Best DDR5 RAM in 2024 – for performance and value
The best DDR5 RAM kits allow a PC to run at its fastest potential. Having well-rounded RAM built into your computer will ensure you can game, browse the web, and work as efficiently as possible. But not every RAM kit is for everybody. You must first determine what kind of activities you’ll be doing to know how much RAM storage you’ll need.
If you are going for mainly gaming, 16GB-32GB of RAM is more than enough to play at higher frame rates and resolutions, like 4K. On the other hand, if you’re planning to do more heavy multitasking or overclocking with your rig, you’ll want higher RAM capabilities.
Another factor to consider is RAM technology. In this post, we’re going to list the best DDR5 RAM, but you might need DDR4 RAM instead. In that case, you can check out our top picks for those as well. The main difference between the technologies is the frequency these two types of memory can go. DDR5 RAM is the newest memory technology built to endure high-frequency activities.
Current motherboards, like Intel’s 13th Gen, offer better compatibility with DDR5 RAMs than DDR4 because the setup can demand more power out of this new tech, despite the fact that it has decided to keep backward compatibility with DDR4. Furthermore, some new-gen motherboards, like AMD’s AM5, ditch DDR4 and stick instead to the new RAM kits. So, you’ll first need to know your setup.
Once that’s made clear, you can purchase a RAM kit that fits your budget and needs, and that’s where we can be of help. We have considered every aspect that you’ll need to look into before making up your mind, and we’ve listed out the best DDR5 RAMs for you.
Products at a Glance
How we picked the best DDR5 RAM
Once we have cleared the tasks and capacity the DDR5 RAM will need to have, the next step is comparing brands. We look for reliability and price balance. When the list is short enough, only the actual proof will tell us which is the best DDR5 RAM, so we check benchmarks to determine how they actually perform in a measured environment.
Features and considerations
The first thing to bear in mind is how you use your PC. You can be a gamer looking for the best performance, you can be a designer or an illustrator, or you can use your computer for 3D modeling. Each case will need a specific amount of memory to work perfectly. And this is an aspect worth mentioning because you might end up buying the most expensive 128GB RAM for gaming to learn days later that the games you play are not even using half of all of that memory.
| Type of user | How you’ll use your computer | RAM recommended |
| Casual User | Internet browsing, email, streaming videos, Netflix | 8GB |
| Intermediate user | Word processing, spreadsheets, simple photoshop tasks, casual gaming, multitasking. | 16GB |
| Professional user | High-performance gaming, multimedia editing, Hi-Fi video, graphic design 3d modeling, and intense multitasking | 32GB |
| Top-end users | Overclocking, intense 3D rendering, CAD, and music production. | 64GB |
These requirements will change with time. Programs and games are becoming ever more demanding.
Product Reviews
- High timings
- Great performance
- Beautiful design
- Pricey
The G.Skill Trident performs even better than what is advertised. This premium memory kit uses the Samsung B-die to achieve the best timings you’ll ever encounter. It has a 1.30V and timings of 36-36-36-76 (2T). Whether you want it for gaming, work, or overclocking, this RAM’s got you covered. The only part you need to know is that this piece is quite expensive. This is the kind of luxury you can be proud of showing off to your friends. A memory like this alone will give your rig the status and performance upgrade you only see in pro-end users.
Other than performance, it’s a good-looking kit, coming in both black and silver finishes with RGB lighting. It’s futuristic, fast, and beautiful. If you have the money and the need, the G.Skill Trident is the absolute best DDR5 RAM you can buy.
- High memory storage
- It can match a 5200MHz kit
- Great price
- Design could’ve been better
We’ve already determined that between 16GB to 32GB of RAM is the sweet spot for PC gamers. However, there are some people that can’t live with this and just need 64GB RAM, whether for their job, gaming requirements, or just because they can. With the rise of DDR5 RAM and new-gen motherboards, 64GB kits are becoming less and less available and more expensive.
The Crucial DDR5-4800 CL40 is the best RAM if you’re looking for 64GB of memory. The tight timings and dual-rank design help this piece achieve better frequencies than you might expect. In the benchmark, we check the Crucial CL40 through some surprises, getting even closer than expected to the 5200MHz bar. This is the perfect RAM if you’re just looking for a high memory to play and work, one that won’t change for a long time. 64GB at this price can’t be found every day.
- High-speed performance
- Great aesthetics
- High-quality construction
- Easy overclocking
- Quite expensive
- Only compatible with Intel
The XPG Lancer DDR5 6000MHz 32GB is one of the fastest products on the market right now. The high specs will ensure a fast and reliable gaming experience.
The XPG Lancer can hit up to 6000MHz with 40-40-40-76 2T timings and a bandwidth of PC5 48000. It comes with AMD Expo support, allowing for easy overclocking. Additionally, it features On-die ECC allowing the module to correct errors in real-time giving it improved reliability and stability. The kit supports XMP 3.0 making it compatible with Intel Alder Lake chipsets. One of its main features is its highly customizable RGB lighting that can be programmed in different modes such as pulsing and static. The lighting can also be synced to your favorite music. Overall XPG has built one of the fastest, low-latency memory kits on the market, and the looks and performance are what make it great for gaming.
- Great 6000 MT/s speed
- Perfect compatibility
- Fancy RGB
- Pricey
Kingston is an old classic in the world of memory RAM kits. It has built a name for itself and has backed up its fame with experience and great performance. The Kingston Fury Beast is a great-looking and strong DDR5 RAM kit suitable for practically any PC enthusiast.
The 6,000MHz is an envious speed to achieve and this RAM does it with great timing (38-38-80). The piece comes with RGB shrouds on top that you can light up with the color of your choice. This gives you not only top-notch performance but a nice touch to the overall setup.
If you’re a gamer or a content creator, Kingston has made this stick for you. In all the various benchmarks performed, the kit runs perfectly. It can be found in 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB, but the 32GB edition is one of the best price-performance balanced pieces we could find.
Things to Consider
Amount of RAM
DDR5 RAM is available in two sizes, 8GB or 16GB sticks. If you are using software that is graphically intense such as video editing or playing the latest games then 16-32GB of RAM is recommended. for those using a computer for normal everyday uses then 8GB of RAM should be plenty. However, this doesn’t leave much room for future proofing as software becomes ever more complex
That’s all among the best DDR5 RAM currently on the market. While it hasn’t taken over the world by storm, DDR5 RAM is still the future and will most certainly take hold relatively soon, despite Intel’s clinging on to DDR4. While it’s far cheaper and more reliable to stick with previous-gen kits, DDR5 will only become a mainstay and it might be best to future-proof your system now before it’s too late.
If you think DDR5 RAM is out of your budget check or are just in the market for DDR4 RAM our best picks for DDR4 RAM. Also be sure to have a look at our best RAM for gaming guide for an in-depth look at configurations , latency, voltages and more.
Voltage
You should also consider the voltage that your motherboard supports as newer DDR5 Ram might not be supported. 1.5 V is usually the maximum that DDR5 memory modules can handle. So when overclocking you must ensure that too much energy isn’t supplied to the RAM modules. Power management integrated circuits (PMIC) also help regulate the power required by the various components within the RAM to ease the pressure with overclocking.
What is a DDR5 RAM for?
DDR5 is PC memory – in the newest and most cutting edge form. It increases the density and bandwidth of RAM while lowering the amount of power it uses.
Is DDR5 really better?
It’s not a clear-cut case of yes or no. As with DDR3, which hung on while DDR4 became available, DDR5 has benefits but also some disadvantages.
While it does offer larger capacity DIMM support and higher base speeds than DDR4, it also comes with higher latencies and is generally viewed as most beneficial for specific high-load tasks – as opposed to for everyone, all of the time.
DDR5 is better in some regards then, and if you’re looking future-ward for a new build makes sense. But it’s not always worth the extra money for the performance.
What is the fastest DDR5 RAM?
In terms of spec, the fastest DDR5 RAM will be any that can run at 7200MHz. That’s the current best base speed of DDR5, although it will likely increase going forward.
In terms of the fastest DDR5 RAM kits, Patriot’s Viper Venom range and Kingston’s Fury Best kits are likely to be up there!
Our Verdict
With the high requirements of 4K, HDR gaming, and content creation programs nowadays, computers need faster and more reliable RAM kits to service those workloads. With that comes price increases and power draws. Manufacturers are on top of the requirement and have built amazing RAMs to match modern specs. And this list gives great examples of RAMs that will take your performance to the next level, main among them being the Trident Z5 by G.Skill.