RAM(Random Access Memory) is responsible for storing temporary data for your applications and games so that when the CPU needs it, the data can be accessed quickly. The need for good RAM has existed for decades, even though the frequency and CL timings didn’t matter as much as in this new era of hyper-realistic and demanding gaming scene.
The effect of RAM on gaming performance has been evident from a plethora of testing and while it isn’t directly responsible for rendering the graphics on your screen, it does help in enhancing the speed at which the CPU and GPU work together to push the performance to higher levels.
If you are looking to uplift your gaming performance and maintain stability in your system, here are the best RAM kits for gaming to buy in 2024 for both Intel and AMD platforms.
TCG’s Picks for the Best RAM for Gaming in 2024
Corsair Vengeance RGB RAM kit comes with dual 16GB DDR5 RAM modules, offering a staggering 7200MHz clock speed with Intel XMP support. Perfect for high-end gaming builds, this RAM kit has a great balance of high clock speed and cache latency.
Type: DDR5, Size: 32GB, Clock: 7200MHz
High-performance RAM is a dream for every gamer but the only thing that stops most is price. While the Corsair Vengeance RGB RAM kit is more expensive than most Vengeance kits, it’s still drastically cheaper than the Dominator series. At the same time, it doesn’t sacrifice performance and brings high clock speed to the table and very tight timings that will ensure you get the best possible performance in your favorite games.
This kit contains dual 16GB DDR5 RAM sticks that use a stylish design incorporating black aluminum heat spreaders and RGB LEDs on top, which are fully customizable via the Corsair iCUE app. The RAM kit is highly stable even at 7200MHz once you turn on Intel XMP 3.0 from the BIOS. At an incredible latency of 34-44-44-96, the RAM will exceed your expectations.
Corsair Dominator Titanium is a premium DDR5 RAM kit that excels in cache latency. It’s incredibly fast at 6000MHz compared to other models and provides a sleek design with customizable RGB lighting on top.
Type: DDR5, Size: 32GB, Clock: 6000MHz
The Dominator series is a top-of-the-line lineup from Corsair that comes at a hefty cost but is unparalleled in performance. While AMD still suffers from the lack of high-frequency RAM kits, the Dominator Titanium compensates it with its extremely strict timings for quick response. The kit comes with two sticks of 16GB size and can reach up to 6000MHz with AMD EXPO.
At this clock speed, the kit can maintain a solid 30-36-36-76 timing configuration compared to the default 40-40-40-77 at 4800MHz. The result is quick operation and improved gaming performance. The kit is surely a bit on the expensive side but one of the factors that contributes to its price increase is its premium design, incorporating RGB LED-embedded heat spreaders, which are open to customization with 3D prints.
Sweet Spot for most gaming builds, this gorgeous white RAM kit runs at a good 6400MHz speed and has beautiful RGB lighting on top. Being Intel XMP compatible, it works at the advertised speed on tight latency.
Type: DDR5, Size: 32GB, Clock: 6400MHz
This Vengeance RGB DDR5 kit is technically the same as our best Overall choice but is slightly downgraded in specifications. This model runs at 6400MHz and has slightly loose timings of 36-48-48-104 with Intel XMP enabled. Still, the configuration is balanced enough to offer a good gaming performance, and most of the time the performance difference won’t be noticeable.
On the good side, the RAM kit is $25 cheaper and offers the same 32GB size. The design is also identical except for the color theme, which boasts white aluminum heat spreaders, making it suitable for white gaming builds.
This RAM kit introduces a good 6400MHz clock speed for improving gaming performance and has fairly good timings for quick response. A beautiful White/Black heat spreader is used for improving the thermals and aesthetics, and on top, the RGB lighting brings out its personality.
Type: DDR5, Size: 32GB, Clock: 6400MHz
Moving to the AMD platform, the G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB is one of the handful of memory kits that offer a high 6400MHz clock speed. It’s higher than our best overall recommendation for the AMD AM5 platform but the timings are somewhat compromised. In no terms this will affect gaming negatively as the higher clock speed will take care of the performance.
G.Skill’s Trident Z5 is very stable at 6400MHz with 32-39-39-102 CL timings, considering you have a good gaming motherboard to start with. It boasts a stylish design that incorporates white/black-themed heat spreaders with RGB LEDs on top. You can customize the LEDs via G.Skill’s Trident Z Lighting Control software.
An affordable RAM kit, offering 32GB total capacity and a clock frequency of 6000MHz through Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO. Being compatible with both platforms, the Lexar Thor OC is one of the best kits at 100 bucks.
Type: DDR5, Size: 32GB, Clock: 6400MHz
Unlike Corsair, Crucial, and other similar brands, Lexar may not be very popular but its RAM kits are up to the mark while being cheaper than the competitors. The Lexar Thor OC DDR5 kit gives you dual 16GB RAM modules with a beautiful design that is somewhat low-profile and looks appealing with yellow accents.
With a max speed of up to 6000MHz, the Lexar kit is on par and will be similar to higher-end memories in gaming performance in most scenarios. One of the best advantages of using this kit is its native support for both Intel and AMD platforms, which allows bumping the clock speed to 6000MHz on both without having to compromise on the timings. The timings are fairly tight at 6000MHz with CL 32-38-38-76 and while it may vary from batch to batch, you can experiment with the timings, frequency, and voltage to achieve your desired configuration.
As Intel and AMD still have their DDR4 platforms on demand, the Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO SL is a fantastic kit, offering a decent 3600MHz speed and RGB lighting on top. It is fairly affordable and is competitive with DDR5 memories.
Type: DDR4, Size: 32GB, Clock: 3600MHz
Despite being a decade old, DDR4 memories are abundantly available in the market at much more affordable prices than DDR5 alternatives. There isn’t much time left for DDR4 but currently, as Intel provides DDR4 editions for their latest LGA 1700 motherboards, it makes sense that many users will opt for the cheaper DDR4 memories and motherboards to cut down the cost significantly.
If you are using a DDR4 motherboard from Intel or an AM4 motherboard, the Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO SL is somewhat equivalent to a 7200MHz DDR5 kit. The timings are good at 18-22-22-42 and the design is appealing as well. 3600MHz of frequency will ensure maximum gaming performance as it has been tested as the sweet spot for gaming.
What to Look for When Buying a RAM for Gaming?
Type: Depending on your current motherboard, choose between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM kits. DDR5 is a bit superior but also expensive. DDR4, on the other hand, is cheaper and is compatible with AM4 and also several Intel platforms. If you are building a brand new gaming PC from scratch, it’s advised to opt for DDR5-compatible motherboards to harness DDR5’s full potential. Remember that DDR4 and DDR5 have a different pin layout and can’t be used interchangeably.
RAM Capacity: For gaming in particular, it’s advisable to go for 16GB RAM capacity irrespective of the type of RAM you choose. While 8GB will be sufficient in a lot of cases, the OS and the background apps can consume more than half of the RAM capacity these days, leaving little for the actual games. With 16GB RAM size, you will have at least 8GB or more for your games, and the rest will take care of the background operations.
Frequency and Latency: Typically, higher frequency means faster operations and better gaming performance. But this isn’t always true. Frequency is measured in MHz or GHz and tells you how many instructions the RAM kit can execute every cycle. Latency is the measurement of the responsiveness of a particular RAM kit. A RAM that runs at a higher clock speed but has a slow response won’t benefit from its high clock speed. The general rule of thumb is that the frequency should be higher and the latency should be lower.
Overclocking: A lot of memory kits are overclockable but they run at their base speed by default. Overclocking is the method of increasing the clock speed and managing the latency to improve performance. To simplify overclocking and make the memories more stable at high clock frequencies, Intel and AMD platforms support XMP and EXPO. The memories are, therefore, designed accordingly.
FAQ
Is DDR4 or DDR5 better?
DDR5 is a bit better due to being a dual channel by default and provides slight improvements in performance. However, the performance difference isn’t too large in most cases.
Do I need DDR5 RAM for gaming?
Not necessarily. If you own a DDR4-compatible motherboard, you will need a DDR4 memory. Both DDR4 and DDR5 provide satisfactory performance in gaming. One should rather look at the specifications of the RAM than the memory type.
Is 32GB RAM overkill?
Currently, 32GB is more than sufficient and even high-end gaming systems work flawlessly with 16GB RAM capacity. However, we don’t think 32GB is overkill.
Can DDR4 fit in DDR5?
No, both have a different pin configuration and neither of them are interchangeable.
