We rated, reviewed, & compared 15 of the best gaming memory kits across various budgets. These kits are perfect for gamers or anyone else looking for more memory for their computer.
If you’re building a new gaming computer, then you’ve probably heard that your memory is pretty important. In the simplest of terms, your computer’s memory gives your processor quick access to important data that it needs to carry out its processes. To an extent, the more memory you have and the quicker it functions, the faster your processor can access that important data.
Of course, in gaming, there is only so much memory that can be used. That’s why one of the most common questions first-time builders ask is “How much RAM do I need for gaming?” And, so, while we will list the best memory kits for gaming in this post, we’ll first try and answer the question of how much memory you’ll need for gaming and other purposes.
How Much RAM Do I Need for Gaming?
Generally speaking, 8GB of RAM is all that is needed in the majority of today’s most-played titles. However, newer games are starting to utilize more and more RAM and if you are planning on doing other process-intensive tasks like video/image editing, or if you like to watch video content while you’re gaming, more memory will come in handy. But, if you are building a budget gaming PC, you can definitely start out with a single 8GB stick of RAM, as that will be enough to handle most games and it will be incredibly easy to add a second stick (for 16GB total) down the road.
The good thing about memory is that, as far as cost goes, it’s probably the one component that will give you the biggest increase in performance relative to its cost (up to a certain point, of course). In fact, for about $30-$40, you can get a kit of 2400MHz 8GB DDR4 RAM–which is pretty good for the price.
However, there are higher-end options out there as well. And, in this post, I will go over the best RAM for gaming for 2021 at various price ranges for different budget sizes. I’ve broken the guide down into three different sections… RGB memory kits, DDR4 memory kits, and DDR3 memory kits.
Really, DDR3 memory is on its way out and if you’re building a new computer you probably shouldn’t be using it. However, if you’re looking to add more memory to an older build that had a DDR3 CPU/motherboard combination in it, DDR3 memory is your only option (unless you are also upgrading your CPU/motherboard as well.)
I have chosen multiple different kits for each section based on price, speed, and quantity. This list isn’t the end-all-be-all list of computer memory, but there should be enough solid options here to help you choose the right RAM for your gaming PC.
Our Picks for the Best Memory Kits for Gaming
For a quick look at the top memory kits for gaming, the table below showcases our selections for the best high-end memory kit, the best RGB kit, the best value kit, and the best DDR3 kit.
|
|
NAME | SPECS | RATING | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HIGH-END
|
 |
Corsair Dominator |
|
/10 | |
|
BEST RGB
|
 |
G.SKILL TridentZ |
|
/10 | |
|
VALUE
|
 |
Corsair Vengeance LPX |
|
/10 | |
|
DDR3
|
 |
Patriot Viper 3 |
|
/10 |
*To read more about our choices for the best memory kits , just click the “Read Review »” link to skip to our overview on that specific kit. You can also keep scrolling to find more memory kit options, too.
The Best RGB Memory Kits
Do you like to spend a lot of money on arbitrary features that don’t improve performance in any way whatsoever, but only serve to improve the aesthetics of your build? If so, we have some RGB memory to sell to you!
All jokes aside, RGB lighting has taken the PC building world by storm despite the fact that it has no other purpose than to make your system look cool. This would typically be fine as PC builders often choose their components with aesthetics in mind. However, RGB lighting comes in at a premium and so it is really only suited for those who have large budgets and who are looking to build high-end setups.
If you do have the budget, though, and you want to go all out on RGB lighting, then one of the items you’ll want to look into is RGB memory. Up until recently, there were only a few viable RGB kits of memory out there. Now, though, almost every major memory brand has their own line of RGB memory.
So, if you are looking to spice up the style of your upcoming build (or upgrade), check out our overviews on the best RGB RAM kits below:
A Comparison of the Best RGB Memory
|
G.SKILL TridentZ RGB |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 16-128GB |
| SPEED | 2400MHz+ |
| LATENCY | 16 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Review
Of the RGB memory kit options out there, in my opinion, G.SKILL’s TridentZ RGB kits are the best options.
And, that is primarily because of the fact that unlike some of the other RGB kits out there, the TridentZ’s RGB lights extend across the entirity of the stick, allowing you to see a full line of color.
In comparison, Corsair’s Vengeance RGB memory puts the standard Vengeance heat spreader over the RGB light on top of the stick and so you don’t get a full line of color.
And, while you could argue that this is a petty way to conclude that G.SKILL has the better RGB ram, the fact is that you are spending a lot extra to get RGB lights and so I’m assuming anyone who will be looking at these kits will want as much color showing as possible.
Aside from the RGB lighting, though, the TridentZ series comes in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB kits. It also has kits that run as low as 2400MHz, and as high as 4266MHz.
Ultimately, these kits of memory will set you back quite a bit, but if you have a large budget they will help make your rig look pretty sweet.
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 |
Corsair Vengeance RGB |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 16-64GB |
| SPEED | 2666MHz+ |
| LATENCY | 15 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Corsair Vengeance RGB Review
In my opinion, the biggest downfall of Corsair’s Vengeance RGB kits are the fact that the RGB lights are restricted by the Vengeance heat spreader and, therefore, don’t provide a full line of color.
And, again, while this might seem like a minor flaw, the fact is that if you are paying a premium for RGB lights on your memory, then you likely want as much RGB glory as possible.
If you don’t mind the more restricted nature of Corsair’s RGB lights, though, these are still obviously solid memory kits.
They come in 16-64G kits, with speeds as low as 2666MHz and as high as 3466MHz.
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 |
Gigabyte AORUS RGB |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 16GB |
| SPEED | 3200MHz |
| LATENCY | 16 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Gigabyte AORUS RGB Review
Unless I’m mistaken, Gigabyte’s AORUS RGB memory kits are Gigabyte’s first foray into computer memory. And, the reason for their entry into the desktop memory market, I’m assuming, is to take advantage of one of the current problems with RGB memory kits.
And, that problem is that, because the main purpose of choosing an RGB kit over a non-RGB kit is for aesthetics, it makes sense for anyone purchasing an RGB kit to ensure that all of their motherboard’s DIMM slots are filled so it doesn’t look weird to have two of your RGB sticks split apart in dual-channel configuration. To get an idea of this, go compare builds that have four sticks of RGB memory to builds that only have two. The builds that have all of their DIMM slots full of RGB memory look much better and much more complete. But, the cost of a 4-stick kit of RGB memory is incredibly expensive and there aren’t any 4GB sticks of RGB memory out there—which means that in order to fill up a motherboard with four DIMM slots on it, you’re going to need to opt for 32GB of RAM. And, that is a lot more than most people need.
So, I’m assuming Gigabyte recognized this problem when they released their AORUS RGB kit as it is a 2x8GB kit that also comes with two dummy sticks that have RGB lights on it. Or, in other words, Gigabyte’s AORUS RGB kit comes with the ability to fill all four DIMM slots on your motherboard with RGB sticks, despite the fact that you only get two actual memory sticks.
The cool part is that despite giving you the two extra dummy sticks, the AORUS kit doesn’t cost much more than the other RGB kits listed here. Ultimately, if you don’t have enough to get a 32GB kit (or you just don’t need 32GB), but you want the aesthetics of four RGB RAM sticks, the AORUS kit is your best bet.
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 |
Patriot Viper RGB |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 16GB |
| SPEED | 2666MHz+ |
| LATENCY | 16 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Patriot Viper RGB Review
Another viable option for RGB memory is Patriot’s Viper RGB series. In terms of pricing, Patriot’s options come significantly lower than the competition and you can get a 16GB kit (2x8GB) 3200MHz kit for ~$95.
However, the same issue (in our opinion) that plagues Corsair’s RGB kits also plagues Patriot’s Viper RGB kits—and, that is that, just like how Corsair’s kits don’t give you a full view of the RGB lights because they are blocked by the heat spreader, so, too, does Patriot’s kits come with an obstructed top-down view of the RGB lights.
The good news, though, is that Patriot’s kits give you a lot more RGB than Corsair’s kits do and so if you’re debating between the two and the amount of RGB light that shines through is the most important aspect for you, I think Patriot’s Viper lineup is the better option.Get This RAM
 |
HyperX Predator RGB |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 16-32GB |
| SPEED | 2666MHz+ |
| LATENCY | 16 |
| DDR | DDR4 |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
HyperX Predator RGB Review
Finally, we have the HyperX lineup of RGB RAM. The one thing that the HyperX RGB memory has going for it is that, like G.SKILL’s TridentZ RGB memory, the HyperX kits come with a near unobstructed RGB light. There are a couple of spots where the light is restricted, but it isn’t nearly as much as the restrictions found on the Vengeance RGB kits and the Patriot Viper RGB kits
The HyperX RGB kits are priced well in comparison to the competition, too. They’re not as cheap as the Patriot’s line of RGB memory (~about $30 more for the same amount and speed), but they are the cheapest option that offers the full length light.
So, if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to G.Skill’s TridentZ, the HyperX lineup is worth considering.
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The Best DDR4 Memory for Gaming
The price of DDR4 memory has fallen significantly over the past 4-5 months. And, as we are a few generations into the DDR4 era, there really isn’t a whole lot of reason to choose a DDR3-based build over a DDR4-based build (assuming you are working with a large budget.)
It still makes sense in a few cases to go with DDR3 memory, simply because if you are upgrading an older system and you aren’t getting a new CPU and motherboard, too, you will have to choose DDR3 memory.
However, for anyone who is building a new system with an AMD Ryzen CPU, Intel 9th generation CPU, or an Intel Extreme CPU, then you will need to get a solid DDR4 memory kit.
What follows is a list of some of the best DDR4 memory kits you can buy…
A Comparison of the Best DDR4 Gaming RAM
|
Corsair Dominator |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 16-128GB |
| SPEED | 2400MHz+ |
| LATENCY | 10-16 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.2v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Corsair Dominator Review
If you have a larger budget and you’re looking for a high-performance kit of memory for extreme overclocking, you might want to consider Corsair’s Dominator Platinum series of RAM. While Corsair’s Dominator Platinum memory kits won’t offer the majority of users any significant kind of advantage, they are created under more strict standards so as to run better at higher speeds.
They also come with heartier designs that allow for better cooling. And, in our opinion, despite not having RGB lights on them, the Dominator Platinum series looks pretty cool, too. In fact, if you’re not into RGB lights, but you still want an aesthetically-pleasing kit of memory, you might even find the Dominator Platinum’s to be the best-looking kit out there.
Ultimately, though, the Dominator Platinums do come in at a premium and so if you’re just looking to build a standard system and you’re not planning on trying to achieve extreme overclocks, you would probably be better off by choosing a more affordable kit.
|
Corsair Vengeance LPX |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 8-32GB |
| SPEED | 2400MHz+ |
| LATENCY | 16 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.2v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Corsair Vengeance LPX Review
In the past, Corsair’s Vengeance LPX line of memory typically ran a bit more expensive than Crucial’s Ballistix Sport kits and Kingston’s HyperX Fury kits. However, recently, Corsair has priced their Vengeance LPX line at incredibly fair prices (at least, in relation to the competition). And, so, because of that, they are our pick for the best value kit around.
The LPX kits range from 8GB kits to 32GB kits. And, as for speed, you can get the Corsair Vengeance LPX kits in as low as 2400MHz to as high as 4600MHz.
And, the kits also come with timings of CAS 14, 15, and 16. Also, the LPX lineup is a low-profile form-factor, so not only will they work well in a small-form-factor PC, but they will also ensure that you don’t have any clearance issues with your CPU cooler, regardless of the form-factor of your system.
Ultimately, though, whether its the capacity of the kit, or the speed of the kit, there are a wide array of different Corsair Vengeance LPX kits you can choose between and they all come in at reasonable prices.
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 |
G.SKILL Ripjaws V |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 8-32GB |
| SPEED | 2400MHz+ |
| LATENCY | 15 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.2v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
G.SKILL Ripjaws V Review
G.SKILL is considered to produce some of the best RAM for gaming and their memory is among the most recommended options by hardcore gamers and system builders. And, if you are looking for a DDR4 memory kit, then you will definitely want to consider the Ripjaws V series of memory from G.SKILL.
While G.SKILL memory is typically more expensive than Crucial or Kingston’s memory, it is still relatively affordable and, as I mentioned above, it comes highly recommended.
The Ripjaws V DDR4 kits come in a variety of quantities, configurations, and speeds. You can get kits ranging from 8-32GBs and speeds ranging from 2133MHz to 3600MHz.
And, there are three different colors you can choose to help you match the rest of your build: red, black, and white.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with G.SKILL RAM, as they typically produce some of the best gaming memory kits, but if you’re looking to keep your build as cost-efficient as possible you might want to look at another more affordable kit.
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|
Crucial Ballistix Sport |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 4-32GB |
| SPEED | 2400MHz+ |
| LATENCY | 16 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.2v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Crucial Ballistix Sport Review
Crucial’s Ballistix Sport kit have often come in at very affordable prices. However, as of recently, they have been beaten out by Corsair’s Vengeance LPX lineup. Still, though, if you’re looking for an affordable kit of DDR4 memory, along with checking out Corsair’s Vengeance LPX lineup, you’ll also want to check Crucial’s Ballistix lineup as it could come back down in price.
In terms of the kits that are available in the Ballistix Sport lineup, the options range from single 4GB sticks, all the way up to 32GB kits. And, as for speed, you can get the Ballistix Sport kits in 2400MHz-3200MHz speeds.
Ultimately, the in-game performance difference between this kit and the others on this list is negligible, so I would look for the one that is the most affordable at the time of purchase.
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 |
Patriot Viper Elite |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 8-32GB |
| SPEED | 2400MHz |
| LATENCY | 15 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.2v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Patriot Viper Elite Review
While Patriot has been around for a little while, they aren’t as popular as some of the other brands listed here. However, they are offering their Elite Series DDR4 kits at a really competitive price.
So, if you don’t mind rolling with a brand that doesn’t get as much attention, you could save a few bucks by choosing Viper’s Elite Series kits over the others listed above.
The Viper Elite Series comes in three different kit sizes: 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB.
It also comes in three different colors: red, blue, and gray.
You can also get the Elite Series DDR4 in speeds ranging from 2400MHz all the way up to 3000MHz.
Ultimately, while Patriot isn’t as talked-about as some of the other brands, they do have quite a few options to choose between and they do offer competitive prices in comparison to some of the other options on this list.
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The Best DDR3 Memory Kits
Yes, DDR4 memory has arrived. And, yes, DDR4 memory is pretty close to DDR3 memory in price.
And, while there aren’t a whole lot of reasons to purchase DDR3 memory anymore, there is one instance where DDR3 memory still makes sense.
That instance is, if you’re upgrading an older Intel- or AMD-based DDR3 system and you want to add more memory to it, you’ll have to buy DDR3 memory.
Don’t worry, though…
In most in-game scenarios the performance difference between DDR3 and DDR4 is not very significant and most people will never be able to tell the difference.
So, if you need some cheap DDR3 RAM for your system, you can use some of the following kits…
A Comparison of the Best DDR3 Gaming RAM
|
Patriot Viper 3 |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 4-16GB |
| SPEED | 1600MHz |
| LATENCY | 9 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.5v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Patriot Viper 3 Review
While Patriot’s Signature series is a bit more affordable, for a few more bucks you can get their better-performing and nicer-looking Viper 3 series kit.
The Viper 3 Series comes in black, blue, and red, and comes in speeds as high as 2400MHz.
However, their most affordable kit, the 1600MHz kit is about the same price as Crucial’s Ballistix Sport and Kingston’s HyperX Fury.
So, if you want something that doesn’t cost a ton of money, offers decent performance and a range of options, the Patriot’s Viper 3 series might be your best bet.
Again, though, your best bet would be to check prices before you make your decision.
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 |
Crucial Ballistix Sport |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 4-32GB |
| SPEED | 1600MHz |
| LATENCY | 9 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.5v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Crucial Ballistix Sport Review
Crucial’s Ballistix Sport line of memory is consistently priced better than the other brands on this list. And, that is true for their DDR3 kits and DDR4 kits.
So, if you need some cheap RAM for upgrade purposes or for your AMD AM3+ budget build, this kit will definitely do the trick.
It’s not the prettiest set of RAM, but it’s affordable and it will get the job done.
Ultimately, though, as I’ve said time and time again throughout this guide, my recommendation is to go with the kit of RAM that is the most affordable at the time of your purchase.
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 |
Kingston HyperX FURY |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 4-16GB |
| SPEED | 1600MHz |
| LATENCY | 9 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.5v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Kingston HyperX FURY Review
Just like the DDR4 kits, Kingston HyperX Fury kits are also one of the more competitive DDR3 memory options in terms of price.
 |
Corsair Vengeance LPX |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 8-32GB |
| SPEED | 1600MHz |
| LATENCY | 9 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.5v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Corsair Vengeance Review
Corsair’s Vengeance line of memory kits are also a solid option for anyone looking for a nice kit of DDR3 memory.
The one downside of Corsair’s Vengeance line, though, is the excessively tall heat spreaders. These aren’t really a problem if you plan on using your stock CPU cooler, but if you are planning on using a third-party cooler, you will want to make sure that the heat spreaders don’t block the CPU cooler from being installed, or choose a low-profile CPU cooler to go with it.
Although, there are some low-profile versions of the Vengeance kits to help you get around that problem should it arise.
Other than that, the Vengeance line offers kits ranging from 4GB all the way up to 32GB. And, the kits come in a few different colors (black, red, blue, and gold) as well as different models (standard and pro).
The pro kits offer higher speeds than the standard line but also cost a bit more.
Ultimately, though, the standard 1600MHz kits will work just fine for just about any setup.
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 |
Patriot Signature |
|
/10 |
|
TECH SPECS
| KIT SIZE | 8GB |
| SPEED | 1600MHz |
| LATENCY | 11 |
| VOLTAGE | 1.5v |
| BUFFERED | Unbuffered |
Patriot Signature Review
If you’re not looking for anything too exciting and you just want a 1600MHz kit of DDR3 RAM, then Patriot’s simple and straight-forward Signature kit of memory should do the trick for you.
The kit only comes in 8GB, it doesn’t have the best latency in comparison to the other options on this list, and it’s not the nicest-looking set available.
However, it is one of the more affordable options and, ultimately, it will get the job done.
Again, though, before purchasing this kit, be sure to check prices as there may be a better deal on a better kit of memory.
And, if you’re looking for a more attractive and better-performing Patriot kit, you can check out the Patriot Viper 3 Series listed below.
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Need Help Choosing Memory?
While this list covers my opinion on what the best RAM for gaming is, it’s inevitable that others will disagree with me. And, that’s fine! I based this list off of price-to-performance and not necessarily on what RAM performs the absolute best.
I did that simply because the in-game performance difference between extremely fast kits of memory and memory operating at more standard speeds are not very significant (with exception to some of the newer Ryzen-based systems where faster RAM can offer a decent performance boost), especially when you consider the price difference.
Ultimately, though, if you’re in the market for a new gaming PC and you are planning on building a new system, or if you are just looking for an upgrade for your current gaming computer, and you have questions, please post them below.
Nick says
I’m considering buying a second stick of RAM for my DELL Inspiron gaming laptop. It’s about 3 years old now, and I’m trying to determine what the best course of action is to get a little more speed and life out of it. I was considering buying a 16-gigabyte stick instead of an 8 (for a total of 24 instead of 16, as I already have 8 installed), but after looking at some of my bigger games (Destiny 2, Assassin’s Creed Origins, that sort of thing) I’m not sure I need that much. is it actually worth spending an extra $30 on 16 gigs? and in either case, what might be the upsides to buying from say, Crucial vs. Corsair? (if corsair even makes 260-pins, I haven’t looked too deep there yet)
Phil says
On your Best DDR4 Memory for Gaming, you have the 2400MHz+?
Why the 2400MHz+ not the 3200MHz+?
Brent Hale says
That’s just supposed to represent the minimum speed available. I’ve also linked to the minimum speed option, but most of the linked-to listings on Amazon have the option to switch to the faster kits.
Akshay says
I have a Acer aspire 15 E5-572G-525V laptop. It comes with a stock 4Gb ddr3L sodimm ram at 1600mhz and a CAS 11. I am looking yo upgrade to a 16gb 8×2 gskills kit of 1600mhz but has a CAS 9. Will it work with my system is the only question.
Adrian says
Is there any Value DDR3 RGB RAM(2 x 8GB)?