The Best DDR4 RAM for Gaming in 2024

DDR4 memory, even though a generation old at this point, is still very capable and can deliver performance levels only slightly behind the newer DDR5. While DDR5 memory continues to make inroads with both better latencies and cheaper modules thanks to memory being available at a deep discount in general, many gamers and power users still have capable gaming PCs and workstations that use DDR4 memory exclusively. PCs upgrading to DDR5, particularly at higher speeds, can be a significantly pricey affair, as they also require an upgraded motherboard and processor.

Chipmakers like Intel are acutely aware of this, even as DDR5 gains generally tend to be limited to single-digit percentage points for most users, making reusing DDR4 memory from older builds a very viable consideration for gamers and, in some cases, enthusiasts on a budget. In terms of compatibility, DDR4 works with all new CPUs from both Intel and AMD and even older chips as old as the 4th Gen of Intel CPUs.

This makes DDR4 RAM a relatively better upgrade to have than many other, more costly alternatives that are required to pick up next-generation memory, despite DDR5 continuing to mature and move downwards in terms of both latency and price.

How To: Finding The Right DDR4 RAM For Gaming

DDR4 RAM comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and specifications, not all of which are recommended for gaming or compatible with motherboards across the board. For DDR4 memory to be a good upgrade, the following specifications are important to keep track of to get the maximum value out of a RAM upgrade:

• Memory Capacity: While DDR4 memory modules come in a variety of capacities, a general rule of thumb is having at least 16 GB of RAM in play after an upgrade or a new PC build to ensure compatibility with most modern titles.
• Clock Speeds: RAM clock speeds are essentially the speed at which data can be accessed from a module, with the general rule of thumb being: the higher, the better.
• Memory Latency: Memory latency is essentially a measure of how fast a memory module can respond to a request for data with a lower CAS latency (the unit of measure) indicating a higher-end or tweaked/tuned alternative to most RAM modules.
• Price: In the case of RAM, it may not be necessary to invest a lot of money to get the best performance. There are plenty of budget-friendly offerings that are sufficient for gaming.

All of these combined tend to make a good RAM kit recommendation that works well for gamers and enthusiasts alike. The team at Game Rant has created a comprehensive guide of the best options currently if gamers are looking for RAM for a new PC or an upgrade for their current one.

Game Rant’s Picks for the Best DDR4 RAM for Gaming in 2024

The CORSAIR Vengeance RGB RT 32GB 3600MHz is an excellent AMD-centric RAM kit that offers better clocks and latencies than more mainstream DDR4 memory. This makes it a desirable memory kit for AMD Ryzen-based processors which often exhibit significant performance gains at higher memory clock speeds and tighter timings. That doesn’t mean Intel-based CPUs won’t perform well or be just as fast, however. Intel’s DDR4 memory requirements for older 12th and 13th gen CPUs recommend 3200MHz DDR4 memory, which this kit exceeds in spec comfortably.

With a CAS latency of just 16, this also happens to be one of the lower latency memory options. The excellent RGB lighting can easily be customized by both third-party applications and Corsair’s revamped iCUE software, which also allows for more fine-grained control over its lighting effects.

The Vengeance RGB RT kit uses cherry-picked memory that it says allows for “extended overclocking potential.” Even if that is not the case, the tight timings, mid-range clock speeds, and excellent RGB lighting effects make it a compelling purchase for gamers.

At just under $100 for a pair of RAM modules that should allow gamers to play games for the foreseeable future along with tighter timings than its peers which allow it to be overclocked on demand, the Vengeance RGB RT RAMs are an excellent, value-added offering in 2024.

With 3600Mhz offered at a timing of 16-19-19-39 as part of its XMP profile, these are ideal to pair with AMD’s Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series processors which are much more sensitive to RAM modules compared to Intel’s more broad 3200MHz requirements. This means that the Ripjaws V kit works well with both Intel and AMD’s latest DDR4-supporting processors, including the Ryzen 7 5800X3D or even the Intel Core i9 13900K if needed. AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors do not work with DDR4 memory, unlike Intel’s current generation options, however.

All in all, if RGB lighting is not a large concern, and users can deal with the fact that the Ripjaws come with the bare minimum when it comes to packaging, G.Skill has people covered at a price point that is hard to beat for a well-established memory product in today’s increasingly competitive PC hardware market, especially for gaming or enthusiast-grade memory options.

At approximately $20 cheaper than the Vengeance RT RGB kit, the G.Skill Ripjaws V offers significantly better value for money especially for power users and gamers not concerned with the aesthetic end of things when it comes to picking their RAM modules.

Corsair’s Vengeance series has been on the market for a while now. From excellent DDR3 Vengeance memories to high-performance DDR4 memories, Corsair never disappoints. To this day, this particular Vengeance kit is a bestseller on Amazon, driving in nearly a hundred thousand positive reviews. There are a couple of reasons why users are going with this kit compared to others.

Firstly, the RAM kit is priced very well, making sure that users can have an ideal clock speed and good cache latency for their systems. Although there aren’t any RGB LEDs on the heat spreaders, the modules still look aesthetically pleasing with the black aluminum heatsinks. Users can achieve up to 3200MHz of clock speed through Intel XMP 2.0 on 16-20-20-38 latency, which is exceptional. It will also work pretty well with AMD motherboards too, but it’s best to use it on Intel platforms for achieving the sweet spot performance.

Apart from the specs, the memory modules are widely appreciated for their low-profile design, providing ample clearance for air CPU coolers. Whether users are installing a single tower or even a dual tower CPU cooler like the Noctua NH-D15, the RAM sticks will never interrupt the cooler’s installation. They can also work better in small form factor PC builds where every inch of space is valuable.

The Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 16GB (8GBx2) 3200MHz CL16 RAM kit is an excellent budget-oriented option for gamers and enthusiasts on a tight budget. It offers better value than any of the DDR4-based alternatives that are currently available from many retailers but also makes compromises when it comes to aesthetics, offering a single-sided heat spreader which some users might not be a fan of. These are single-sided RAM modules, so this does not impede performance but might not be something that gamers going for a certain aesthetic would appreciate.

The Silicon Power Value Gaming memory kit skips on RGB, but at less than $30 a pop, this isn’t something one can hold against a pair of memory modules that cater to budget users. However, some users pointed out that its XMP profile sometimes requires a higher voltage offset to perform in stable conditions on certain motherboards. These RAM modules work well on both AMD and Intel platforms and meet the specs of the 12th and 13th-generation Intel CPUs on DDR4 motherboards.

All in all, while these aren’t a premium memory kit and the build quality does show, they get the job done. They happen to be one of the cheapest options to do so, making them a no-brainer if budget constraints apply when building a new gaming PC or simply switching out existing memory from a gaming PC for gamers and enthusiasts unwilling to spend anything but the bare minimum to get a decent gaming experience.

The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 3600Mhz 32GB DDR4 is one of the best-looking premium gaming RAMs in the business. While it offers a middle-of-the-road option for gamers and enthusiasts in terms of its memory modules, one can argue that these still hold their own, while being good enough for most gamers. The difference between these and performance memory will only be felt in very CPU and memory-intensive use cases.

While the RGB lighting is top-notch thanks to control via iCUE as well as its use of CAPELLIX RGB LEDs, Corsair also claims that its patented DHX heatsink technology keeps temperatures low by fusing it to the PCB to allow it to pull heat away effectively from the module.

At the same time, the Dominator memory modules are some of the priciest DDR4 options users can purchase, making them a somewhat unappealing purchase for power users unless aesthetic is a key metric. In that case, one can’t go wrong with some of the most beautiful memory modules in the business that look spectacular in white.

While they have seen a large uptick in price lately, they still happen to be one of the best RGB-lit models in the performance DDR4 RAM market currently, which does tend to make them a relatively rare but often requested kit by gamers pushing for aesthetics.

Those looking for a premium DDR4 RAM offering and willing to invest a bit of extra cash should consider the G.SKILL Trident Z Royal series. This kit comes with two 16 GB modules that are capable of achieving blazing-fast speeds of up to 4400MT/s. Not only that, these sticks have a luxurious and premium design that no other RAM modules have. There is a crystalline light bar that scatters the RGB lights for a unique look.

The Trident Z Royal is not all about the design as it packs a lot of performance. The aluminum heat spreaders keep the high-performing modules cool, and they definitely need to be kept cool, owing to their high speeds of 4400MT/s. These are some of the fastest RAM DDR4 modules in the market with relatively low latency of CL19-26-26-46.

G.Skill offers the Trident Z Royal in Silver and Gold colors and while these may not be common colors for gaming setups, those willing to invest in this kit would appreciate some extra flare.

Typically, 3200MHz to 3600MHz is considered to be the sweet spot for gaming, and going over 3600MHz may or may not deliver any noticeable uplifts in gaming performance. There are instances where a memory clocked at higher than 3600MHz can become useful, but the performance will rarely go on the negative side of the scale. This is why the Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO SL RAM kit is Game Rant’s choice for a high-performance build where quality and looks both matter.

With 4000MHz of clock frequency, this RAM kit can increase the performance gap between itself and memories that are clocked at 3200-3600MHz in memory-intensive applications such as SiSoftware Sandra and at the same time deliver equivalent gaming performance. This RAM kit isn’t just about getting the best bang for the buck, but getting the best of the best for high-end PC builds.

Each of the RAM modules is fully Intel XMP 2.0 compatible and features low latency for a superfast response. On top of that, users will get the gorgeous RGB lighting over the head spreaders that are controllable via iCUE software. Each module measures just 44mm in height, providing ample clearance for air CPU coolers. All in all, this is the RAM kit enthusiasts should be going for if budget is not the problem.

More on How to Find the Best DDR4 RAM for Gaming PCs

• Memory Capacity: While most tasks can be easily handled by 8 GB of RAM, gaming is more intensive on the processor, graphics card, and memory. This makes 16 GB the ideal amount of RAM for games be it older or newer titles. However, newer titles such as Hogwarts: Legacy are known for having particularly demanding RAM requirements at higher quality presets, making 32GB a more viable recommendation.
• Clock Speeds: RAM modules often have to make trade-offs that could be a limiting factor for gaming performance to achieve higher clock speeds even as diminishing returns kick in, making most DDR4 memory currently offered sit at a sweet spot of 3200 to 3600 MHz when overclocked using XMP or DOCP standards. That said, there are DDR4 options out there that boast clock speeds of up to 4400 MHz and beyond.
• Memory Latency: Memory latency is often referred to as CAS or CL, which stands for Column Address Strobe or Column Address Signal. DDR4 RAM modules typically come with a latency of 16, 18, 22, or higher in some cases. With users able to overclock low latency memory more easily by loosening timings to push higher clocks to eke out better gaming performance, this is an important metric to take into account.
• Price: It is easy and often tempting to get the higher clocked or most visually appealing RAM modules possible, which can often cost a multiple of their standard memory module counterparts. It must be remembered that RAM modules are rarely a bottleneck for gamers once they push past a certain clock speed or latency class, making it often a somewhat moot point to spend more than a certain amount on RAM thanks to the limited return on investment to gamers versus a CPU or GPU upgrade.

FAQ

Q: Is DDR4 memory compatible with 12th or 13th-generation Intel CPUs?

Yes, both Intel’s 12th and 13th-generation CPUs support DDR4 memory but also require a compatible motherboard to run with DDR4 memory. Most motherboard options explicitly state their memory compatibility, making this an easy thing to spot when picking a cost-effective option. The majority of entry-level Intel 600 and 700 series motherboards have DDR4-supporting counterparts.

Q: Is 16GB of RAM enough for gaming?

While most games tend to perform optimally with 16GB of RAM, modern game engines continue to become larger in terms of memory footprint and consequently require higher amounts of RAM. This makes 32GB a safer, more future-proof option for gamers even as 16GB currently meets most user and gamer needs with ease for now.