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Crucial Pro RAM 32GB Kit (2x16GB) DDR5 6000MHz
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Best DDR4 RAM for gaming 2024
The Best RAM On The Market Whatever Your Needs
Updated: Jan 4, 2024 3:48 pm
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- 01Small But Powerful With Great Overclocking Ability
We took some time to round up and find the best DDR4 RAM sticks we could, steadily escalating in price, capacity, frequency, and performance while doing so. Our end result presented us with five high-quality RAM sticks that you can pop into your new PC build or use to upgrade an old one.
Today’s best RAM deals
- Crucial Pro RAM 32GB Kit (2x16GB) DDR5 6000MHz – Save 41% NOW!
- CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM 64GB (2x32GB) 6400MHz CL32 – SAVE 17% NOW!
- CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 6400MHz CL36 – Save 15% NOW!
- Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 RAM – Save 20% NOW!
- Kingston Fury Beast White RGB 64GB DDR5 RAM Kit – Save 8% NOW!
- Corsair Vengeance RGB RS 16GB DDR4 RAM kit – Save 21% NOW!
- Kingston Technology Kingston Fury Beast 64GB DDR4 RAM kit – Save 26% NOW!
- Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 128GB (4x32GB) DDR4 RAM – Save 13% NOW!
- Kingston FURY Renegade White RGB 32GB (2x16GB) memory – Save 22% NOW!
- CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM 64GB (2x32GB) 5600MHz – Save 22% NOW!
Before continuing, remember there are no bad choices here. We already filtered those out for you. Instead, go with the RAM that suits your computing needs and falls within your budget. After we go over the individual products, we’ll tackle some popular RAM-related questions to help you decide which of these DDR4 RAM kits is right for you. With that in mind, let’s take a look at our best RAM kits for gaming. Now with DDR5 released you may consider the best DDR5 for your build instead if you’re going for something current. Or now could be the perfect time for an older choice to get the best deals on them.
Today’s best RAM deals
- Crucial Pro RAM 32GB Kit (2x16GB) DDR5 6000MHz – Save 41% NOW!
- CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM 64GB (2x32GB) 6400MHz CL32 – SAVE 17% NOW!
- CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 6400MHz CL36 – Save 15% NOW!
- Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 RAM – Save 20% NOW!
- Kingston Fury Beast White RGB 64GB DDR5 RAM Kit – Save 8% NOW!
Best DDR4 Ram for gaming: Products at a glance
Corsair Vengeance LPX
Capacity
16GB
Frequency
DDR4 3600MHz
CAS Latency
18
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z
Capacity
32GB
Frequency
DDR4 3600MHz
CAS Latency
14
G.Skill Trident Z Royal
Capacity
16GB (2×8)
Frequency
DDR4 4800MHz
CAS Latency
18
G.Skill TridentZ RGB
Capacity
16GB (2×8)
Frequency
DDR4 3200MHz
CAS Latency
14
Patriot Viper 4 Series
Capacity
16GB
Frequency
DDR4 3400MHz – 3766MHz
CAS Latency
16
In-depth Review
Small but powerful with great overclocking ability
Corsair Vengeance LPX
Capacity
16GB
Frequency
DDR4 3600MHz
CAS Latency
18
Pros
- Excellent over clocking capability
- Smaller than other RAM
- Powerful RAM
Cons
- Can be considered expensive
Corsair design their Vengeance LPX range with 2 goals in mind, solid performance and overclocking potential. They achieve this by equipping their LPX RAM with a heat spreader which is comprised of pure aluminum providing faster more efficient heat dissipation. Furthermore, the either-layer PCB helps manage temperatures and allows for excellent overclocking headroom.
The Vengeance range is also extremely versatile, it’s been tested against all X99 motherboards for compatibility, not to mention the low profile heat spreader which makes their RAM much smaller than others in the list. It comes in a variety of different speeds and sizes ranging from 4GB of 2400MHz right up to 16GB of 4000MHz meaning you can find a RAM speed that is suitable for your needs. It also comes in a variety of colors to suit your exact RGB setup.
Touching on RGB briefly, the Vengeance series does have an RGB edition within its ranks. As you would expect with RGB, the price doesn’t really reflect the improvements, however, if RGB is what you’re into fear not, Corsair have you covered. Right now Corsair’s Vengeance LPX is one of the best-selling RAM standards on the market and you can see why they have truly catered for everyone’s needs.
Great value RGB RAM with great timings
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z
Capacity
32GB
Frequency
DDR4 3600MHz
CAS Latency
14
Pros
- Great coverage of the cooling plates
- Great CAS timings
- Large capacity
Cons
- Simple design without colors
With a CAS latency of 14 and speeds of 3600Mhz, the TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z RAM kit is currently one of the best around. Not only does this offer some of the tightest timings at this speed but it does so with incredible aesthetics and value.
For gaming, there are fewer RAM kits that will enhance your experience as much as this one but because it comes with extra cost, it just misses out on our top spot. This kit features overclocking support from all your main motherboard manufacturers (Asus, ASRock, Gigabyte, MSI) and ships with a lifetime warranty.
This 2×16 32GB kit is ideal for any gaming PC but you can only take advantage of the tight timings on this model, with the 4000Mhz option featuring a CAS latency of 18. The high performance is backed by an aluminum alloy heat sink, taking care of heat dissipation in an efficient manner.
For those that want the best performance with the added benefit of looking good too, there are fewer RAM kits out there that would be better for gaming, however, this extra performance comes with additional costs.
Fast premium RAM with a glitzy design
G.Skill Trident Z Royal
Capacity
16GB (2×8)
Frequency
DDR4 4800MHz
CAS Latency
18
Pros
- Rapid 4800MHz
- Incredible design
- Reasonable CAS Latency for speed
Cons
- Considered overkill for gaming
- Expensive
Here we have one of the most premium RAM kit-series on the market, G.Skill’s TridentZ Royal, that is literally bling-bling from end to end. While there are faster RAM kits out there, the CAS latency is also higher so we opted for this, with a balance of 4800MHz and CL18 timings, giving you all-round performance.
G.Skill’s pushed the boat out with the design and for many, it can be hit and miss. That being said, if you are looking to add extra flare alongside blistering speed, the TridentZ Royal kit is a great place to start. This may not be the best kit for gaming but it is a solid option in its own right, just make sure your bank balance can handle it.
Great timings and a unique heatsink with RGB
G.Skill TridentZ RGB
Capacity
16GB (2×8)
Frequency
DDR4 3200MHz
CAS Latency
14
Pros
- Excellent timings
- Vibrant RGB
- Unique heatsink design
Cons
- Pricey
The G.Skill TridentZ RAM kit needs no introduction, it has fast become one of the most popular premium kits out there and for good reason to. This RGB series not only offers some of the best aesthetics in the RAM category but also features incredibly tight timings at a fairly fast speed. With a CAS latency of 14 and a speed of 3200MHz, this kit is going to easily boost your gaming performance but it is worth noting that it narrowly misses out on the TEAMGROUP kit.
G.Skill specifies this is specifically engineered for Intel-based systems but we can assure you it would work well in any gaming PC. What they are referring to is the 3200MHz speed, which is considered the sweet spot for Intel CPUs. This kit comes with a unique-looking heatsink that does a fantastic job of dealing with heat and combines with the vibrant RGB lighting to give you one of the most aesthetically pleasing RAM kits currently on the market.
The kit we recommend here is a 2×8 16GB model, giving you more than enough memory for gaming, without ever being bottlenecked. We consider 3200MHz to be a very good speed but we will always recommend you go for a 3600MHz option instead. The aesthetics, performance, and build quality of G.Skill’s TridentZ series is unrivaled by most, this is truly an exceptional RAM kit.
Cheap, small, and punchy
Patriot Viper 4 Series
Capacity
16GB
Frequency
DDR4 3400MHz – 3766MHz
CAS Latency
16
Pros
- Great Performance
- Small Profile
- Relatively Inexpensive
Cons
- Not as reliable as other brands
Patriot’s Viper 4 Series falls under the lower end of the price spectrum in our list of best RAM for gaming. However, this doesn’t take anything away from the performance power they provide with Patriot saying the Viper 4 has been engineered and designed for intense gaming and the most demanding computer environments. All sounds good to us. In benchmarks, the Viper was slightly slower than the standout brands but we’re willing to let that slide considering the price is vastly cheaper.
The Viper comes in a couple of different colors and does have an RGB iteration, be careful though as this adds a decent amount to your shopping bill total. Ultimately the Viper caters to consumers looking to get affordable RAM which still operates at a fairly decent level. Just be aware that build quality and longevity have been comprised to accommodate the difference in price
How we choose
All of the RAM kits on this list have been hand-selected for a reason. First and foremost, we conducted a search to discover which RAM kits gamers tend to prefer while trying to balance those with the highest reviews against those with the lowest price tags.
Reviews from various manufacturers were taken into account, as well as reviews from others in the PC gaming industry. Next, we get our hands on as many of our recommendations as possible so we can see the build quality up close and test how easy they are to install.
How we test
From CPUs to RAM kits, we like to get hands-on with all the hardware we recommend. Testing the products is a huge part of our overall selection process and it is a way we can be sure that a specific option is the best for the job. Products must pass our testing which is largely a lot of gaming, with some other boring stuff but most if not every recommendation will have gone through a strict testing process.
With a RAM kit, especially the ones we list as the best for gaming, we need to assess build quality, performance, and finally, value. This process enables us to provide you with an accurate take on how well individual RAM kits perform and, ultimately, if they are worth your hard-earned cash.
Things to consider
Just like with any component or peripheral, there are always a few key factors to consider, whether you’re a seasoned PC builder or a newbie. In this section, we are going to go over a few terms that you may need to know, discuss what the perfect RAM capacity will suit your needs, and what speed you should opt for in order to get the best gaming experience you can for your cash.
What is RAM?
RAM is short for Random Access Memory. It’s also “dynamic” memory, versus your HDD/SSD storage, which is considered “static” memory. RAM is used to hold data in the short-term, by holding active applications and data where it can be quickly accessed, discarded, and changed. In human terms, think of it as your short-term memory or what you have in mind right now.
With the increasing RAM demands of operating systems, games, and applications, many people are starting to ask more questions about what exactly RAM is and what it does for them. We’re going to use the rest of the article to demystify any questions you may have about RAM to allow you to make an educated buying decision.
When it comes to gaming, RAM is usually used to hold the active levels/maps and help your CPU/GPU juggle all the calculations that are going on in-game. In the sections below, we’ll dive a bit deeper into how it affects performance. Before we discuss more intricate topics related to RAM such as; how much, what speed, and what difference RAM makes to gaming, let’s take a look at the best DDR4 RAM right now.
What is the best amount of RAM for Gaming?
In many cases, RAM doesn’t actually matter that much for just gaming if that’s literally all you’re doing at the time, as long as you have 16GB or above. Where it primarily matters, is when you look at what else you happen to be doing when you’re gaming, be it having a web browser open, playing music, recording footage, or running any other background program. Realistically though, most people do tend to have at least one program running outside their game.
Additionally, the increasing demands of modern games are pushing the required threshold higher. 8GB used to be the minimum but it is now 16GB, and we’d generally advise that you get 16GB to future-proof your machine and prevent any chances of bottlenecking your other components.
Here’s a helpful breakdown of what you can do at various RAM capacities:
8GB RAM – You can multitask and you can game, but only just. Running anything CPU/GPU-intensive in the background of your game will still cause you problems. Most new titles have minimum RAM requirements of above 8GB so it might not last you much longer.
16GB RAM – You can multitask and game, with more intensity: you could, say, run a RAM-intensive game while also having a large number of browser tabs in the background, for instance, or comfortably run recording software or streaming programs. 16GB of RAM will also keep up to date for a while when it comes to the needs of the latest games.
32GB RAM – This is really only recommended for people who use professional/productivity applications or those running a lot of programs at the same time. It might be consideration to more future-proof your build.
64GB+ RAM – At this time, this is literally only useful for servers and extreme workstation scenarios. This will have absolutely no impact on your gaming experience and is considered a luxury.
The most practical amount of RAM for gaming is therefore 16GB of RAM and this will likely be the case for the next few years.
What is the best RAM speed for gaming?
Now, it’s time to tackle another fun topic: RAM speed in gaming! Many people invest in the fastest, greatest hardware to push maximum frames. But, does that actually result in better gaming performance or is it just an ego boost number?
First off, most DDR4-compatible motherboards and RAM will only be able to reach a maximum of around 4200MHz without serious performance issues. In fact, getting RAM to run at these high clocks requires BIOS tweaks which can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing. Out of the box, your average consumer RAM runs anywhere from 2400MHz to 3200MHz.
Secondly, most games and applications just don’t see much of a performance boost by boosting RAM frequency. Of course, it’s better to run 3000 DDR4 than 1333 DDR3, but as we’ve hit higher speeds we aren’t seeing corresponding differences in gaming performance.
Now, to be fair, some games may very well benefit from RAM speed increases. Unfortunately, these benefits are often marginal at best and are usually not worth the extra money. Ultimately, there is no best RAM speed for gaming. So, let’s talk about the final question: how much of a difference does RAM actually make?
The best DDR4 RAM for gaming in 2024 FAQs
Is DDR4 RAM good for gaming?
When you are looking to purchase RAM for gaming, the option you choose is an important one. When it comes to DDR4 RAM, it is a good standard to go for even if it is an older one. With DDR5 out, that has a lot to offer with faster speeds and needs.
However, it does require a new platform and costs much more. So DDR4 is still a good option as it has great speeds and value if you’re still on a platform that supports it.
Is 32 GB RAM overkill for gaming?
For all intents and purposes, yes, 32 GB of RAM can be seen as overkill for gaming. However, this is down to the individual’s thoughts on this. While 32 GB is not typically needed for gaming, this will allow your PC to be future-proof.
Although games have become even more demanding recently, with the requirements increasing to at least 16GB, 32 will just give you that extra future-proofing to your build. Especially if you’re multitasking, 32 will give you some more flexibility to what you can achieve.
Can RAM affect FPS?
While some people assume that RAM can have an effect on FPS, this is not actually the case. While RAM can help to improve the running of a game, it does not really have an impact on the FPS. You will need to look into upgrading your GPU if you are having FPS issues.
While a high amount of RAM can help to smooth out the game, it does have the potential to perhaps improve the FPS ever so slightly. However, this is not typically enough for the average person to notice. Only a GPU paired with a decent monitor can improve your FPS.
Is higher MHz RAM better?
When it comes to purchasing RAM, you should be aware of what the different specifications mean, and how they will impact your game play. The frequency RAM is measured in is MHz, and this will give you a better idea of how quickly it will perform.
In theory, the higher the MHz RAM, the better your overall performance will be. For gaming, the optimum amount of MHz needed is around 3200 MHz to 3600 MHz, though there are higher amounts available.
While there is an optimum amount needed for gaming, a higher MHz, does not always mean that you will have a better gaming performance. If the RAM is too high, this can actually have a negative impact on the performance as it can slow it or cause freezing. This is certainly prevalent if the RAM has been seriously overclocked.
Final Word
So there you have it. Although the big lesson when it comes to RAM is to just buy what you need and what fits your budget, for a seriously good RAM kit that will never let you down or empty your wallet we’d recommend Corsair’s Vengeance LPX RAM.
That being said, each of the recommendations we’ve dropped in this article could all be considered the best DDR4 RAM for gaming if they fit your needs. With these, you should be able to get a great PC, and with the right parts along with it, have a great gaming experience.
Today’s best RAM deals
SAVE 17% NOW!
CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM 64GB (2x32GB) 6400MHz CL32
Intel XMP iCUE Compatible Computer Memory – Black (CMH64GX5M2B6400C32)
Save 15% NOW!
CORSAIR VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 6400MHz CL36
Intel XMP iCUE Compatible Computer Memory – Black (CMH32GX5M2B6400C36)
Save 20% NOW!
Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 RAM
16GB (2x8GB) | 3200MHz (PC4 25600) | CL16 | 1.35V | Desktop Memory Module | with Heatsink | Camouflage Grey | SP016GXLZU320BDAJ5
Save 8% NOW!
Kingston Fury Beast White RGB 64GB DDR5 RAM Kit
(2x32GB) 6000MT/s CL36 DDR5 Expo DIMM | Infrared Syncing | FURY CTRL Software | Overclocking | Plug N Play | AMD Expo | Kit of
