Best RAM for Gaming: DDR4, DDR5 Kits for 2024

Best RAM for gaming
Best RAM for gaming (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Whether you’re shopping for the best RAM for gaming to upgrade the best gaming PCs but now struggle to tackle today’s games or building a new PC from the ground up, the best RAM kit for your money depends on the platform you pick and the workloads you plan to run.

The hard part is evaluating whether faster memory improves your system’s performance. For example, if you’re running an Intel system with one of the best graphics cards, most programs won’t respond meaningfully to faster or slower system memory. On the other hand, some workloads will scale well with higher data rates, including some games and software. For example, file compression programs love fast memory.

AMD’s Zen-powered processors benefit more from higher memory frequencies, which you can read about in detail here. Increased memory speeds on AMD Ryzen-and Threadripper-based platforms often translate to real-world performance improvements. In games, that means higher frame rates at mainstream resolutions like 1080p (1920 x 1080) and a smoother performance at higher resolutions. But the number of extra frames you get with faster RAM will vary significantly from game to game. Check out our RAM hierarchy for benchmarks.

Lastly, memory speed makes a big difference if you’re gaming with integrated graphics, whether an Intel or AMD processor (you can see how they stack up in our CPU Benchmark Hierarchy). The graphics engine that’s baked into most of the best CPUs for gaming doesn’t generally have its dedicated memory like discrete graphics cards do, so faster RAM also improves performance. However, if you must pay top dollar for the fastest RAM to get playable frame rates, you’re better off buying slower system memory and a discrete graphics card.

In short, the best RAM is usually the fastest if you’re gaming without a dedicated graphics card, running an AMD Ryzen system, and, in some isolated scenarios, with Intel chips. But if you don’t care about squeezing the best performance out of your hardware, DDR5-5200 is drop-in compatible with AMD’s Zen 4 processors and DDR5-5600 or DDR4-3200 for Intel 14th Generation Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs.

Quick RAM Shopping Tips

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  • For many users, 16GB continues to be the current sweet spot. Programs continue to get bigger and require more memory over time, whereas 1080p and 4K videos are more common. PC games are also getting more demanding, and websites have become more complex. So, while heavy multitaskers and prosumers may need 32GB to avoid using much slower disk-based virtual memory, 16GB is far more affordable and sufficient for gaming and mainstream productivity tasks.
  • Advertised XMP memory speeds might not be possible on AMD-based motherboards. XMP is an automatic memory overclocking setting designed for Intel systems, but some motherboard makers offer BIOS settings to attempt to use these faster speeds on AMD motherboards. However, these settings aren’t present on all motherboards and don’t always work when they are present. Look for AMD EXPO-certified memory kits if you own a Ryzen 7000 (Zen 4) processor.
  • Dual-rank memory is faster than single-rank memory. Tests show that dual-rank memory kits perform better than single-rank memory kits on AMD and Intel platforms.
  • Always buy a single memory kit for your desired capacity. Don't combine two memory modules or kits from the same vendor and product line. Mixing and matching may not always produce a desirable result, and sometimes, manual tweaking is required to achieve stability.
  • Want the best plug-and-play experience? If you want to avoid minimum to zero manual intervention, choose a memory kit that coincides with the official memory frequency supported by your processor. For example, DDR5-5200 is the baseline for AMD's Zen 4 chips, whereas DDR5-5600 or DDR4-3200 is for Intel's 13th Generation Raptor Lake and 14th Generation Raptor Lake Refresh processors.
  • Do you own a Raptor Lake or Raptor Lake Refresh CPU? Remember that Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh processors natively support DDR4-3200 on Gear 1. It's down to the silicon lottery if your chip can keep higher data rates on Gear 1. However, DDR5 operates in Gear 2 by default regardless of the frequency.

Best RAM For Gaming You Can Buy Today

Best Performance 32GB DDR5 Kit: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 (Image credit: G.Skill)

1. G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 (2 x 16GB)

Best Performance 32GB DDR5 Kit

Specifications

Model: F5-6000J3038F16GX2-TZ5NR
Capacity: 32GB (2 x 16GB)
Data Rate: DDR5-6000 (EXPO)
Timings: 30-38-38-96 (2T)
Voltage: 1.35V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Superb performance
+
Cheaper than the competition
+
AMD EXPO certified

Reasons to avoid

-
Early adopter price

It's hard to find reasons not to like the Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 C30. The memory kit works immaculately out of the box and offers solid performance. That alone is enough to win the majority of buyers over. Looks, as usual, are subjective, but you can't dispute the Trident Z5 Neo RGB's premium exterior. Like its competition, G.Skill uses SK hynix M-die ICS for the memory kit, so some tweaking headroom is left in memory modules.

DDR5 pricing still fluctuates, but current DDR5-6000 C30 memory kits start at $97.97. When you consider that, suddenly, the Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 C30's $117.99 price tag doesn't look that awful. The Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 C30 has proven to be a formidable memory kit for AMD and Intel platforms. There will ultimately be faster memory kits down the road, but in the meantime, the Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 C30 is as good as it gets.

Read: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000 C30 review

Best 32GB DDR5 Kit: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000 (Image credit: G.Skill)

2. G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000 (2 x 16GB)

Best 32GB DDR5 Kit

Specifications

Model: F5-6000U3636E16GX2-TZ5RS
Capacity: 32GB (2 x 16GB)
Data Rate: DDR5-6000 (XMP)
Timings: 36-36-36-76 (2T)
Voltage: 1.30V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent performance
+
Tight timings
+
Good OC potential

Reasons to avoid

-
Costs an arm and a leg

The G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000 C36 is a fast DDR5 memory kit with venerable timings. The memory kit utilizes Samsung's B-die integrated circuits so the memory modules can run at tight timings, even beyond the advertised speed. Your mileage will vary depending on the silicon lottery and how much voltage you're willing to use with the memory modules.

The Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000 C36 has the looks and the performance, two essential aspects to many buyers. The memory kit sells for $199.97. It's not the cheapest, but the performance speaks for itself.

Read: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000 C36 review

Best 32GB DDR5-4800 Kit: Samsung DDR5-4800 (Image credit: Samsung)

3. Samsung DDR5-4800 (2 x 16GB)

Best 32GB DDR5-4800 Kit

Specifications

Model: M323R2GA3BB0-CQKOD
Capacity: 32GB (2 x 16GB)
Data Rate: DDR5-4800
Timings: 40-39-39-76 (2T)
Voltage: 1.10V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Good DDR5-4800 performance
+
Samsung B-die
+
Huge OC potential

Reasons to avoid

-
Green PCB (for some)
-
Not available as a kit
-
Limited retailer availability

The Samsung DDR5-4800 C40 memory kit targets consumers who want to stick to the JEDEC baseline speed. The memory modules don't look pretty but have shown excellent overclocking headroom. There's a good potential to hit breakneck speeds with tight timings. The B-die ICs will help you push the memory modules. Our sample got to DDR5-5800 C36 easily. However, there is no guarantee overclock, so this memory kit belongs to the high-risk, high-reward category.

The memory modules sell for $54.50. That's the consumer pricing, of course, not the IC pricing. As a result, a two-DIMM configuration will set you back $109, so it's not a bad price if you want to run JEDEC speeds. The Samsung DDR5-4800 C40 memory kit can be your ticket into the B-die overclocking world.

Read: Samsung DDR5-4800 C40 review

Best 16GB Kit For Ryzen Owners: TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 (Image credit: TeamGroup)

4. TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 (2 x 8GB)

Best 16GB Kit For Ryzen Owners

Specifications

Model: TF10D416G3600HC14CDC01
Capacity: 16 GB (2 x 8GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-3600 (XMP)
Timings: 14-15-15-35 (2T)
Voltage: 1.45V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Superb performance
+
Attractive aesthetics
+
Good overclocker
+
Cheapest kit in its category

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited availability

TeamGroup did a great job with the Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 C14 memory kit -- It certainly ticks all the right boxes. The memory kit looks fantastic and performs equally well when lit up or powered down. The Xtreem ARGB is the fastest DDR4-3600 C14 memory kit we've tested.

The memory market only has a handful of DDR4-3600 C14 memory kits at the 16GB (2x8GB) capacity. And with a price tag of $169.99, the Xtreem ARGB is the least expensive. So the only gripe we have is with its availability. Unfortunately, Newegg is the only retailer that lists the memory kit, so finding it could be challenging.

Read: TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 review

Best High-Speed 16GB Kit: Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4400 (Image credit: Patriot)

5. Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4400 (2 x 8GB)

Best High-Speed 16GB Kit

Specifications

Model: PVS416G440C9K
Capacity: 16 GB (2 x 8GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-4400 (XMP)
Timings: 19-19-19-39 (2T)
Voltage: 1.45V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Superb 19-19-19-39 DDR4-4400 timings
+
Outperforms competing DDR4-4600 kits
+
Reasonably priced
+
RGB-free design

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricier than the closest-performing RGB kit
-
Top XMP profiles require specially-selected motherboards

For those with a board that can handle its top speed and games or workloads that can take advantage of it, Patriot’s Viper Steel DDR4-4400 16GB kit is an excellent high-performance option that also skips RGB.

Keeping the kit simple has allowed Patriot to equip the Viper Steel with enhanced timings that dramatically boost the performance of specific programs, including some games. The Viper Steel DDR4-4400 excels in a market filled with gaming rigs and builds focused on singular tasks.

Read: Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4000 review

Best High-Speed RGB 16GB Kit: Patriot Viper RGB DDR4-3600 (Image credit: Patriot)

6. Patriot Viper RGB DDR4-3600 (2 x 8GB)

Best High-Speed RGB 16GB Kit

Specifications

Model: PVR416G360C6K
Capacity: 16 GB (2 x 8GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-3600 (XMP)
Timings: 16-18-18-36 (2T)
Voltage: 1.35V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
XMP timings at DDR4-3600
+
Overclocking capability
+
Excellent latency-tuning capacity
+
Compatible with motherboard RGB software
+
Patriot RGB software free for download

Reasons to avoid

-
LED diffuser causes color merging/bleeding

Patriot bucks the trend of pairing cosmetic features with mainstream DRAM ICs instead of pushing data rates up to 4,133 megahertz (MHz) on its Viper RGB. As a result, this DDR4-3600 kit is only $10 more than the white-LED version and several dollars cheaper than competing products with similar latency. That makes it a great value at this speed, though slower kits have more significant pricing advantages.

The fastest DDR4-3600 kit we’ve tested, Patriot’s Viper RGB DDR4-3600 kit, provides excellent value to buyers who want to go (overclocking capability) and show (RGB LEDs).

Read: Patriot Viper RGB DDR4-3600 review

Best Overclocker Value 16GB Kit: Patriot Viper 4 DDR4-3400 (Image credit: Patriot)

7. Patriot Viper 4 DDR4-3400 (2 x 8GB)

Best Overclocker Value 16GB Kit

Specifications

Model: PV416G340C6K
Capacity: 16 GB (2 x 8GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-3400 (XMP)
Timings: 16-18-18-36 (2T)
Voltage: 1.35V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Top overclocking from a mid-priced 16GB two-DIMM kit

Reasons to avoid

-
Still pricier than budget kits

It may not have fancy software-controlled RGB lights, and there are faster kits on offer for higher prices and budget-priced kits that cost less. But for many who don’t want or need their memory to glow like a rainbow, Patriot’s Viper 4 DDR4-3400 C16 16GB (PV416G340C6K) sits in a sweet spot of price and performance.

The kit includes two 8GB modules rated with XMP values of DDR4-3400 CAS 16-18-18-36. Those last three numbers aren’t great, but DDR3 lovers must remember that 16 cycles at a 3400 MHz data rate have the same latency time as eight cycles at 1700 MHz. So this kit is an excellent DRAM overclocking value while providing some stylish red heatsinks to ensure your memory looks good enough to show off in your windowed case.

Read: Patriot Viper 4 DDR4-3400 review

Best 32GB RGB Kit: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3200 (Image credit: Corsair)

8. Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3200 (4 x 8GB)

Best 32GB RGB Kit

Specifications

Model: CMW32GX4M4C3200C
Capacity: 32GB (4 x 8GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-3200 (XMP)
Timings: 16-18-18-36 (2T)
Voltage: 1.35V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent performance at rated (XMP) settings and across multiple data rates
+
Supports both Corsair and third-party RGB utilities
+
Reasonably priced

Reasons to avoid

-
Didn’t reach DDR4-4000
-
White light diffusers cast pastel hues

Builders who prioritize aesthetics face a tough choice between the best-looking and best-performance parts. Corsair brings a bit of both in its Vengeance RGB DDR4-3200 kit, providing four 8GB DIMMs (32GB total) at CAS 16 timings for a reasonably moderate price given the recent market trends. And this kit isn’t all about looks; it has the goods where benchmarks are concerned, too.

Superb performance and moderate pricing earn the Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3200 our Editor’s Choice Award for RGB-equipped memory, though its pastel colors might be off-putting to a few builders.

Corsair’s kit beat our previous favorite, the HyperX Predator RGB, in overall performance at every speed, barring the DDR4-4000 setting it didn’t reach. Corsair also provides a better-performing XMP value and a lower price than the competition, making the Vengeance RGB Pro the uncompromised winner and an excellent addition to your next RGB build.

Read: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3200 review

Best Two-DIMM 32GB Kit: Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3200 (Image credit: Patriot)

9. Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3200 (2 x 16GB)

Best Two-DIMM 32GB Kit

Specifications

Model: PVS432G320C6K
Capacity: 32GB (2 x 16GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-3400 (XMP)
Timings: 15-15-15-36
Voltage: 1.35V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Supremely inexpensive DDR4-3200
+
Competitive performance
+
No RGB

Reasons to avoid

-
Some buyers want RGB

Buyers within the performance PC market have only two excuses to stop at DDR4-3200: Either they’re trying to save money or coax a good performance from a system that can’t go much farther.

For those in either category, but the former in particular, Patriot Patriot’s 32GB Viper Steel 3200 kit outshines the competition in terms of pricing price, beating its closest competition by approximately 18%. That’s without any performance penalties beyond having the exact mid-market timings as its competitors.

Even though the Patriot Viper Steel’s performance victories are less than 1% overall, its low price puts it well ahead of even the least-expensive competitor in our basic performance-to-price comparison. As a result, value seekers within the performance PC market have just found their new champion.

Read: Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3200 review

Best Two-DIMM 64GB Kit: Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3200 (Image credit: Patriot)

10. Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3600 (2 x 32GB)

Best Two-DIMM 64GB Kit

Specifications

Model: PVS464G360C8K
Capacity: 64GB (2 x 32GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-3600 (XMP)
Timings: 18-20-20-40 (2T)
Voltage: 1.35V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Superb all-around performance
+
Great capacity for content creators 
+
Perfect for boards with two RAM slots

Reasons to avoid

-
 Little headroom for performance improvement

The Viper Steel DDR4-3600 C18 is a terrific memory kit for content creators or professionals who don't have the luxury of many DDR4 memory slots. Performance isn't a problem because the memory kit excels at everything you throw at it.

Patriot practically binned these modules to the max, so overclocking headroom is almost non-existent, even if you're willing to go wild on the voltage. But running the Viper Steel at the advertised frequency should be sufficient in most scenarios.

Patriot prices the Viper Steel DDR4-3600 C18 64GB memory kit very attractively. At $239.99, the memory kit is neither cheap nor expensive. Viper Steel finds itself right in the middle of the competition. Given that it stands tall in terms of performance, this kit is easy to recommend for those needing speed and density in a dual-DIMM scenario.

Read: Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3600 C18 2x32GB review

Best High-Speed 32GB Kit for Manual Tuning: G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 (Image credit: G.Skill)

11. G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 (2 x 16GB)

Best High-Speed 32GB Kit for Manual Tuning

Specifications

Model: F4-3600C16D-32GTZN
Capacity: 32GB (2 x 16GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-3600 (XMP)
Timings: 16-16-16-36 (2T)
Voltage: 1.35V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Good XMP performance
+
Excellent headroom for manual tuning

Reasons to avoid

-
A little on the expensive side

It's easy to write G.Skill's Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 C16 kit off if you don't look beyond the published specifications. However, during our review, the RAM kit proved its performance and value in different workloads. 

And the real value is hidden below the heat spreader – the memory modules use Samsung B-die ICs. With patience and time, you can optimize the timings for better performance. As always, your overclocking mileage will vary, but we got our sample down to CL13.

The Trident Z Neo memory modules come with XMP timings of 16-16-16-36, which aren't the worst in the memory world. However, with the DRAM voltage set to 1.45V, we tightened the timings to 13-14-14-35 before the kit became unstable.

Read: G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 C16 2x16GB review 

Best 16GB Kit for H370 and B360: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-2666 (Image credit: Corsair)

12. Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-2666 (2 x 8GB)

Best 16GB Kit for H370 and B360

Specifications

Model: CMK16GX4M2A2666C16
Capacity: 16GB (2 x 8GB)
Data Rate: DDR4-2666
Timings: C16-18-18-36
Voltage: 1.20V
Warranty: Lifetime

Reasons to buy

+
Big performance benefit from dual-rank DIMMs

Reasons to avoid

-
No secondary XMP for DDR4-2400-limited motherboards
-
Top non-XMP setting is DDR4-2133

Intel’s H370 and B360 chipsets instruct its Core i5 (and above) processors to lock out any memory settings above DDR4-2666, which is particularly unfortunate in a market that’s moved way past that setting. DDR4-3200 is now mainstream within the enthusiast PC market and is often treated as such by the memory sellers that cater to enthusiasts and gamers. Thus, the best way to get a top-performing brand-new DDR4-2666 kit would be to dial the way-back machine to 2016 and get the high-performing equipment from that time. Barring that, Corsair has a workaround.

Corsair’s easy workaround for the performance problem of Intel’s DDR4-2666 limit was to use older, low-density chips to populate its 8GB DIMMs with two ranks rather than the single rank of its competitors. The best part is that they did this without a significant price increase. We recommend it for anyone whose XMP-compatible platform has a maximum DDR4-2666 data rate, including most retail boxed H370 and B360 motherboards.

Read: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-2666 review

Savings on the Best RAM

Whether you're buying DIMMs that made our list of the best RAM or not, you may find savings by checking out our lists of Newegg promo codes and Corsair coupon codes.

Zhiye Liu
RAM Reviewer and News Editor

Zhiye Liu is a Freelance News Writer at Tom’s Hardware US. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

  • abryant
    Archived comments are found here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3754618/computer-memory-march-2015.html
    Reply
  • CRO5513Y
    Completely agree with the first choice, i found the same kit a few weeks ago on Newegg, Viper RGB 3600 Mhz that was cheaper than Corsair Vengeance RGB, G.Skill Trident Z RGB & GeIL RGB kits and they were all only 3200 MHz! I'd argue the Viper looks the best of the RGB sets too, didn't know it existed until i came across it on Newegg. Strongly recommend for the price + speed + aesthetic combination.
    Reply
  • rantoc
    Most above need Con: RGB =P
    Reply
  • TONSCHUH
    I have 2x 8gb G.Skill TridentZ RGB @4266MHz and they are really great.
    Reply
  • nyhcbri
    Thought i would see gskill trident z F4-3200C14D-16GTZR
    Reply
  • gone_skye_diving
    This backs up what I've seen on other sites in that 2x8GB DDR4 memory is the best for stability and overclockability and performance, 2x16GB DDR4 memory cannot be overclocked as high.
    Reply
  • david90009
    You don't need a K CPU to overclock ram on an Intel platform. You just need the Z chipset. Yeah kind of confusing when the memory controller is on the CPU. But that's what happens when everything is artificially limited.
    Reply
  • Karadjgne
    Memory controller might be part of the cpu, but the cpu parameters are set by the bios, which is part of the mobo. Cpu jumps, bios tells it 'how high'.

    Umm why is this posted as Best Memory: March 2015? Musta missed sumptin...
    Reply
  • dorsai
    Not rocking low latency fast memory like FlareX C14 3200mhz memory on Ryzen 2 is leaving performance on the floor...
    Reply
  • Crashman
    dorsai said:
    Not rocking low latency fast memory like FlareX C14 3200mhz memory on Ryzen 2 is leaving performance on the floor...
    We have Patriot's DDR4-3600 C16 though ;)
    Reply