The Best RAM for gaming (2024) for serious gamers

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The best RAM for gaming doesn’t have to cost a lot. Whether you’re building a new PC or upgrading an old one that used to be one of the best gaming PCs but now can’t handle today’s games, the best RAM kit for your money depends on the platform you choose and the types of workloads you plan to run. Most people are still happy with 16GB of DDR4, but DDR5 is becoming a lot more common.

Especially in newer prebuilt gaming PCs with compatible motherboards. With that in mind, the tide is slowly starting to turn, and it might be a good idea to think about upgrading. One of the most important things you’ll need to look forward to in your setup is having more RAM. The answer to what you want is to have the best RAM for gaming.

Best RAM for gaming Comparison Table

Model	Computer Memory Type	Voltage	Manufacturer	Dimensions	Weight	Price
TEAM XTREEM ARGB 16GB DDR4-3600 C14	DDR4	1.35V	TEAM	133.35 x 47.35 x 8.4 mm	0.03 kg	$299.99 USD
G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3600	DDR4	1.35V	G.Skill	133.35 x 42.2 x 8.5 mm	0.02 kg	$139.99 USD
Samsung M323R2GA3BB0 DDR5-4800	DDR5	1.1V	Samsung	133.35 x 31.25 x 4.7 mm	0.01 kg	$599.99 USD
Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4400	DDR4	1.4V	Patriot	134.6 x 7.5 x 40 mm	0.09 kg	$189.99 USD
Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5-5200	DDR5	1.5V	Corsair	136 x 7.5 x 44 mm	0.1 kg	$899.99 USD
G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32GB DDR4-3600MHz	DDR4	1.35V	G.Skill	140 x 42.2 x 8.5 mm	0.04 kg	$239.99 USD
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600 MHz	DDR4	1.35V	Corsair	134 x 7 x 32 mm	0.04 kg	$119.99 USD
XPG Z1 DDR4 3200MHz Memory Modules	DDR4	1.35V	XPG	141 x 8 x 44 mm	0.06 kg	$99.99 USD

TEAM XTREEM ARGB 16GB DDR4-3600 C14

Specification
Capacity	16GB
Speed	DDR4-3600
CAS Latency	C14
Voltage	1.35V
RGB Lighting	Yes

This Team Xtreem ARGB RAM kit is not your typical DDR4 RAM. It’s one of the few 3,600MHz kits with a CAS latency of only 14. That makes it the best low-latency RAM for gaming PCs, especially those with AMD Ryzen 5000-series (Zen 3) processors. Because of this, it is our top choice for the best DDR4 RAM for gaming.

Not too long ago, a kit with such a good balance of price and performance would have been unthinkable. But because the price of DRAM has dropped and the process of making DDR4 is getting better, kits like this can often be bought for around $100. DDR4 memory is really getting better with age. Just a few years ago, a good DDR4-3200 kit was considered high-end, but now 3,200MHz is the minimum for a good gaming system.

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G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-3600

Specification
Capacity	16GB
Speed	DDR4-3600
CAS Latency	N/A
Voltage	1.35V
RGB Lighting	No

The G.Skill Ripjaws V is a less exciting set of PC sticks. That’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes you just want to put some RAM in your cheap computer, close it up, and never look at it again. These Ripjaws are great if you want to increase your build’s capacity or don’t care much about lights flashing inside your build.

The G.Skill Ripjaws V is the company’s second-generation DDR4 kit, and it’s clear that the company paid attention to customer feedback and complaints. This series is cheaper, faster, and has a heatsink that doesn’t look as tacky as its predecessor. We reviewed the 16GB 2,400MHz version of the Ripjaws V at first, but now we’re using the much faster 3,600MHz kit.

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Samsung M323R2GA3BB0 DDR5-4800

Specification
Capacity	32GB (2 x 16GB)
Speed	DDR5-4800
CAS Latency	N/A
Voltage	1.1V
RGB Lighting	No

When it comes to performance, the Samsung DDR5-4800 C40 memory modules are a good choice for people who want basic performance that they can install and forget about. Even though the Samsung DDR5-4800 memory doesn’t look great, it has plenty of room to overclock. That’s the most important thing about the memory.

High frequency can be hit with tight timing. If you want to try your hand at B-die overclocking, the Samsung DDR5-4800 memory won’t make you feel bad. Our sample reached DDR5-5800 C36, which is one of the better DDR5 configurations. The Samsung DDR5-4800 memory is one of those high-risk, high-reward products because the results of overclocking will vary from person to person.

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Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4400

Specification
Capacity	16GB
Speed	DDR4-4400
CAS Latency	N/A
Voltage	1.45V
RGB Lighting	No

Patriot’s Viper Steel DDR4-4400 16GB kit is a great high-performance option that doesn’t use RGB if you have a motherboard that can handle its top speed and games or tasks that can take advantage of it. Overall, it is one of the best RAM for gaming that you can buy.

By keeping the kit simple, Patriot was able to give the Viper Steel better timings that make certain programs, including some games, run much faster. The Viper Steel DDR4-4400 fits well in this market niche because the market for gaming PCs and PCs built for a single task is still competitive.

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Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5-5200

Specification
Capacity	32GB (2 x 16GB)
Speed	DDR5-5200
CAS Latency	N/A
Voltage	1.5V
RGB Lighting	Yes

The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5-5200 has all the speed you need. With the potential of PCIe 5.0 just now being understood and unlocked by the newest Intel CPUs, this memory kit configuration will put you in a very good position for the future of PC gaming in 2022 as an early adopter.

Early investment in a DDR5 memory solution, like the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5-5200, will cost you a fair amount of money, which is not surprising. Even though you already pay a bit more for the looks and quality of the build, higher configuration RAM like this clock speed is not cheap.

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G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32GB DDR4-3600MHz

Specification
Capacity	32GB
Speed	DDR4-3600
CAS Latency	N/A
Voltage	1.35V
RGB Lighting	Yes

If you’re running an AMD Ryzen gaming PC then the G.Skill Trident Z Neo is a fantastic match. And even with RGB flourishes, we’ve found it be very competitively priced compared to most other memory kits of similar spec. With speeds starting at 2600MHz and going up to 3800MHz you’ll never be left wanting for more.

Especially as you can upgrade the 32GB of RAM up to 64GB if you really want to future-proof your rig. 32GB will be plenty for most users though in all honesty. If you’re after RAM for heavy media editing too, then you might find rival memory kits outperform the G.Skill. Sticking with gaming though? Pick this up and don’t look back.

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Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3600 MHz

Specification
Capacity	16GB
Speed	DDR4-3600
CAS Latency	N/A
Voltage	1.35V
RGB Lighting	No

People all over the world have faith in the Corsair Vengeance LPX. By far, it is one of the best RAMs you can buy. In terms of performance, this device has room to be overclocked. Even though the SPD speed can go up to 2133 MHz, your drive may be ready. The product has a low profile height that makes it easy to fit into any cabinet.

This tool runs very reliably and quickly enough for gaming. The Corsair Vengeance LPX is a powerful piece of hardware that comes with a good gaming module. If you choose to have overclocked stability, you can play fast-paced games without any lag. This product has an XMP 2.0 setting that makes installing the driver as fast as possible.

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XPG Z1 DDR4 3200MHz Memory Modules

Specification
Capacity	16GB (2 x 8GB)
Speed	DDR4-3200
CAS Latency	N/A
Voltage	1.35V
RGB Lighting	No

The XPG Z1 Memory Modules are a new product that has been redesigned and improved to work better. This device has a custom PCB and a heat spreader made of aluminum. Because of this, the RAM can stay cool for a long time and can be used for more than one thing at a time. The best thing about the XPG Z1 Memory Modules is that each IC has Xtreme performance potential to help you do your best.

The XPG Z1 Memory Modules only use a small amount of power. Because of this, it can run faster than the models from the previous generation. It also supports higher frequencies, which makes it a great choice to buy. Most people like this RAM because it works well with great systems. You can always overclock to make something go faster.

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FAQs

Which RAM is the best for gaming?

• Patriot Viper RGB DDR4-3600 (2 x 8GB)
• Patriot Viper 4 DDR4-3400 (2 x 8GB)
• Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3200 (4 x 8GB)
• Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3200 (2 x 16GB)
• Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3600 (2 x 32GB)
• G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4-3600 (2 x 16GB)

Which RAM type is the best?

When it comes to memory speed, you should look for DDR4 memory that runs at or above 2,400MHz, or 2400MT/s as it will say on the package and online. People who want to buy DDR3 RAM should look for at least 1,866MHz memory, and the closer it is to 2,000MHz, the better.

Is DDR4 better than DDR5?

Memory bandwidth is something you can never have enough of, and DDR5 helps satisfy that need. DDR4 DIMMs can only transfer 3.2 gigatransfers per second (GT/s) at a clock rate of 1.6 gigahertz (GHz). However, the first DDR5 DIMMs can transfer 4.8 GT/s, which is a 50% increase.

Is DDR4 3200 good for gaming?

RAM with speeds of 3200MHz and 3600MHz can hold up to 64GB. So, it’s great for playing games. But you would be better off if you thought about the latency. Remember that the RAM will work better if its latency is low.