We think you’ll agree that adding more RAM to your machine can be one of the best ways to upgrade a PC (both in and out of the game). We check out the top memory kits from all the leading manufactures to help you quickly and easily find the best RAM for gaming available on the market today and we found the sweet price vs performance kit to be Kingston HyperX Fury (16Gb). If you’re looking for high-end or a cheaper DDR4 RAM kit, checkout our top 5 picks below.
The Corsair DOMINATOR Platinum Series 32GB uses the best of today’s available integrated circuits to provide highly overclockable and personalized memory via upgradeable light bars, and a Dominator Airflow LED fan. For the inevitable question, yes, the fan does come with this kit. It is compatibility tested and optimized to work with the XMP 2.0 standard supported by Intel 100 Series-based motherboards. It also offers things like greater bandwidth, higher frequencies, and lower power consumption.
Performance
We found being able to monitor your temperature for optimal stability and performance with the Corsair Link Digital connector a neat feature, too. Also, when powered up, it automatically adjusts to the fastest safe speed for your Dominator Platinum kit. Corsair’s patented technology allows the Dominator to run at a colder temperature by pulling heat away from the modules and only drawing 1.35 volts for operating power. It does require some space, measuring 0.28″ x 5.32″ x 2.17″, but that’s to be expected with the highest stock performance at 3,333MHz.
For the budget conscious gamer, the HyperX FURY Black 16GB is a perfect match. Developed by one of the earliest manufacturers in memory, Kingston presents an option that is not the lowest priced, but one that keeps the price in mind without sacrificing quality. It is available in the most moderate DDR4 speed of 2133 megahertz, but higher speeds are not always a make or break for improved PC gaming.
The Best Value DDR4 RAM on the market, low power consumption and the auto overclocking function make this a great hassle free choice offering the best Bang for Buck.
ICONTROLPAD
Performance
This product is very easy to overclock without risking stability or heat issues. The low power consumption (1.2 volts) it requires from your computer also mean a quieter and cooler PC. With some tweaking for an overclock that is less conservative, speeds of 3200 MHz were achieved.
Its slim design and value allow us to bypass the lack of color options for this model. It’s also the first product line to offer automatic overclocking up to the highest level, similar to a plug and play kind of feature. It doesn’t take up much space either, measuring 1.23″ x 5.25″ x 0.13″. It is the smallest kit we tested.
The G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 32GB kit is a 288 pin model with 32 GB worth of memory storage capacity. As the newest dual channel DDR4 and available in five color options, this device is the latest addition to the Ripjaws family. It is the second generation of the company’s DDR4 memory, and it is clear that they took heed of the criticism and feedback from their clientele.
Performance
The new series is more faster and more affordable. We regard it as a nearly perfect gaming RAM choice or a simple memory upgrade / component in your new build for its compatibility with the major brands of motherboards.
Its five color options include Radiant Silver, Blazing Red, Gunmetal Gray, Steel Blue, and Classic Black. It has the traditional height of 42 mm to fit under oversized CPU coolers. It is a high capacity DDR4 choice that is affordable.
RGB lighting power consumption limits the OC potential
RGB lighting is not for everyone
The software was a bit meh
The G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 16GB features the noteworthy Trident Z heatspreader combined with bold RGB LED lights housed in a completely uncovered light bar. If you’re searching for visual fulfillment, the Trident Z is the RAM to go with. It combines uncompromising performance with its lighting supporting a full rainbow spectrum in color. Even better, it is built of the highest quality components.
Performance
A verified purchaser states that it has “Outstanding performance and can be overclocked without a fuss…upon installing, this DDR4 feels good in the hands and is not made of cheap components like what you would see in other brands.”
Keeping that solid construction feeling in mind, this kit is going to be a bit heavier, weighing in at 2.88 ounces. It also measures 5.2″ x 0.7″ x 1.7″, which is a bit bigger than the Hyper X FURY we discussed earlier. It is similar to the Corsair Vengeance LPX in that it is a 16GB kit with 8GB of memory. It also only draws 1.2V like the Hyper X FURY.Enter your text here…
The Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB is designed for high performance overclocking and is compatible with both Intel 100 and Intel X99 motherboards. This kit is part of the Vengeance LPX series, which continues where the previous DDR3 Vengeance series ended. Made of pure anodized aluminum, the low-profile heat spreader dissipates heat very quickly while an eight-layer printed circuit board provides superior overclocking headroom and heat management.
Performance
The design of the Vengeance LPX pulls heat from the integrated circuits directly into your computer’s cooling path, allowing you to push higher limits. As expected with Corsair’s performance record, each of their integrated circuits are tested individually. In addition, the Corsair Vengeance LPX comes in numerous colors to match your components, motherboard, or just your style.
Just like the Corsair Dominator Platinum Series, Vengeance LPX DRAM supports the new XMP 2.0 standard. It automatically adjusts to the safest and fastest speed for your kit. Manually pushing your DRAM frequency can be a fun experiment, but sometimes you just want to get maximum performance without the hassle of strange behavior or other lockups on your machine. Its clock speeds are initially set at 2133MHz but are noted to go as high as 4600MHz. That end extreme is limited though, so we can’t state it as a given.Enter your text here…
What Would we Buy?
Quite honestly unless you want bling’ RGB lighting (G.SKILL TridentZ RGB) we go for the budget option (Kingston HyperX Fury Black) when it comes to RAM in a gaming machine, yes it memory matters – but just so long it’s stable and not causing bottle necking there are better places to spend your cash like a better GPU or even CPU, or a upgrade your visuals with a 144Hz monitor.
Jamie Nasser
Editor & reviewer of gear from iOS control pad’s to high-end PC gaming hardware. He’s been gaming since the 1980s and mostly plays CS GO & Overwatch.