RAM which is also known as the main memory serves as a medium between the processor and the storage, which is why it is a very crucial component in the system and the overall performance of the system greatly depends on the RAM installed in the system.
Currently, there is DDR4 memory in the market that is being used in combination with the latest motherboards and processors. The DDR4 memory is in use for the last five years and we do not see DDR5 coming to the market anytime soon. However, there is a big improvement in the DDR4 RAM kits and RAM kits these days are much better than the ones that were initially released.
It is true that faster RAM kits are better for both Intel and AMD platform, however, the current AMD Ryzen series processor gets a huge improvement in performance when used in combination with faster RAM kits, which is why we saw a great incline in the popularity of high-frequency RAM kits.
Both Intel and AMD still use dual-channel memory with their mainstream processors, which is why most consumers should focus on buying RAM kits having two sticks.
As for the gaming is concerned, AAA games these days have a substantial link with the memory and a lot of games are heavily memory-dependent and as for the size is concerned, 16 GB of memory should be enough for most gamers, however, you can buy 32 GB kits if you are interested in multi-tasking.
In this article, we will be having a detailed view of some of the Best Ram for Gaming 2021 for both the Intel and AMD platforms.
CORSAIR is at the top when it comes to RAM kits and the company has always been the favorite of many gamers. CORSAIR Dominator Platinum series RAM kits used to be the flagship RAM kits which came at a relatively higher price while providing top-notch performance. CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB is the further improvement in the kit and includes RGB lighting, as the name indicates.
It is true that RGB lighting is quite inevitable in the gaming system these days, however, we must say that the previous-generation CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RAM kit looked better than these kits due to silver-colored theme.
There is “Dominator” written at the top of the RAM sticks with RGB lighting and have a lot of squares at the top, from where comes the RGB lighting. The RGB lighting can also be viewed from the sides, where there are small bars.
At the side of the heat-sink of the memory is present CORSAIR logo, which is not very noticeable due to color similarity. The heat-sink of the memory kit makes it quite tall and if you are using air cooler, then make sure to check the RAM clearance before buying this kit.
The specifications of the memory are better than most memory kits and the memory comes with an advertised speed of 3200 MHz. The kit comes with two 8 GB modules and thus you can use this memory kit in the dual-channel mode as well.
The latency of the memory is CL16, which is quite good for this frequency. The rated voltage of the memory kit is 1.35 volts, which is the usual voltage of RAM kits.
You can buy this RAM kit for specifically AMD systems or for both Intel and AMD systems and this makes it easy for the customer because the compatibility of RAM kits for AMD and Intel systems gets more confusing with every new day.
The overclocking of the memory kit is purely on luck and it cannot be guaranteed that it will run at speeds higher than 3200 MHz but usually, these flagship models can be pushed around 3600 MHz, not to mention that the heat-sinks of these RAM sticks are more than capable of handling over 4000 MHz frequency.
Conclusion
CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB series RAM kit is one of the best RAM kits from the company that comes with impressive performance and niche features like RGB lighting. The choice of RAM kits specifically for AMD systems gives it a higher reliability score and you shouldn’t be having any problem using this RAM kit in your AMD system.
If you want high performance and impressive looks, this RAM kit should be wonderful for you, although it is among the priciest RAM kits for these speeds.
G.SKILL has been manufacturing RAM kits very competitively to CORSAIR and the company has a high share in the market as well. The company got a huge response when its Trident Z series was released due to its unique looks and high performance. G.SKILL Trident Z Neo Series RAM kits are targeted towards AMD users and these kits are fully compatible with AMD systems.
The design of these RAM kits is very impressive. These are no doubt one of the most beautiful RAM kits in the market, although the Trident Z Royal Series RAM kits surely look novel in comparison but come at a much higher price.
The heat-sink of the RAM kit is divided into two parts having black and white colors. The RGB lighting is present at the top of the sticks and unlike the CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB, the whole top side of these sticks provides RGB lighting.
Moreover, the stylish cutouts at the top of the sticks add to the effect of the RGB lighting, making the sticks look like they are linked with each other.
As for the specifications of this memory are concerned, these RAM kits boost a high frequency of 3600 MHz, which is excellent for AMD users and they can gain a big advantage in comparison to sticks confined to 2666 MHz or even 3000 MHz frequencies.
The latency of the RAM kits is although high at CL18, the high frequency compensates for this easily and you could try pushing the memory kit for better latency as well, although that cannot be guaranteed.
Conclusion
G.SKILL Trident Z Neo RGB RAM kit is great for those people who are using AMD systems and want top-notch performance along with dazzling aesthetics. The super-high performance of these RAM kits is second only to the much pricier RAM kits having 3800 MHz or higher frequencies and even then, the difference gets very subtle after 3600 MHz.
We will not advise you to buy this RAM kit for the Intel system because if you own an Intel system, it will be better for you to buy the base G.SKILL Trident Z RGB RAM kit, which is being discussed below.
G.SKILL Trident Z RGB RAM kit was released before the release of the Trident Z Neo RAM kit and was targeted towards both Intel and AMD systems but had a few incompatibility issues with newer AMD systems just like many other RAM kits. The features of this RAM kit are very similar to the Trident Z Neo RAM kit and differ slightly in the looks.
As said earlier, the design of the original Trident Z is very similar to the Trident Z Neo. The difference lies mainly in the color of the heat-sink and instead of using black and white color, the stick is comprised of an all-black heat-sink. The RGB lighting is as vibrant as the Trident Z Neo and the all-black color-theme looks fabulous with the RGB lighting.
As for the specifications, this particular RAM kit comes with two sticks of 8 GB each, having a low frequency of 2400 MHz, which makes it great for those Intel users who prefer looks over performance.
The lower frequency also ensures low latency and that is why this kit comes with CL15 latency. More so, the performance difference between high-speed and low-speed kits on the Intel platform is not as significant as the AMD platform.
For those users who still want to buy faster memory, these RAM kits are also available in higher frequencies, up to as much as 4600 MHz.
Conclusion
G.SKILL Trident Z RGB RAM kit is perfect for Intel users who want to go just for the looks or for both looks and performance. These bells and whistles make this RAM kit more expensive than other RAM kits with similar performance, which is why this RAM kit is not the best for budget users.
Crucial is also a well-known company that manufactures a lot of RAM kits and SSDs. It is true that the company is more famous for its SSDs but their RAM kits provide a great price to performance ratio as well. Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer RGB is such a RAM kit that tries to keep a balance between performance and aesthetics.
The design of the RAM sticks is not so attractive sidewise but the top of the sticks is very similar to the Trident Z sticks, having 8-zone RGB lighting at the top. Thankfully, the heat-sinks of the sticks are not as high as the Trident Z or Dominator Platinum sticks, which is why you would have a better chance of installing these sticks in combination with dual-tower air coolers.
The performance of the sticks is really impressive for the price and this RAM kit is often available on sale for less than eighty-five bucks. For this much money, you get high-frequency RAM sticks with RGB lighting. The latency of the RAM kit is similar to the Dominator Platinum, at CL16.
Despite having lower fame, the quality of these RAM sticks is not bad by any means and high-end gamers should easily be able to overclock them beyond advertised speeds, and don’t worry about the thermals, thanks to the bulky heat-sinks.
Conclusion
Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer is the perfect RAM kit for mid-range budget users, who are not willing to pay for the Dominator Platinum RGB or Trident Z RAM kits but still don’t want to compromise on the performance part.
Pros
Well-balanced in terms of performance and looks
Better compatibility with air-coolers than other kits
Here we are, with another RAM kit from G.SKILL, that is G.SKILL Ripjaws V series RAM kit. This RAM kit focuses purely on the price and that is why it is cheaper than other RAM kits that try to focus on looks as well. This RAM kit is also available in low as well as high frequencies, giving the user a wide range of choices for their rig.
The design of the RAM sticks is fairly simple. The heat-sink on the sticks is not as bulky as other sticks but should be able to handle a bit of overclocking easily. The RAM kit is available in five different colors, although red-colored sticks do give them a gaming look, which is why many people opt for red color.
The specifications of the RAM kit are not as good as other RAM kits, providing a frequency of 2400 MHz with CL15 latency. Surely, you could try overclocking for around 3000 MHz speed or even more if you are lucky but the base speed is what decides the price of the kit.
That is why this is the cheapest RAM kit on the list, being available at even less than sixty bucks. Moreover, the tested frequencies are rated for 1.2 volts, which is why there is a better chance of overclocking if you crank up the voltage to 1.4 or 1.45 volts.
Conclusion
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series RAM kit is the best choice for budget gamers, who are willing to go for the cheapest of the RAM sticks and don’t want any kind of cool features like other RAM kits. The chance of running higher frequencies is still possible, which can make this RAM kit amazing for some lucky users.
Pros
Super-cheap price
Might work at higher frequencies if given high voltage
Patriot Viper 4 Blackout is the latest iteration in the Patriot Viper series and was released after the Patriot Viper Elite RAM kit. This RAM kit also focuses on the performance and tries to maximize the value for money. The RAM kit is priced very closely to the G.SKILL Ripjaws V series RAM kits while providing much better performance, thanks to the high frequency.
The performance of this RAM kit is very comparable to the CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB RAM kit, despite having almost half the price. The design of the RAM sticks still looks quite amazing, even though there is no RGB lighting or unique colors in the sticks.
The heat-sinks of the RAM sticks are black and gray in color, where the logo “Viper” is present at the center of the sticks. The height of the RAM sticks is also lower than other RAM kits, which is why this RAM kit is likely to be compatible with most dual-tower air coolers.
As for the performance of the RAM kit is concerned, the sticks come with a high frequency of 3200 MHz and CL16 latency. This makes this RAM kit great for both Intel and AMD users, as long as there are no compatibility issues.
The tested voltage of the RAM is 1.35 volts, which is why you are likely to increase the voltage to a higher value if you want even faster frequencies or tighter timings.
Conclusion
Patriot Viper 4 Blackout is great for those people who are willing to go all the way for performance and don’t care about the aesthetics of their system. The price of the RAM kit is even lower than the Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer RGB while the performance is similar to CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB and this makes this RAM kit impressive for value hunters.
At the last, we are finalizing the article, giving a rough conclusion of the RAM sticks. If you are someone who values performance and looks, CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB or G.SKILL Trident Z RGB will be perfect for you or G.SKILL Trident Z Neo RGB if you own an AMD system.
If you are very tight on budget, G.SKILL Ripjaws V RAM kit should be the best for you; Crucial Ballistix Tactical Tracer RGB RAM kit if you want a balance between performance and price while Patriot Viper 4 Blackout will be awesome for those who want to achieve high performance while not giving attention to the looks.
Well in some cases, yes but it depends! For modern AAA title games, you may need only 16GB of RAM. 32 GB and 64 GB RAMs are used for high-end tasks but if we are talking specifically about gaming then yes 64GB does overkill.
Is 32GB RAM overkill for gaming?
Yes! In the case of gaming, 8GB is minimum, and 16GB is maximum required for current AAA titles So, yes 32 GB RAM is overkill for gaming.
What RAM should I buy for gaming?
TEAM XTREEM ARGB 16GB DDR4-3600MHz C14 with ultra-bright Capellix RGB LEDs. It is a low-latency RAM kit which is a favourable option gaming, especially with AMD rigs.
What RAM speed is best for gaming?
Any 8GB or 16GB RAM with 3200MHz speed is the best pick for your gaming rig.
Zakriya is right from Pakistan. He was raised with a quest for gaming craze with an organization of specialized folks. This is the place he understood that computer games can grow your creative mind to unlimited universes. Gaming is no longer for him only a method for amusement, yet enthusiasm. From the youthful age of 8, gaming was simply the main method for communicating. At whatever point he got the opportunity to play computer games, he took it with two hands and played for quite a long time. Much to his dismay that gaming would turn into his closest companion.
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