and AMD EXPO choices | 2 x XMP 2 |
Professionals
- Low profile
- Good lighting software program
- Tight timings
Cons
- Taller than Corsair LPX modules
- Cheaper kits are sooner
If you happen to’re in search of some vibrant RGB gaming reminiscence that is not going to conflict with an AIO liquid CPU cooler within the roof of your case, then the Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4 RGB is a implausible possibility. The lighting appears to be like intense, there are a great deal of choices for RGB software program management and the diffusion bars iron out the gaps between the LEDs properly.
The facet particulars are a sexy contact and, as a bonus, the modules are solely 42mm tall, making them ideally suited to be used with height-restricted coolers or in very compact programs. In our unique overview, we criticized our pattern’s excessive value for its free latency timings and needlessly excessive 4600MHz frequency, however now you can hit the 3600MHz CL16 candy spot with these kits for an inexpensive value, which we have detailed beneath.
What’s extra, these kits include two XMP profiles, enabling you to simply experiment with a 3000MHz frequency at 15-17-17 latency timings, in addition to the flagship 3600MHz 16-20-20 settings.
Learn our full Kingston Fury Renegade DDR4 RGB overview.
3. Corsair Vengeance RGB Professional
The perfect DDR4 RGB RAM is the Corsair Vengeance RGB Professional.
Corsair Vengeance RGB Professional specs:
| Efficient frequency | 3600MHz |
| Timings | 18-22-22-42 |
| Voltage | 1.35V |
| Peak (from base) | 51mm |
| RGB software program compatibility | Corsair iCUE |
| Intel XMP and AMD EXPO choices | XMP 2 |
Professionals
- Incredible lighting
- Nice software program
- Affordable overclocking headroom
Cons
- Would possibly intrude with low-rising CPU heatsinks
- Getting older design
We have used Corsair Vengeance RGB Professional modules in options and programs extra instances than we have had scorching dinners and for good causes. These RGB gaming reminiscence modules are all the time very properly priced, look implausible, and produce other advantages too.
The lighting is the Vengeance RGB Professional’s celebration piece, because it’s as vibrant and correct as some other modules we have not too long ago examined but in addition advantages from full Corsair iCUE software program. The diffusing bars throughout the tops of the modules do a terrific job of night out the photons from the LEDs beneath, and it’s also possible to purchase dummy modules to simply fill out all 4 DIMM slots on a median ATX motherboard.
There’s some first rate overclocking headroom obtainable as properly, and we had been simply in a position to push our 3600MHz take a look at pattern as much as 3866MHz by simply upping the frequency, without having to the touch the voltage or latency timings. Be warned, although that the modules are fairly tall, with a top of 51mm.
Learn our full Corsair Vengeance RGB Professional overview.
4. Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4
The perfect premium DDR4 RGB RAM is the Corsair Dominator Platinum.
Corsair Platinum Dominator RGB DDR4 specs:
| Efficient frequency | 3600MHz |
| Timings | 18-19-19-39 |
| Voltage | 1.35V |
| Peak (from base) | 55mm |
| RGB software program compatibility | Corsair iCUE |
| Intel XMP and AMD EXPO choices | XMP 2 |
Professionals
- Wonderful lighting
- Nice software program
- First rate overclocking headroom
Cons
- Costly
- No dummy Mild Enhancement modules
- Tall modules
That is pretty much as good as DDR4 reminiscence will get. The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB fashions are actually pretty previous, however they continue to be obtainable in an enormous vary of speeds and timings, in addition to beautiful white fashions too. We suggest a 3600MHz package because the candy spot, however we had no hassle overclocking are take a look at pattern all the best way to 3933MHz with no latency or voltage tweaking required.
Corsair’s iCUE software program additionally offers you full management over the LEDs, and with the Dominator Platinum individually lit sections, you possibly can set every LED to a unique colour with this pixel-like show, fairly than having a diffusing mild bar. The lighting may be very vivid, with correct colours, and the power to set every LED phase to a unique colour is an actual boon.
This reminiscence additionally supplied a few of the quickest speeds we have seen from DDR4 reminiscence in AIDA64 Excessive reminiscence benchmarks, performing properly by way of each learn, write and latency out of the field. The one downer is that the modules are very tall, so you will have to ensure you have room for them in your case.
Learn our full Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR4 overview.
5. G.Ability Trident Z5 Neo EXPO
The perfect price range AMD DDR5 RAM is the G.Ability Trident Z5 Neo EXPO.
G.Ability Trident Z5 Neo EXPO specs:
| Efficient frequency | 6000MHz |
| Timings | 30-38-38-96 |
| Voltage | 1.35V |
| Peak (from base) | 43mm |
| RGB software program compatibility | N/A |
| Intel XMP and AMD EXPO choices | EXPO |
Professionals
- Good-looking heatsinks
- Less expensive value than at launch
- Incredible efficiency on AMD Zen 4 programs
Cons
- No RGB lighting
- Exhausting to search out kits above 6000MHz
- Costlier than non-EXPO reminiscence
If you happen to do not care about RGB lighting, and also you’re merely in search of some high-speed DDR5 reminiscence modules to get essentially the most out of an AMD Ryzen 7000-series Zen 4 system, then the G.Ability Trident Z5 Neo EXPO offers you precisely what you need. This was the primary reminiscence we examined with the brand new AMD EXPO profile system, and we had been actually impressed by the efficiency in our benchmarks.
On the time of launch, the 6400MHz package we reviewed was costly, however now you can choose up a 6000MHz CL30 set of those modules for an inexpensive value, and our exams confirmed that this frequency is the candy spot. What’s extra, we additionally discovered {that a} 6000MHz EXPO package of this reminiscence was faster than a 6400MHz package of non-EXPO reminiscence in a few of our exams.
Learn our unique G.Ability Trident Z5 Neo EXPO take a look at writeup.
6. Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 EXPO
The perfect AMD DDR5 RGB RAM is the Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 EXPO.
Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 EXPO specs:
| Efficient frequency | 6000MHz |
| Timings | 30-36-36-76 |
| Voltage | 1.4V |
| Peak (from base) | 45mm |
| RGB software program compatibility | Corsair iCUE |
| Intel XMP and AMD EXPO choices | 2 x EXPO |
Professionals
- Two EXPO profiles
- Clear and good design
- Comparatively low profile
Cons
- No XMP 3 compatibility
- RGB lighting may very well be brighter
Corsair’s Vengeance RGB DDR5 reminiscence kits sit between the tasteless gray modules of its customary Vengeance kits and the super-fancy modules on its Dominator modules. They’re quick and (due to a big value drop since our unique overview) well-priced too, and Corsair can be now producing AMD EXPO fashions for the newest AMD Zen 4 programs.
The candy spot is a 6000MHz frequency with tight 30-36-36-76 timings, and the modules are significantly shorter than DDR4 Vengeance RGB Professional DIMMs too, measuring simply 45mm tall. For lighting, you get ten individually managed RGB LEDs sitting beneath a diffusing mild bar. The colours are extra vivid than these on the unique Vengeance RGB Professional DDR4 modules, however they don’t seem to be as vibrant.
As an added bonus, you get two EXPO profiles on a 6000MHz package, with a 6200MHz possibility along with the usual 6000MHz profile.
Learn our full overview of the Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5 EXPO.
7. Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 RGB
The perfect Intel DDR5 RGB RAM is the Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 RGB.
Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 RGB specs:
| Efficient frequency | 6000MHz |
| Timings | 40-40-40-80 |
| Voltage | 1.35V |
| Peak (from base) | 42mm |
| RGB software program compatibility | Kingston Fury CTRL, Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0, MSI Mystic Mild Sync, ASRock Polychrome Sync |
| Intel XMP and AMD EXPO choices | XMP 3 |
Professionals
- Incredible lighting
- Common motherboard software program compatibility
- Affordable value
Cons
- Heatsinks lack aptitude
- Unfastened reminiscence timings
Not solely do these RGB gaming reminiscence modules look implausible, however the Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 RGB DIMMs even have a low profile, measuring simply 42mm in our Vernier calipers on the tallest level. In what’s fairly a uncommon transfer, Kingston can be providing them in a 16GB (2 x 8GB) package, supplying you with a less expensive strategy to leap on the DDR5 bandwagon than shopping for a 32GB package.
The RGB lighting is sort of understated, with a diffusing part of plastic on prime of the modules that gives vibrant colours and a fair lighting array. You should use the software program included along with your ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte, or MSI motherboard to manage your RGB lighting, or Kingston’s glorious Fury CTRL software program.
When it got here to overclocking, we had been ready so as to add one other 200MHz to the Fury Beast DDR5 RGB’s clock pace, simply giving us a 6200MHz package for the value of a 6000MHz package. Our solely criticism is that the latency timings may very well be tighter, however that does not make as large a distinction to efficiency as frequency.
Learn our full overview of the Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 RGB.
8. Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 RGB
The perfect premium DDR5 RGB RAM is the Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 RGB.
Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 RGB specs:
| Efficient frequency | 6400MHz |
| Timings | 32-39-39-80 |
| Voltage | 1.35V |
| Peak (from base) | 42mm |
| RGB software program compatibility | Kingston Fury CTRL, Asus Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0, MSI Mystic Mild Sync, ASRock Polychrome Sync |
| Intel XMP and AMD EXPO choices | XMP 3 |
Professionals
- Incredible lighting
- Common motherboard software program compatibility
- Quick efficiency, due to excessive frequency and tight timings
Cons
- Cannot overclock any additional
- Costly
- Restricted different advantages over cheaper kits
This speedy Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 RGB package sits on the prime of the corporate’s vary and has the appears to be like, frequency, timings and value to match. The 6400MHz package we examined makes use of critically quick SK Hynix reminiscence chips and has very tight latency timings of 32-39-39-80. In our AIDA64 Excessive learn and write exams, this package topped our graphs, with a 94GB/s learn pace, 87GB/s write pace and 63.5nm latency.
The heatsink design may be very enticing, with one black layer sitting on the reminiscence chips and a silver shroud sitting on prime of this layer. The heatsinks did a good job of cooling the reminiscence as properly, and the RGB lighting is especially vibrant and vivid.
Whereas you need to use ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte, or MSI’s software program to manage the lighting, there’s additionally Kingston’s Fury CTRL software program, which gives detailed management over colours and results for every LED on every module.
Learn our full overview of the Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5 RGB.
How we take a look at RAM
At Customized PC, we have been reviewing PC {hardware} since 2003, and we have examined and overclocked a whole lot of RAM kits, going proper again to the unique DDR period. We run each artificial and software benchmarks to evaluate efficiency, and we additionally see how far we are able to overclock every package.
As well as, we take a look at any RGB lighting options and assess how good the RAM modules look, in addition to how properly any management software program works. We additionally assess the peak of reminiscence modules for sensible functions, reminiscent of CPU cooler clearance. For extra info, try our How we take a look at web page.
Gaming RAM FAQ
What do RAM numbers imply?
The lengthy sequence of numbers used to determine reminiscence specs is almightily complicated, significantly once you’re searching an etailer retailer on-line. As an alternative of simply DDR4 3200MHz, you will usually see a sequence of letters and numbers reminiscent of PC4-25600C16, presumably adopted by a string of hyphenated numbers, reminiscent of 16-20-20-49. What does this all imply?
The primary half is simply the kind of reminiscence. So, PC4 is DDR4, PC5 is DDR5, and so forth. The second lengthy quantity is the pace in MB/s, which within the case of DDR4 and DDR5 is calculated both by taking the efficient clock pace and multiplying it by eight, So, for a 3200MHz (efficient) reminiscence module, its MB/sec score is 8 x 3,200, which equals 25,600MB/sec, ending up with a PC4-25600 label.
The ultimate piece of the puzzle is the C16 quantity (or equal) on the top, which refers back to the column handle strobe (CAS) latency (CL) of the reminiscence. This is among the generally offered measures of the latency in clock cycles that it takes for a reminiscence module to answer a command. CL can be the primary of the 4 hyphenated numbers you will see on reminiscence listings, with the opposite three being row handle strobe (RAS) to CAS delay (tRCD), row precharge time (tRP), and row lively time (rRAS).
These phrases all refer again to the grid construction used to assemble the RAM. As a result of the reminiscence cells are accessed first by a row being activated, then the columns from that row being accessed, there are inherent delays related to every step of this course of. As such, CAS latency is the delay in knowledge beginning to arrive again from the reminiscence after a learn command has been despatched, however solely as soon as the row for that set of columns has already been activated.
In the meantime, tRCD is the time between opening (activating) a row of reminiscence and accessing the columns inside it – so the overall time to entry a column on a non-active row is CL+ tRCD. Subsequent up is tRP, which is the time required to precharge the present row (the method required to deactivate the present row) and open the following row. That offers us a system for the overall time to entry knowledge from DRAM when the fallacious row is presently open to be CL+tRCD+tRP. Lastly, we’ve got tRAS, which is the minimal time wanted to maintain a row open to permit knowledge to be learn or written correctly.
The decrease these numbers, the decrease the general latency of the reminiscence. Latency timings have steadily elevated with every era of DDR, however their affect has been completely outweighed by the advances in clock pace. As an example, a CL18 3200MHz DDR4 module could have a latency of 18 x 2,000 / 3,200 = 11.3ns (nanoseconds), whereas a CL32 6400MHz DDR5 module with could have an efficient latency of 32 x 2,000 / 6,400 = 10ns.
There is a last quantity you would possibly see on some reminiscence listings and in motherboard BIOS settings as properly, which is the command fee. Usually, it will likely be both 1T or 2T and this refers back to the variety of clock cycles between a DRAM chip being chosen and a command being executed. Utilizing 1T is quicker however 2T could be extra steady.
Do RAM latency timings matter for gaming?
In our exams, latency timings have a negligible affect on gaming efficiency. To place this to the take a look at, we coupled an Intel Core i5-12600K with 32GB of Kingston Fury Renegade 6400MHz reminiscence and a GTX 1060 graphics card, we recorded only a 0.5fps rise within the minimal body fee and a 0.1fps rise within the common body fee in our Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark when going from timings of 32-38-38-80 to 42-50-50-80.
Given the big distinction in these timings and the microscopic distinction in body fee, it is clear that latency timings are largely irrelevant for gaming. Nonetheless, latency timings do affect efficiency in Home windows when multi-tasking, by a median of 5 % in our exams.
Does RAM clock pace matter for gaming?
Whereas reminiscence timings might need a delicate impact on system efficiency, the affect of reminiscence clock pace is extra noticeable. Utilizing the identical take a look at package as for latency timing, we underclocked our DDR5 RAM package to 3200MHz (efficient) then 4800MHz and in contrast the outcomes to the efficiency on the package’s default 6400MHz pace.
Throughout the board, we noticed notable efficiency variations, most seen in our heavy multi-tasking workload the place the default 6400MHz pace reminiscence knock over ten seconds off the 3200MHz consequence – a 32 % distinction.
In single-threaded workloads, the distinction wasn’t fairly so dramatic however even in video games we noticed our Cyberpunk 2077 common body fee rise from 38.6fps to 39.2fps whereas the minimal body fee rose from 26.7fps to 27.4fps.
Total, although, each the tiny distinction in system efficiency when various reminiscence timings, and the extra noticeable however nonetheless comparatively small variations when various reminiscence clock pace, communicate to the actual function of reminiscence in PC efficiency gaming. When all is claimed and achieved, reminiscence would not present the processing pace that makes a PC run quick – it simply ensures the processors aren’t starved of knowledge on which to work.
AMD or Intel optimized RAM?
Some DDR4 kits are offered as ‘Intel optimized’ or ‘AMD optimized’, which made sense just a few years in the past. When the first-generation AMD Ryzen programs had been launched, we noticed a lot of reminiscence refusing to POST at frequencies past 2933MHz, even when they had been rated a lot increased.
This downside was quickly solved by kits primarily based on Samsung’s B-die reminiscence, which might POST at their full rated frequencies. Nonetheless, with the newest DDR4 programs we have seen little tangible distinction between ‘Intel optimized’ and ‘AMD optimized’ reminiscence. We have additionally seen some ‘AMD optimized’ reminiscence fail to hit its top-rated frequency in Socket AM4 motherboards, whereas it is effective in Intel programs – you largely needn’t fear about this with DDR4 reminiscence now.
With DDR5 reminiscence, AMD has launched its EXPO profile system, which is analogous to Intel’s XMP system. Your motherboard ought to detect its most rated frequency, latency timings, and voltage routinely, and allow you to apply it simply. In our personal AMD Expo benchmarks, we have additionally seen EXPO reminiscence carry out higher on AMD Zen 4 programs than non-EXPO reminiscence. Equally, for Intel programs, you need reminiscence that helps Intel’s newest XMP 3 reminiscence profile system.
That is a wrap for our reminiscence information – you now know precisely which reminiscence you might want to purchase on your system and price range (you are welcome!) If you happen to’ve by no means constructed a PC earlier than, then try our information on find out how to construct a gaming PC, which incorporates details about putting in and establishing reminiscence. We even have full guides to the finest CPU and the finest graphics card so that you can put in your new gaming PC.
