Best RAM for Gaming in 2023

The best RAM for gaming is a combination of speed and capacity. When you need to keep your game frame rate stable, this is what RAM can do. You are in the right place if you are looking for the more common DDR4 or the new DDR5 models. You will find a lot of the answers in this review.

The best RAM with low latency can do a lot of tasks on your PC without waiting all day. 8GB of RAM can be not enough for games if you multitask and don’t want to be slowed down. Most PC gamers want to have 16GB or 32GB RAM inside their gaming machines. If you want to save money and have a good investment, you can get 16GB cheap. It is a good choice for most games. And to get the best performance, you better take a RAM kit of the two identical sticks. This will ensure that both RAM sticks can work at peak levels.

For DDR4 RAM you should look at least for 3200MHz if you have an Intel processor. And if you have an AMD device, you should look for 3600MHz. This will give your processors enough speed to handle your games and other work. You can get DDR5 memory on your new Intel CPU for the top speed.

The RAM is budget friendly these days. And if you want the best performance from your gaming computer, you can tweak it cheaply. Here you can find the best RAM for gaming on the market.

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

The G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6000 is a dual-channel kit of two 16GB modules with an overall 32GB. It has been designed specifically for Intel Z690 and newer motherboards. It is a high-speed memory with a latency of 36-36-36-96 at 1.35 voltage.

It supports XMP 3.0 profiles to help you reach your overclocked memory speed easily. It also has an RGB lighting system to help enhance your visual experience.

If you want a high-quality memory kit for gaming, then this is the first recommendation for you. This kit is a good product for games and an outstanding memory kit for overclocking.

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

The T-Force Xtreem ARGB DDR4-3600 CL14 memory kit was done well by the Team Group. It comes in a kit with two 8GB modules, but you can choose other capacities if needed. This RAM kit looks cool when working or turned off. It is one of the fastest and most loved memory kits by gamers available on the market.

The Team Group made a solid DDR4 solution that is well worth considering. This RAM has a great price point and works very well overall. So, if you are a serious gamer and want to get the best RAM for gaming, look no further than this memory kit.

3. Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4400 2 x 8GB

Patriot’s Viper Steel DDR4 4400 16GB kit is a high-performance memory which works without LED lighting. Keeping it simple allowed the manufacturer to add enhanced timings to this memory kit and boost performance. And because of that, it works much better with games. There is nothing else that can be said. It is simple and one of the best.

4. Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3600 2 x 32GB

This memory kit is a good choice for gamers who like to stream their videos or other creators and professionals who need a ton of memory at a reasonable price. Patriot made these RAM kits of such a quality that it is impossible to overclock them more. And factory speed should be high enough for you in most cases.

The price of Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 3600 is attractive and stands in the mid-range among other competitors. It is a good choice if you are a heavy gamer or a professional and need a lot of RAM for an affordable price.

5. Patriot Viper RGB DDR4-3600 2 x 8GB

Patriot offers a wide range of memory kits, and this one is of the best of them. The Viper RGB series is aimed at gamers who love lights. And because of that, Patriot has added RGB lighting to the DIMMs to give each kit a unique look.

Patriot Viper RGB DDR4 3600 is a good memory module for gaming. I recommend it to anyone who wants a reliable and affordable memory.

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

It is easy to fall into the trap of overspending on components that you think look nice. But Corsair made performance and a beautiful look in the one Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 3200 kit. It provides four 8GB RAM sticks for a total of 32GB. They have CAS 16 timings and a great price on the market.

Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 3200 can be the best budget RAM for gaming. And this is because of its price and excellent performance. It has a lower price point than other similar high-end memory kits.

Corsair is one of the most popular brands among gamers, and it is easy to see why. They make affordable, durable, and very reliable products.

The Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro memory kit has a solid design and works well. This kit comes with an RGB lighting system which looks nice.

7. Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-3200 2 x 16GB

For those who do not want to spend extra money, Patriot’s Viper Steel DDR4 3200 kit is a great way to get started without breaking the bank. It works well for the price compared with its competitors. So, you can have better performance for cheap.

Patriot Viper Steel is a good option for those looking for high quality, mid-range memory kit with good speed at an affordable price.

What is RAM?

The word RAM stands for random access memory. It stores temporary data with rapid access. It is one of the most essential things in gaming computers. RAM would have an impact on the game frame rate when you are playing. And if you add more RAM, it can make your PC work faster. Also, be more responsive compared to other PCs with less RAM.

How Much RAM Do I Need?

If you are doing simple everyday tasks on your computer, such as text writing, browsing the internet, and something similar, then 8GB of RAM can be enough for you. In some situations, it also can be ok with 4GB of RAM. But if you like heavy gaming or use your internet browser with twenty or more opened tabs, then you need at least 16GB of RAM. And it is recommended to have 32GB of RAM if you are playing the latest games on your computer and multitasking or working with some big video files.

What Speed of RAM Do I Need?

The right balance between speed and capacity needs to be found. It is possible to have 32GB of RAM, but 32GB does not help if they are slow. And on the other hand, if you have 8 GB of fast RAM, they do not do very well if you will play the latest games.

Some older DDR4 RAM has around 1600MHz. They work well for business computers. But if you need the best RAM for gaming, it would be too slow. Because some stock Intel processors support 2933MHz, this will be an improvement while gaming over the slower RAM.

In practice, you will see the most benefits from the speed of RAM, if you are playing the latest games and working a lot with file compression or video editing software. Also, you can see improvement in your system boot time and overall performance when you have a lot of opened programs or a lot of opened internet browser tabs.

What RAM Speed Do I Need for Gaming?

You can have advantages in gaming when running RAM with higher speeds. This won’t be the same effect, such as if you upgrade your graphics card or the processor, but your gaming performance will be better because of the higher frame rates. This varies because of the different games. Some gamers see a boost in performance, while others don’t. It is recommended to check the average frame rates for game benchmarks and consider if it is worth upgrading.

In general, you have the most benefits from the speed of RAM, if you are playing the latest games that require a lot of memory. Faster RAM improves the stability of the game and frame rates. For gaming, we recommend two dual-channel DDR4s with 3000MHz or more speed. With that speed, you will be sure you will get most of the performance with both – your RAM and CPU. But always remember that RAM speed performance depends on the application or game and depends on that.

Do I Need 16GB of RAM for Gaming?

Each day comes new and improved games that require more and more gaming computer resources. Textures in games increase in quality, and because of that, it needs more and faster memory. That is why it is recommended at least 16GB of RAM for gaming. It should be DDR4 or DDR5 if you want the most performance from your computer.

Can I Use Two Different Brands of RAM?

In a simple answer – yes, you can use two different brands of RAM. They will work. But in practice, you should better not do this. The performance can not be the best. It is better to have both RAM sticks from the same brand, the same factory line, in other words – identical.

If you use two different brands of RAM and they will have different speeds, it is possible to get lower performance on your computer. Because if the speeds do not match, the computer uses a slower module speed. Although, you can have different brands with the same speed and this will not guarantee the best results. And because of that, it is better to keep both RAM sticks from the same manufacturer and the same factory line.

Will DDR5 RAM Work on DDR4 Motherboard?

No, DDR5 RAM will not work on a DDR4 motherboard. Both types of memory are incompatible even though they have the same number of pins. The notch position of DDR4 and DDR5 is different to prevent someone from putting a module into a different board. That is done because they are electrically not compatible.

If you want a faster system with DDR5 RAM instead of DDR4, you would change your motherboard and CPU to the newer version.

Do I Need 32GB RAM for Gaming?

Every day there are new and improved games which require more and more computer resources. Textures in games need more and faster memory because they are increasing in quality. 32GB RAM can give you performance for gaming and other tasks, such as video editing or online video streaming. Not many games require 32GB of RAM, but if you are looking to the future, this can be a good option. This amount would keep your computer in good condition technologically, at least for a few years. So, if this is important to you and you want to get the most performance from your computer today, you should choose 32GB and the best RAM.

What Is the Difference Between DIMM and SODIMM?

The main difference is the size because both are made for different use.

SO DIMM RAM means Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module. These are smaller RAM sticks with a single side made for laptops and some small-size motherboards.

DIMM RAM means Dual In-Line Memory Module. These are larger RAM sticks with dual sides made for desktop computer motherboards.

It is impossible to interchange them with each other because they are different in size and have different pin numbers.

Dual Channel RAM vs Single Channel What Is the Difference?

A lot of new computers have dual-channel RAM. This feature allows the processor memory controller to read and write from both RAM sticks together simultaneously. That works as a way to increase bandwidth.

Dual channel mode is enabled by default on many motherboards. They have only two RAM slots for DIMM sticks. If you have a motherboard with four RAM slots, then you need to install the memory symmetrically. This can be done easily because RAM slots often have marks of different colours. And it is best thing to check your motherboard manual or documentation instructions.

Also, always remember that if you want to get the best performance for gaming from your memory, keep all sticks (at least from the dual channels) of RAM at the same capacity, speed, and timing. And it is better to use the same brand and the same factory line of RAM.

How to Install RAM?

RAM is often sold in sets of two modules. Sometimes it can be sold in sets of four modules and rarer as one memory module. The labelling is 4 x 8GB, 2 x 16GB, 1 x 32GB and so on. If you want to buy a set, check the number of memory slots on your computer.

Typical desktop computers usually have four slots. Workstations and high-end desktops often have eight or more. Laptops have two slots for RAM.

If you preparing to upgrade a desktop computer, it is a good idea to leave some free RAM slots to increase the RAM in the future. Because of that, you should choose higher-capacity memory sticks instead of more sticks with lower capacity. For example, 2 x 16GB RAM sticks instead of 4 x 8GB. To make the most out of the higher bandwidth of dual-channel RAM, you should install at least one pair of memory sticks in symmetrical slots, marked by the appropriate color. RAM sticks should be the same capacity, speed, and latency if you want to get the most out of their performance and games.

If you preparing to upgrade a laptop computer, make sure that slot is accessible. Because some motherboards have RAM soldered inside them and can not be swapped when needed.

If you want to find the best ram for gaming, see the recommendations at the top of the page.

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