Best RAM for Gaming

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: CMK16GX4M2B3000C15 | Capacity: 2 x 8GB | Data Rate: DDR4-3200 MHz | Timings: 16-18-18-36 | Voltage: 1.35V | Warranty: 5 Years

If you are on a budget and still want the best performance from your computer system, then CORSAIR Vengeance LPX DDR4 should be your go-to RAM. They are excellent to use with the budget motherboard chipsets. The RAM comes with a significant cooling heatsink. They have been around since the DDR4 RAM was commercially available. It shows their reliability and performance over the years. It works perfectly with the AMDs X370 and Intel’s Z370 chipsets out of the box.

It is the best RAM for gaming because it can provide a performance boost compared to the dual-rank DIMMs that are somewhat similarly priced. The RAM is only 34mm in height, allowing large CPU coolers essential in modern gaming PCs, and they move massive amounts of air that also affect cool RAMs. However, we see that the heatsinks are not that large, and preferably, a RAM cooler is advised when overclocking this RAM.

It is available in different colors, red, blue, black, and white, to match your gaming PC aesthetics. The 1.35V is already very high compared to other RAMs in the market, making it prone to heat up. The overclocking headspace is also limited due to already high operating voltages. The cost is low because it has no RGB lighting, neither independent nor sync, which could be a con for some people.

Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16gb

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: ‎CMW16GX4M2C3200C16 | Capacity: 2 x 8GB | Data Rate: DDR4-3200 MHz | Timings: 16-18-18-36 | Voltage: 1.35V | Warranty: 5 Years

Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB is the best high-end RAM for gaming. Corsair has done an excellent job incorporating RGB into its product. However, it has cost them a more significant height that won’t be a problem as most users using RGB-based memory modules prefer liquid CPU cooling over liquid cooling. Liquid cooling covers less area, and all the components are visible. Corsair utilizes Samsung chips for this RAM, and thermal pads over each chip are provided to ensure heat transfer while on the side with no chip is covered with thermal pad completely.

The RAM can go up to 4700MHz, depending on if your motherboard supports it or not. It uses Corsair’s iCUE software, which is comprehensive and allows users to customize everything from the interface. You can visually select the channel in the DIMM section of the software. There are also a wide variety of options for lightning. You can choose the speed and direction of the effect to make sure that the RAM blends in with the other impact on the motherboard.

You can view the timings of your RAM in the timing section to make sure that you have selected the most optimum timing for maximum performance. This RAM has built-in thermal sensors, which are graphed in the graphing area of the iCUE software. Overall, it’s a well-built RAM capable of reaching high frequencies and remaining under controlled temperature due to the large heatsinks being decently thermal padded.

Crucial Ballistix Gaming Memory BL2K

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: BL2K8G36C16U4B | Capacity: 2 x 8 GB | Data Rate: DDR4-3600 MHz | Timings: 16-18-18-38 | Voltage: 1.35V | Warranty: 5 Years

Crucial Ballistix Gaming Memory BL2K is a RAM for minimalists. It is the best high-speed RAM for gaming, considering that it can easily overclock to its maximum frequency. However, the user needs to be technically sound and adjust the voltages if looking to run it at high frequencies. Out-of-the-box performance is top-notch. It is the best RAM for gaming, and any user can buy this RAM by selecting an XMP profile in the BIOS.

We did note a couple of things as there was no custom control software like other manufacturers. Everything is seen and adjusted using the BIOS alone. The RAM is a non-ECC memory, but we have observed that non-ECC memories tend to perform equally for domestic usage. The heatsink on this RAM is also short and are not finned to enhance heat transfer but Crucial is placed on the top of the list as one of the best RAM manufacturers in the world.

They have the comprehensive controlling capability for their RAMs, and overall their products run stable under overclocked conditions. BL2K is one of their main highlights, and it supports XMP 2.0 profile and runs stably with B450, X570, and Z590 motherboards. It runs stable at 3600MHz, with the temperatures remaining under the limit despite using a liquid cooling kit.

Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: CMW32GX4M2C3200C16 | Capacity: 2 x 16GB | Data Rate: DDR4-3200 MHz | Timings: 16-18-18-36 | Voltage: 1.35V | Warranty: 5 Years

Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB is trusted as the best high-frequency RAM for gaming. It can run at 3200MHz rated clock speed with ease straight out of the box by simply enabling the XMP profile from the BIOS. This RAM can reach 4600+ MHz, but the timings will have to be much looser. It is recommended if you want tighter timings to go for a higher-rated RAM. It comes in two colors, black and white. The RAM is decently heatsinked with large aluminum heatsinks; however, RGB lighting on the top has made the RAM slightly higher than non-RGB RAMs. It will require 52mm of clearance from the CPU cooler to sit underneath easily.

We do not recommend an air-based cooler for this RAM as it will cover the aesthetics. There are ten zones on the RGB lighting, but the zones do not mesh together perfectly; the gaps between LEDs are visible. The RAM is thermal heat padded on both sides decently and uses a black PCB. Corsair uses Samsung chipsets to improve reliability and high heat resistance during overclocking sessions. RGB lighting works by simple RAM connection and requires no additional power sources to operate, making it wireless. Everything from brightness, pattern, and direction can be selected from the Corsairs iCUE software.

Crucial Ballistix 32GB DDR4 SDRAM

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: CL16 BL2K8G36C16U4B | Capacity: 2 x 16GB | Data Rate: DDR4-3200 | Timings: 16-18-18-38 | Voltage: 1.35V | Warranty: 5 Years

Crucial Ballistix 32GB DDR4 SDRAM is good for money RAM, perfect for esports gaming or casual gaming. It comes with mesmerizing RGB lighting that stands out when it connects. There is no shadowing in between RGB zones, and it can also sync with the latest Asus, ASRock, MSI, and Gigabyte motherboard with ease. It is the best mid-tier RAM for gaming in the market. The PCB is black, and the ICs on the memory module are heatsinked correctly using aluminum.

Observing the benchmark results, we saw that this memory could not support tighter timing, and running it below CL16 caused the system to crash. However, when running at CL16 and moving beyond 3733MHz, the RAM caused consecutive crashes but performed outstandingly at 3733MHz, beating most of the competition in the market. We were expecting tighter timing out of the box. If you are an overclocker, you will enjoy overclocking it with the same voltages.

The RAM looks decent and is available in various colors so that you can match your other hardware with the RAM. It is listed among the best RAM for gaming because of its comprehensive overclocking capability. Lighting can be controlled using the software that comes with the RAMs. We did note that Crucial used top-of-the-line Micron E-die ICs for this module; they are famous for their high heat resistance and overclocking performance.

Teamgroup T-FORCE VULCAN Z DDR4 16GB

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: TLTYD416G3000HC16CDC01 | Capacity: 2 x 8GB | Data Rate: DDR4-3000 MHz | Timings: 16-18-18-38 | Voltage: 1.35V | Warranty: 5 Years

Making high-performance RAMs is a difficult path to choose for anyone ambitious to step up and design one. Teamgroup was formed in 1997 as a Taiwanese company. They are certainly up there with the top brands in the market, and Teamgroup T-FORCE VULCAN Z DDR4 16GB is the best budget RAM for gaming that they have produced. They have an alliance with TUF GAMING to strengthen their claims for high-end components further.

The overall looks of the RAM are solely oriented towards a TUF series motherboard. It directly competes with the RAM on the top, considering they are 3200MHz, and this is a 3000MHz RAM. If you are an RGB fan, you should go for other RAM with lighting; this RAM is meant for enclosures like old school with no glass window. Out-of-the-box frequency is low, but you can easily clock it up thanks to the large heatsinks that are part of the RAM.

It is an excellent value-for-money product with high-end specs that compete with other options. The tight 16 CAS timing out of the box is just right, and with the XMP profile enabled, it can stability operate at overclocked conditions. The RAM is slightly taller than other RAMs, but if you are not using an Air-based cooler. Also, consider the fact that they don’t come in a wide variety of colors.

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: CMK16GX4M2B3200C16R | Capacity: 2 x 8GB | Data Rate: DDR4-3200 MHz | Timings: 16-18-18-36 | Voltage: 1.35V | Warranty: 5 Years

Corsair RAMs are on the top leaderboard for more than a decade, and their technology is tried and tested across many platforms. CORSAIR Vengeance LPX is the best cheap RAM for gaming that Corsair has to offer. It comes with an 8-layer PCB and aluminum fins large enough to ensure that the overclocking performance remains unaffected. The RAM has an overall high DDR4 rating compared to others at a similar price point.

The voltages required by the RAM straight out of the box are high, leaving small space for overclocking. It is equally compatible with both top manufacturers AMD & Intel as well. The XMP profile also works well with this RAM, but if you are a fan of RGB lighting, we recommend you go for other models as this RAM version is meant for performance under a budget. It also does not have an ECC feature which is quite expensive to incorporate, and considering the price, it’s a bargain.

If we consider value for money, it isn’t on top of the chart, but this RAM is an easy choice if we talk about reliability and performance. It is the best RAM for gaming, and everyone deserves to play their favorite game without any lag caused by the memory. Games like “Rise of the Tomb Raider” can increase 30fps because of the timing and frequency that this RAM has to offer.

PNY DDR4 2666MHz Notebook Memory

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: MN16GK2D42666 | Capacity: 2 x 8GB | Data Rate: DDR4-2666 MHz | Timings: 19-19-19-43 | Voltage: 1.2V | Warranty: 5 Years

Gaming is not only for desktop computers. Laptops also deserve high-end gaming components, and many manufacturers are pushing their hardware capability to make esports gaming mobile. PNY has come up with PNY DDR4 2666MHz Notebook Memory to improve the performance of laptops. It is the best DDR4 RAM for gaming on a notebook. The RAM supports 2666MHz, 2400MHz, and 2133MHz frequencies depending on your motherboard requirement.

Since it’s a laptop memory module, it has some limitations, like there is no heatsink due to space constraints. The RAM runs on JEDEC mode for frequency and does not support XMP profile, which might be a letdown for overclockers, but most people are happy with the out-of-the-box 2666MHz. The timing is a little loose compared to the desktop RAMs, but this RAM performs vigorously compared to other laptop RAMs.

PNY has 30 years of experience and is proud to offer the best RAM for gaming. This product works at higher frequencies and consumes less power that is essential to any laptop operation. During memory-intensive software, the drastic change between traditional RAM and PNY high-frequency RAM can be seen clearly. Now opening simultaneous tabs and running multiple applications will be the trouble of the past for laptop users.