5 best RAM sticks for gaming (2024)
The best RAM sticks for gaming are hard to find these days, as the market is flooded with many options. Whether you are looking to upgrade your old PC or want to build a new PC from scratch, the quality of your RAM sticks determines the overall performance of the system. The hard part is selecting the best RAM sticks in your budget.
So, whether you are running the latest AMD Ryzen, Intel Raptor lake chipsets, or are using older generation CPUs, our memory kit options below will help you pick the best RAM sticks for gaming. We have curated a bunch of DDR4 and DDR5 RAM options so that anyone can find a memory stick based on their budget and preferred platform.
Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinion.
Things you should look out for before picking the best RAM sticks for gaming
There are some critical points you must remember before selecting the best RAM sticks for gaming in 2024.
- Pick at least 16GB RAM in 2024, as most programs, games, or applications require more memory. Moreover, most PC tasks require heavy multitasking or higher memory support, and hence anything less than 16GB may not be enough.
- Try to pick dual-rank memory as dual RAM kits optimally provide better performance and longevity than a single RAM stick.
- Don't combine RAM sticks from varying manufacturers or with different clock speeds as that may lead to instability or poor performance.
- Advertised memory speed may not be possible to achieve due to processor or motherboard limitations. Therefore, you might need to tweak BIOS settings, especially on motherboards powering AMD chipsets.
Best RAM sticks for gaming in 2024
1) Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 3200 MHz
PC users who want the perfect mixture of affordability and power can consider the Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR4 RAM. This memory provides superb performance at under $50, especially for those who want a good 16GB option in this budget.
Corsair also provides maximum speed from XMP Bios, and considering its price is lower than the competition, it is among the best budget options currently. You also get RGB lighting to modify the look and feel of your PC build.
Pros
- One of the best RGB memories currently.
- Comes with RGB and third-party utilities support.
- Priced under $50.
Cons
- No overclocking support.
- Available in single memory option only.
2) G.Skill Trident Z Neo DDR4 3600 MHz
The G.Skill Trident Z Neo is another great RAM stick, especially for gaming in 2024. Although it's on the more expensive side, this memory module has great thermal controls and can be used for several hours without any worry of malfunctioning or overheating.
It also has customizable XMP settings and provides one of the highest frequencies you can get on the DDR4 platform. The RGB lighting on this RAM is also customizable, which is a bonus for those who like to play around with lights.
Pros
- Has superb thermal controls.
- Available in 2X kit option.
- Comes with multiple tuning options.
Cons
- Costlier than other DDR4 memory RAMs.
- No single RAM stick option is available.
3) XPG Lancer RGB DDR5 5200 MHz
The XPG Lancer RGB DDR5 5200 MHz is currently one of the best DDR5 memory options with up to 5200 MHz memory speed and RGB lighting. It even has overclocking support with great heat management.
The RAM is available in different variants with up to 6000 MHz memory speed. It is perfect for gaming, as players can expect stable performance for multiple hours without any hiccups, thanks to its usual voltage rating.
Pros
- Wonderful RGB lighting with custom-tuned settings.
- Can be overclocked.
- Budget-friendly.
Cons
- Voltage fluctuation can cause permanent damage.
- Only available with up to 32GB memory.
4) Crucial DDR5 Pro 5600 MHz
If you want a streamlined or straightforward RAM stick without worrying about performance issues, the Crucial DDR5 Pro RAM stick should be your first choice. It has dual-XMP profiles onboard and up to 5600 MHz clock speed to push your processor to the highest limit.
Without any overclocking capability or fancy RGB lighting support, this is the ultimate RAM stick for most high-intensive tasks, including gaming. It is a perfect match for all types of midrange CPUs and even flagship processors.
Pros
- Offers consistent performance.
- Comes with the best price-to-performance ratio.
- Dual XMP profiles provide customization support for those who want to tweak the clock speeds.
Cons
- No RGB lighting or overclocking support.
- Only available in single color option.
5) Klevv Cras XR5 RGB DDR5 6,000 MHz
If you want the ultimate performance from a gaming RAM stick, the Klev Cras XR5 is the memory module you should get. It's hard to beat its performance amongst most DDR5 RAM sticks and even the bigger brands like Corsair or Sabrent fail to match the reliability it offers.
It also comes with one of the RGB lightings you would ever see on any RAM stick. The RGB colors are also controllable with multiple third-party vendors such as Asus, Aura Sync, Razer Croma, and more. The lifetime support makes it future-proof as well.
Pros
- Comes with one of the most appealing designs.
- Excellent and sustained speeds even under heavy load.
- Reliable for gaming.
Cons
- Comes with only a single XMP profile.
- No single RAM stick option is available to buy.
All the memory modules we have recommended in the list provide the best performance at their price and are future-proof as well.
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