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1. Home
2. Features
BEST DDR4 RAM FOR GAMING IN 2022
By Dave James published 4 days ago
Avoid bottlenecks with the best DDR4 RAM for gaming.
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Included in this guide:
1
TeamGroup
T-Force Xtreem ARGB (2x 8GB)
Check Price
2
Corsair
Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB DDR4-3200MHz
Check Price
3
G.Skill
Trident Z RGB DDR4-3600 32GB
Check Price
4
Colorful
CVN Guardian 16GB DDR4-3200
View
5
G.Skill
Trident Z Royal DDR4-4000 16GB F4-4000C15D-16GTRG
Check Price
6
G.Skill
Ripjaws V Series DDR4-2400
Check Price
Easily avoid bottlenecks with the best DDR4 RAM for gaming. (Image credit:
Future)
The best DDR4 RAM for gaming keeps your rig running fast. With low latency RAM,
you can perform a ton of tasks on your PC without having to wait all day. It's
an incredibly affordable addition to your gaming PC and it's easily felt if you
haven't upgraded in a while. With a little research, you can make sure the best
RAM will work with your PC and you'll be set.
Most gamers will want either a 16GB or 32GB RAM kit inside their rig. Nowadays,
you can get 16GB for relatively cheap, and it's a good investment over 8GB of
the stuff. If you wanted to save some cash, you could now make do with 8GB and
upgrade down the line. 32GB and above is considered overkill because most games
don't have that high memory capacity. Unless you're big on productivity tasks or
just simply futureproofing, 16GB is the sweet spot.
You want to look for DDR4 RAM that runs around 3,200MHz for Intel chips and
3,600MHz for AMD's latest offerings. This should give your CPU enough bandwidth
cushion to handle gaming and work-related tasks. Consider a newer Intel
processor and the best DDR5 RAM (opens in new tab) if you want high speeds over
anything else.
The good news is that there are plenty of affordable low-latency RAM kits out
there right now, which is excellent for AMD Ryzen gaming PCs (opens in new tab).
Want to optimize your PC and get the most out of your RAM? Our handy RAM speed
for gaming deep-dive (opens in new tab) should be the first thing you
read. We've tested a bunch of DDR4 RAM kits and picked out the best ones for
gaming at various price points.
RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU...PC Gamer
BEST DDR4 RAM FOR GAMING
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Teamgroup)
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(Image credit: Teamgroup)
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(Image credit: Teamgroup)
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1. TEAM XTREEM ARGB 16GB DDR4-3600MHZ C14
The best RAM for gaming
SPECIFICATIONS
Speed: 3600MHz
Timing: 14-15-15-35
CAS latency: 14
Voltage: 1.35 V
DIMMs: 2x 8GB
Today's Best Deals
View at Amazon Netherlands (NL)
View at Amazon Netherlands (NL)
See all prices (3 found)
REASONS TO BUY
+
Great for AMD Ryzen
+
Subtle RGB
+
Great price
REASONS TO AVOID
-
Expected a little more from overclocking performance
The Team Xtreem ARGB RAM kit we’re got here for review isn’t your standard DDR4
RAM, it’s one of the very few 3,600MHz kits that come with a CAS latency of just
14. That puts it at the forefront of low-latency RAM favored by gaming PCs,
especially AMD Ryzen rigs. As such, it takes the top spot as our pick for the
best RAM for gaming.
Not all that long ago, a kit as well-rounded on both price and performance
would've been a distant dream. However, a recent DRAM price crash and an
increasing process maturity in DDR4 production mean kits such as this can often
be had for around $100.
DDR4 memory really is maturing nicely. Just a couple of years ago, a decent
DDR4-3200 kit was regarded as high-end, but as time ticks on, 3,200MHz is now
the baseline for a decent gaming system. You could even argue that 3,600MHz is
the current baseline for Ryzen 5000 and Intel 12th Gen systems, for decent
performance without any significant price premium, with 4,000MHz and above the
new sweet spot.
That's great news for anyone eyeing up AMD's Ryzen CPUs, which favor a memory
clock around the 3,600MHz mark—thus ensuring the Infinity Fabric clock is kept
at a 1:1 ratio with your memory and your chip ticking over happily with minimal
latency penalties. A kit such as the Team Xtreem is pretty much optimal.
So, how does it perform? As is always the case with high-performance memory, the
benefits are application-specific. When compared to a common DDR4-3200 kit you
do get the odd bump, though any benefit is hidden when you move to higher
resolutions and graphical details. You will see the benefits if you want to
extract every last frame with a high refresh rate monitor.
High-performance memory is really only desirable when paired with a similarly
high spec system. That’s not to say a kit like this is a waste of money. If
you’re going to drop $1000+ on a graphics card, why not splash an extra $50 or
so on some quality RAM to minimize any potential bottlenecks? We think it’s a
no-brainer, especially as this kit isn't that expensive.
Each DIMM features diffused RGB lighting that creates a glow-in-the-dark effect.
And while that doesn't sound great on paper, it's surprisingly smart in the
flesh. Each DIMM has a covering that diffuses the lighting across most of the
module and the result is a subtle and understated look. Team doesn’t have its
own RGB control app, but the kit can be controlled simply using various
motherboard manufacturers’ software suites.
If you want to eke out all your CPU has to offer and ensure your system looks
fresh in the process, the Team Xtreem ARGB kit is a great option. Its DDR4-3600
speed and 14-15-15 timings offer a great blend of decent speed and low latency,
without the steep price often associated with top-tier memory kits. Throw in the
modules' appealing visual design and Team has a winner of a kit that deserves
your consideration, particularly for AMD users.
Read our full Team Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 C14 gaming memory review (opens in new
tab).
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(Image credit: Corsair)
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(Image credit: Corsair)
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(Image credit: Corsair)
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2. CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB 32GB DDR4-3200MHZ
The best high-end RAM for gaming
SPECIFICATIONS
Speed: 3200MHz
Timing: 16-18-18-36
CAS Latency: 16
Voltage: 1.35 V
DIMMs: 2x 16GB
Today's Best Deals
View at Amazon Netherlands (NL)
View at Dodax NL
View at Coolblue NL
See all prices (117 found)
REASONS TO BUY
+
Ultra-bright Capellix RGB LEDs
+
Dominator DHX heat-spreaders
+
Advanced iCUE software
REASONS TO AVOID
-
Module height may cause clearance issues
Corsair's Dominator Platinum has been one of the best gaming RAM kits for quite
some time now. Its sleek exterior, patented DHX cooling technology, and
unrivaled performance has made it a formidable flagship over the years. First
teased at CES, Corsair is now introducing the new Dominator Platinum RGB with
the same best-in-class performance and RGB lighting using the company's new
Capellix LEDs.
The Dominator Platinum RGB takes the same best-in-class performance as the
original, adds higher-clocked SKUs, and 12 individually addressable Capellix RGB
LEDs. The new LEDs are brighter and more efficient than previous iterations and
are only available from Corsair. Combined with Corsair’s iCUE software, the
Dominator Platinum RGB has become the best RGB option out there and also the
best high-end performance kit.
At a quick glance, the new design may look similar to Corsair's black Vengeance
RGB series, but there are major differences in the lighting. The original
Vengeance RGB features non-addressable LEDs, meaning the entire light bar could
only be one color at a time. The newer Vengeance RGB Pro, on the other hand,
features 10 individually addressable LEDs.
Like the rest of the RGB lineup, the Dominator Platinum RGB is controlled via
Corsair's iCUE software suite. If you have any other Corsair RGB products,
you'll be able to import and synchronize your lighting profiles across all
devices. We had some issues mirroring our custom keyboard lighting profiles, but
the 11 different predefined lighting link settings worked perfectly.
From a performance standpoint, the Dominator Platinum RGB lives up to its name.
Each kit goes through a very tight screening process with hand-sorted memory
chips to ensure maximum stability out of the box and generous overclocking
headroom. This is a process Corsair has excelled at over the years, particularly
with the Dominator series. The Dominator Platinum RGB is no exception.
We received an 8x8GB test kit from Corsair for our quad-channel X299 bench and
ran various tests using AIDA64, MaxxMEM, and games such as Metro Exodus and Apex
Legends. Using the stock XMP settings at 3,600MHz, our kit performed right in
line with the original Dominator Platinum and G.Skill's TridentZ. In general,
there was only a small margin of difference in performance up to 5 percent
between competing kits, but overclocking was much more successful with the
Dominator Platinum RGB.
We were able to achieve a stable 4,000MHz with ease while manually overclocking
the kit. With a bit more tweaking and minor bumps in voltage, we saw upwards of
4,200MHz, something most competing kits have struggled with. This isn't too
surprising, considering Corsair's plans to sell XMP-ready kits up to 4,800MHz.
Even with higher voltages and under heavy load, the Dominator Platinum RGB never
broke 60 degrees celsius.
The price doesn't differ too much from the original non-RGB Dominator Platinum,
but you’re still paying a hefty premium over some of the other kits mentioned in
this guide. We still think it's well worth every penny if you can afford it,
whichever capacity kit you go for.
Read our full Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB review (opens in new tab).
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(Image credit: G.Skill)
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(Image credit: G.Skill)
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3. G.SKILL TRIDENT Z NEO 32GB DDR4-3600MHZ
The best RAM for gaming with an AMD motherboard
SPECIFICATIONS
Speed: 3600MHz
Timing: 18-22-22-42
CAS Latency: 18
Voltage: 1.35 V
DIMMs: 2x 16GB
Today's Best Deals
View at Megekko NL
View at Amazon Netherlands (NL)
View at Bol.com Netherlands
See all prices (77 found)
REASONS TO BUY
+
High speed and high capacity RGB kit
+
Optimized for AMD Ryzen builds
REASONS TO AVOID
-
Modest clock speeds and timings
G.Skill’s Trident Z RGB RAM has been a mainstay of memory guide for years now,
and it’s no surprise the company’s Trident Z Neo series has also earned a spot
here. Like the original Trident Z RGB series, the Trident Z Neo comes equipped
with brilliant RGB lighting done in a very tasteful manner. Each module has five
individually addressable RGB LEDs that can light up any PC build beautifully.
But the real sell for this memory kit is how it's optimized for AMD Ryzen.
This set of Neo RAM from G.Skill runs at 3,600MHz, which puts it in the sweet
spot for red team gaming PCs for low latency operation. As a result, this is
definitely a more budget-friendly option for mid-range builds with some flair,
especially if you can't afford to stretch to the Corsair Dominator kits.
Similar to the overall performance of your Ryzen PC build, the Trident Z Neo
offers a fantastic bang for your buck. You can get a 32GB kit for under $150,
which means you can also easily upgrade your machine to an (admittedly
unnecessary) 64GB of high-speed DDR4 memory down the road. If you're using your
PC for more than gaming then perhaps that large pool of memory will come in
handy, just don't expect much out of it for gaming alone.
The Trident Z Neo comes in various speeds and configurations ranging from
2,600MHz all the way up to 4,000MHz. We recommend the 3,600MHz kit but you may
find faster ones going for only a little more money.
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(Image credit: Colorful)
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(Image credit: Colorful)
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(Image credit: Colorful)
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(Image credit: Colorful)
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4. COLORFUL CVN GUARDIAN 16GB DDR4-3200
The best budget RGB memory
SPECIFICATIONS
Speed: 3200MHz
Timing: 16-18-18-38
CAS Latency: 16
Voltage: 1.35V
DIMMs: 2x 8GB
Today's Best Deals
Visit Site
REASONS TO BUY
+
Affordable
+
Good-looking
+
Overclocking potential
REASONS TO AVOID
-
Not as widely available as some
Okay, so RGB LEDs on your memory sticks don't make your rig go faster, but they
can really tie the room together. Or at least your PC's overall aesthetic. And
the Colorful CVN Guardian DDR4, at just $95 for a dual-channel 16GB kit (opens
in new tab), is probably the most affordable route into nailing that
all-important RGB look for your gaming system.
At their heart, the CVN Guardian memory modules, which come in 8GB trim, have
decent, if a little basic, CL16 timings and are using the Micron E-die DDR4
memory chips. That makes them a good fit for a Ryzen build as it's a little
easier on the memory controller than something like the Samsung B-die. That
means you might get higher frequencies, though you may not be able to tighten up
the actual timings as much.
But for an affordable DDR4-3200 kit, the CVN Guardian performs well, instantly
taking to the XMP settings of our test board. There is the potential for
overclocking too with the kit capable of hitting at least DDR4-3600 with some
slightly looser timings, even still at CL16.
If you're just after some solid, affordable, good-looking memory the CVN
Guardian is a great option. It's using recognized Micron chips, both the
aluminum heatspreader and RGB lighting look great, and there is some headroom
here too. The only downer is that we can only find one outlet selling it:
Aliexpress (opens in new tab).
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(Image credit: G.Skill)
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: G.Skill)
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5. G.SKILL TRIDENT Z ROYAL 16GB DDR4-4000MHZ
The best high-frequency RAM for gaming
SPECIFICATIONS
Speed: 4000MHz
Timing: 15-16-16-36
CAS Latency: 15
Voltage: 1.5V
DIMMs: 2x 8GB
Today's Best Deals
View at Amazon Netherlands (NL)
REASONS TO BUY
+
High frequency
+
Great for Intel CPUs
+
S H I N Y
REASONS TO AVOID
-
Not super widely available
Known for superb binned memory and high-speed kits, G.Skill's Trident Z Royal
blends 4,000MHz (effective) operation with a highly stylized design. These DIMMs
are just asking to be put center-stage in a showpiece gaming PC build—and it
would be far from a slouch either.
At DDR4-4000 with 15-16-16 timings, the Trident Z Royal kit is probably the
perfect combination of high frequency, low timings, and broad platform
compatibility. It does require 1.5V to operate at that spec—which is at the high
end for a default voltage—but fear not, it will be able to run year after year.
Best suited to high-performance Intel builds, the Trident Z Royal makes for the
perfect high-speed pairing. This kit will keep your CPU fed with the data it
needs at a rapid rate, and it comes out among the top in every benchmark we
could throw at it.
There's also room to overclock this kit if you see fit. This G.Skill Trident Z
Royal kit comes equipped with the highly regarded Samsung B-Die IC, known for
its ability to scale with voltage. If you have a good CPU memory controller and
a capable motherboard, you’ll be able to push this kit well beyond its rated
specification. We managed to push it to 4,400MHz without increasing voltage,
although we were forced to lower the latency a touch for the kit to capitulate
to our OC demands.
The base Trident Z design hasn’t changed all that much in recent years, but it's
never looked as good as this. The modules demand to be shown off in a windowed
case and look every bit the premium kit with their stunning mirror-like silver
or gold finish. Atop the modules are sparkling crystalline light bars with the
requisite RGB goodness and the colors are especially bright and vibrant. Some
might even say it’s too bright.
As always, looks are subjective, but it’s difficult to describe this kit as
anything other than stunning. The mirror finish might be a fingerprint magnet,
but that’s only if you really must touch it, not that there’s anything wrong
with that! The silver version we have here would add a touch of class to almost
any build.
Whereas you may want to choose a slower 3,600MHz kit for AMD Ryzen, the Trident
Z is a great option for most other high-end PC builds that look as flashy as
it's fast.
Read our full G.Skill Trident Z Royal 16GB DDR4-4000MHz review (opens in new
tab).
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(Image credit: G.Skill)
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(Image credit: G.Skill)
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(Image credit: G.Skill)
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6. G.SKILL RIPJAWS V 16GB DDR4-2400MHZ
The best RAM for mid-tier gaming PCs
SPECIFICATIONS
Speed: 2400MHz
Timing: 15-15-15-35
CAS Latency: 15
Voltage: 1.2V
DIMMs: 2x 8GB
Today's Best Deals
View at Bol.com Netherlands
View at Informatique NL
View at Amazon Netherlands (NL)
See all prices (13 found)
REASONS TO BUY
+
Decent pricing
+
Great overclocking headroom
REASONS TO AVOID
-
Super edgy lookin'
Your next upgrade
(Image credit: Future)
Best CPU for gaming (opens in new tab): the top chips from Intel and AMD
Best graphics card (opens in new tab): your perfect pixel-pusher awaits
Best SSD for gaming (opens in new tab): get into the game ahead of the rest
The G.Skill Ripjaws V is a much more mundane set of sticks for your PC. That's
not necessarily a bad thing, sometimes you simply want to stuff your budget
system with some RAM and close it back up, never to be seen again. These Ripjaws
are great for a capacity upgrade, or if you don't care much for flashing lights
inside of your build.
The G.Skill Ripjaws V is a second-generation DDR4 kit from G.Skill, and it's
clear the company listened to the feedback and criticisms from the customers.
This series is more affordable, faster, and has a less tacky heatsink than its
predecessor. We found the 16GB Ripjaws V (opens in new tab) kit to be the best
option for a decent capacity kit that features great performance right out of
the box.
The Ripjaws V did exceptionally well in our benchmarks without any overclocking,
beating several kits in the 2,400MHz range. Despite this, you can still achieve
an overclock to 2,800–3,000MHz with a simple bump in voltage. You might even
reach 3,200MHz or higher, though you're likely to hit some stability issues.
That's something to bear in mind with this kit though: because it's very
affordable, it runs at a much slower speed that is ideal for modern systems.
Ultimately, this memory will still function well in a gaming PC, but you might
not get the absolute best performance out of your CPU as a result of the lower
clock speed.
With a reasonable price, however, whether running stock or overclocked,
G.Skill's Ripjaws V is hard to beat.
Best CPU for gaming (opens in new tab) | Best graphics card (opens in new tab) |
Best gaming motherboards (opens in new tab)
Best SSD for gaming (opens in new tab) | Best PC cases (opens in new tab) | Best
gaming monitors (opens in new tab)
BEST DDR4 GAMING RAM FAQ
HOW MUCH RAM DO I NEED?
We recommend a minimum of 16GB for most serious gaming PCs (it's what we use in
our high-end PC build (opens in new tab)), but it isn’t too costly to upgrade to
32GB these days, thanks to a recent pricing crash. That capacity will provide a
hefty buffer if you’re inclined to multitasking, creative or intensive apps, or,
y'know, heavy Chrome tab usage—check out our handy guide if you’re wondering how
much RAM you actually need (opens in new tab).
HOW FAST SHOULD RAM BE FOR A GAMING PC?
Generally, we'd recommend you stick with two DDR4 modules for a dual-channel
build, each with a minimum of 3,000MHz clock speed. That should ensure you're
getting the most out of the best CPUs for gaming (opens in new tab). With Intel,
you can essentially settle for whatever the best kit you can afford is, while
AMD Ryzen patrons will want to look a little deeper.
Essentially you want to aim for 3,600MHz memory for Zen 2 (Ryzen 3000) chips.
For Ryzen 5000 (opens in new tab) CPUs, it has been suggested that 4,000MHz kits
are your best bet (opens in new tab).
When it comes to the actual performance you need, well, that's a whole different
story. Bandwidth tests easily show the relative benefits of running faster
memory (well, duh) but really that’s not what’s important. What matters is does
faster RAM makes a real difference to your PC experience. The true answer is
both yes and no, depending on what kinds of tasks you perform and the individual
application or game.
Generally, file compression sees a big benefit. Rendering doesn’t, but then some
encoders, like our Handbrake test, show very decent gains. The gaming benefits
when using faster RAM, however, are specific to the individual game. Some see
benefits while others gain nothing.
If you’re interested in the highest FPS, then you’ll definitely want to add some
fast RAM to your system, otherwise you could be leaving a chunk of performance
on the table.
WILL DDR5 WORK IN A DDR4 MOTHERBOARD?
No, it won't. Even though both types have 288 pins, DDR4 and DDR5 memory is
electrically incompatible. The two types have a different notch position, to
prevent anyone from inserting a DDR5 module into a DDR4 motherboard, or vice
versa.
That means you'll need a newer motherboard and compatible CPU to run faster,
newer DDR5 memory. Essentially you have to build a new PC for the new memory
specification.
DO I NEED RGB LEDS ON MY MEMORY DIMMS?
No. Absolutely not. But RGB can make your machine look that little bit cooler,
and we all know PCs need to run cool.
JARGON BUSTER - RAM TERMINOLOGY
DIMMs - Dual In-Line Memory Module, the physical circuit board that holds the
RAM chips that plugs into the slots on your motherboard.
ECC Memory - Error-correcting Code Memory, RAM capable of automatically
detecting and correcting errors on the fly, generally used in highly sensitive
applications, like scientific data collection or banking. Typically only used
and supported on servers and workstations, most desktop boards can run it as
non-ECC.
Frequency - The effective speed at which the memory operates, measured in MHz.
CL/CAS Latency - Column Access Strobe Latency, the delay between the memory
controller requesting data from the RAM and the available data; the first number
listed in a kit's timings.
SO-DIMM - More compact DIMM slots typically deployed in laptops, although these
can turn up on tiny machines as well.
Timings - The measure in several memory clock cycles an operation requested by
the memory controller will take for the RAM to complete. Lower is generally
better.
XMP - eXtreme Memory Profile, instructions for the BIOS that tell it what
frequency, timings, and voltage to access RAM at, a shortcut for overclocking
without tinkering with each setting individually. Officially for Intel
platforms, many AMD boards readily support reading XMP data (though it may go by
another name like A-XMP or DOHC).
Round up of today's best deals
TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB (2x 8GB)
€140.42
View
See all prices
Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB
€117.86
View
See all prices
G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4-3600 32GB
€121.90
View
See all prices
G.Skill Trident Z Royal DDR4-4000 16GB
€211
View
See all prices
G.Skill Ripjaws V Series DDR4-2400
€62
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Dave has been gaming since the days of Zaxxon and Lady Bug on the Colecovision,
and code books for the Commodore Vic 20 (Death Race 2000!). He built his first
gaming PC at the tender age of 16, and finally finished bug-fixing the
Cyrix-based system around a year later. When he dropped it out of the window. He
first started writing for Official PlayStation Magazine and Xbox World many
decades ago, then moved onto PC Format full-time, then PC Gamer, TechRadar, and
T3 among others. Now he's back, writing about the nightmarish graphics card
market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and
SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.
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