Best DDR5 RAM in 2024 – Our top picks for gaming and workflow

All the best DDR5 RAM kits available right now

Table of Contents Table of Contents

Are you looking for the best DDR5 RAM for your PC? DDR5 is finally here, well it has been for a while, but as the price has only just become reasonable, it feels like it’s only just arrived. The new memory standard is set to offer over double the performance of its predecessor, all while utilizing less voltage. We here at WePC have tested many memory kits over the years, giving us the knowledge and the expertise to help you choose the best DDR5 RAM for your gaming, or workflow PC.

We keep this article constantly up to date, we have included all the latest motherboard and CPU generations and what they imply for DDR5 memory within this article. For example, the best DDR5 for Intel 14th gen. That being said, and like all generational changes, DDR5 memory will be much more expensive than DDR4. However, with higher capacities, greater speeds, and generally better performance, your money isn’t going to waste.

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Best DDR5 RAM 2024

If you don’t have the time to spare, we have selected the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB 5200MHz DDR5 as the best all-round DDR5 memory kit for your PC, but if you want something a little faster, you can opt for the G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32GB 6600MHz DDR5. We explain why we came to those conclusions in much more detail below.

Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB

01

Best DDR5 RAM

Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB 5200MHz DDR5

Capacity

32GB

Frequency

DDR5 5200MHz

CAS Latency

C40

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Pros

• Excellent aesthetic design
• Great overclocking potential
• Quick frequency

Cons

• High price point

Corsair has been designing high-performance memory modules for as long as I can remember. With that in mind, it was no surprise to see another one of their kits hit the top of our best DDR5 RAM page. This kit displays all the features and benefits you could want from a DDR5 memory module, including decent timings, good overclocking capabilities, fast frequencies, and an easy-to-use XMP profile too.

While Corsair’s flagship DDR5 kit is on the expensive side, it isn’t overly pricey when compared to other DDR5 memory modules. It actually shows OK value for money when compared to some of the other various options available.

The next-gen DDR5 kit from Corsair comes with similar styling to their DDR4 variant, showcasing the same black heat spreader and RGB top. Like always, the RGB can be customized via Corsair’s proprietary iCUE software.

Corsair has installed an onboard voltage regulation system within the iCUE software suite, meaning you can fine-tune your overclocking without having to enter the BIOS. Custom XMP 3.0 profiles built into the RAM allow you to quickly set the factory to overclock settings, giving you an instant boost in performance right out of the box.

G.Skill Trident Z RGB

02

Best high-performance DDR5

G.Skill Trident Z RGB 32GB 6600MHz DDR5

Capacity

32GB

Frequency

DDR5 6600MHz

CAS Latency

CL34

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Pros

• Decent timings
• Good overclocking potential
• Very fast frequency

Cons

G.Skill recently announced this 6600MHz variant to the Trident Z RGB ranks, offering up flagship speeds as far as frequency and timings were concerned. If you’re looking for the best of the best when it comes to performance, G.Skill looks set to take the number one spot.

As far as design goes, the G.Skill Trident Z RGB is an incredibly attractive kit – sporting a two-tone (silver/black) design that is finished with a splash of bright RGB on the top. Alongside great aesthetics, the heat spreader also provides excellent cooling to this memory – essential when it comes to getting the most out of the overclocking headspace.

Speaking of performance, it’s hard to knock the G.Skill Trident Z RGB, it does tick all the right boxes. It’s the only memory kit in this guide that showcases DDR5 6600MHz speeds while still retaining decent 40-40-40-77 timings. This is mainly thanks to the Samsung DDR5 ICs that are found at the heart of these great memory modules.

Corsair Vengeance

03

Best value DDR5 memory

Corsair Vengeance 32GB (2X16GB) 5200MHz DDR5

Capacity

32GB

Frequency

DDR5 5200MHz

CAS Latency

C40

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Pros

• Good overclocking potential
• Decent value for money
• XMP 3.0 for easy overclocking

Cons

• Timings not as tight as competitors

Our value pick goes to another great Corsair DDR5 module, the Vengeance series. Vengeance has been a fan-favorite for the DDR4 platform for years now, providing great performance at an excellent price tag. The same looks set for the DDR5 platform, with the Vengeance series sporting many of the same performance-enhancing features as the Dominator series.

Aesthetically, the Vengeance series kits are much more basic than the flagship offering. We see no RGB, a simple heat spreader, and a low-profile shell. However, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it still looks superb when compared to other variants in today’s market.

Moving onto performance, you really can’t knock the DDR5 Vengeance series all that much. Timings sing to the tune of 40-40-40-77 alongside a 5200MHz frequency. Furthermore, the Vengeance series doesn’t require the same 1.25 volts as the Dominator – running on 1.1V very efficiently.

Corsair has also equipped the Vengeance with the same XMP 3.0 profile for easy overclocking as the Platinum range, enabling you to quickly boost performance right out of the box.

GeIL Polaris RGB

04

Best cheap DDR5 memory

GeIL Polaris RGB 32GB (2X16GB) 5600MHz DDR5

Capacity

32GB

Frequency

DDR5 5600MHZ

CAS Latency

C38

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Pros

• Good value for money
• 1.1 voltage
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Slower timings

Our budget pick comes in the shape of Geil’s Polaris RGB 32GB DDR5 memory kit, another great DDR5 memory offering that seems to tick all the right boxes.

Aesthetically, you’ll either love it or hate it. Geil doesn’t offer the sleek design of the Dominator Platinum series, they offer an RGB light show that is more Blackpool than Las Vegas – if you know what I mean. That said, many don’t prioritize aesthetics, and if you don’t, this RAM kit could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Performance-wise, the Geil performs fairly well. It comes equipped with a 5600MHz clock frequency and OK timing right out the box (C38-44-44-84). While these aren’t the best, they are far from the worst either. Better yet, the Geil Polaris series only requires 1.25 volts to run efficiently. Furthermore, with local voltage regulation based on PMIC (Power Management IC), this RAM provides current monitoring, threshold protection, and intelligent voltage and power management for fine-tuning your overclocking.

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DDR5 RAM: Things To Consider

When shopping for new DDR5 RAM, there are several important factors to consider to ensure you make the right choice for your system:

• Compatibility:
  • Check whether your motherboard and CPU support DDR5 RAM. Not all systems are compatible with DDR5, so it’s essential to verify compatibility before making a purchase.
• Capacity:
  • Determine the amount of RAM you need based on your computing requirements. For most users, 16GB or 32GB is sufficient, but content creators and gamers might benefit from 64GB or more.
• Speed and Bandwidth:
  • DDR5 RAM offers faster data transfer speeds compared to DDR4. Look for the clock speed (measured in MHz or GHz) and bandwidth (measured in GB/s) of the DDR5 RAM. Higher numbers generally indicate better performance.
• CAS Latency (CL):
  • CAS latency measures the time it takes for the RAM to respond to a command. Lower CAS latency values are better for performance, but they’re not the only factor to consider.
• Timing and Sub-Timings:
  • Pay attention to other timing parameters like tRCD, tRP, and tRAS, as they can influence RAM performance. Lower values are generally better.
• Dual-Channel or Quad-Channel:
  • DDR5 RAM can be used in dual-channel or quad-channel configurations, depending on your motherboard’s capabilities. Dual-channel provides a performance boost over single-channel, while quad-channel offers even higher performance in supported motherboards.
• ECC (Error-Correcting Code):
  • If you’re building a workstation or server, consider DDR5 ECC RAM, which provides error correction to prevent data corruption. This is not typically necessary for consumer or gaming systems.
• Overclocking:
  • Some DDR5 RAM modules may support overclocking, allowing you to push the RAM to higher speeds than the manufacturer’s specifications. If you’re into overclocking, make sure the RAM you choose supports it.

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Why choose DDR5 RAM?

So, why should I choose DDR5 RAM for my next build? It’s a good question really, especially when you consider the price tag attached to many of the new modules coming to market.

However, there are many pros to the latest generation of DDR5 memory, most surrounding raw performance. DDR5 is set to eclipse DDR4 in terms of performance by almost double – and that’s just the entry-level offerings. DDR5 will offer higher frequencies, better build quality, more advanced ICs, and greater cooling all while running at lower, more efficient voltages.

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Can my old motherboard support DDR5?

Unfortunately no, if you want to purchase new DDR5 memory then you’ll have to purchase a new motherboard as well. To make things worse, you’ll also have to purchase a new CPU too – as the only motherboard series that support DDR5 RAM are the 600 and 700 series from Intel and the 600 series from AMD. Not confusing at all. But no, unless your old motherboard was DDR5 out of the box, it’s not going to support your old motherboard.

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Does capacity matter with DDR5?

Well, that all depends on what you’re doing. If you’re the sort of person who plays older games, chances are you probably won’t need anything over 16GB. However, if you perform heavy multi-tasking workflows or data mining, you probably want to boost that capacity to the max. These are the sort of tasks that benefit hugely from having more RAM, so more is always better in this scenario.

Here’s a helpful breakdown of what you can do at various DDR5 RAM capacities:

• 4GB RAM –  Everyday tasks and light gaming
• 6GB RAM – A rare amount that is seldom seen anymore. However, 6GB falls under the same roof as 4GB – light gaming and everyday tasks
• 8GB RAM – Today’s entry-level, 8GB. One stick of 8GB memory will happily perform many lower-intensive games and run so low-level multi-tasking scenarios
• 16GB RAM – The people’s favorite. This is the sweet spot as far as price-to-performance goes. Gaming and some multi-tasking are available at this level.
• 32GB RAM – At 32GB, you start to fall into the enthusiast sector. With 32GB, you’ll be able to power through most games, perform multi-tasking workflows, and all other demanding tasks too.
• 64GB+ RAM – At this capacity, you’re looking at servers and extreme workstation scenarios.

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Final word

So, there you have it, our comprehensive breakdown of the best DDR5 RAM kits in 2024. We hope this article has helped you decide whether or not DDR5 is right for you, highlighting what we believe are the best of the available options in today’s market.

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Best DDR5 RAM FAQs

Which DDR5 RAM is best?

The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB 5200MHz DDR5 is the RAM kit to go for when looking for the best option. With a great frequency clock, it enables great performance out of the system otherwise. It also offers a lot of capacity for the ever-rising use of it by systems overall.

What’s the fastest DDR5 RAM?

The fastest DDR5 currently available is the G.Skill Trident Z5. Able to reach up to 8000 MHz, it is the fastest at the moments, with plenty faster speeds expected later on.