ramcultists

RAM Buying Guide – April 2022

Introduction

RAM is one of the the most overlooked parts in a PC. However, it is incredibly important to how your PC functions. Simply put, RAM stores data from every open program to quickly access it because RAM is several orders of magnitude faster to access than any normal storage device. We don’t use DRAM for general purpose storage just because it is very expensive and volatile, which means that when your PC turns off, all of the data that is stored is erased.

Buying RAM can actually be very simple for most people. Get the capacity you want, speed you want, and whatever looks nice to you. However, if you want to overclock it, or want to make sure your RAM has good compatibility and stability, you need to research the kits for what RAM die they’re based on, so you know how it overclocks, how well binned the die is so you have an idea how far you can push it, and if it has a built in temp sensor, which is a godsend for temperature sensitive dies like Samsung B-die.

To help out with picking the RAM we have split them into several categories for each capacity:

  1. Budget – Inexpensive RAM that does the job, don’t expect great overclocking headroom or high speeds
  2. Value overclocking – Best bang-for-your-buck when it comes to overclocking headroom, optimal for those who just want good performance at a good price
  3. High end – If you want the absolute maximum performance you can get, want to try out extreme overclocking, or just want to burn some extra money, get yourself a high end kit of RAM

Our Picks:

8GB16GB32GB

- Budget RAM

Patriot Viper Steel

Inexpensive and reliable, perfect for those who don't need a ton of capacity.

Buy Viper Steel
Pros:
  • Inexpensive
  • Monochrome color scheme doesn't stand out
Cons:
  • Suffers in gaming and productivity workloads due to low capacity.
  • Low overclocking potential
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x4GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

- Budget RAM

Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine

Inexpensive and reliable, perfect for the budget-conscious gamer or low-power workstation user

Buy XPOWER Turbine
Pros:
  • Inexpensive
  • Great for budget gaming systems and other non RAM-intensive workloads
  • Great price/GB proposition
Cons:
  • Low overclocking potential
  • Blue color scheme could stand out
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

Teamgroup T-Force Delta RGB

Inexpensive and has RGB, great for the budget-conscious user who wants a little bling in their system.

Buy Delta RGB
Pros:
  • Inexpensive
  • Has RGB lighting
Cons:
  • Low overclocking potential
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

- Value Overclocking RAM

Crucial Ballistix 3200MT/s

A fan-favorite in the budget overclocking community, stable, consistent and should overclock to 3600MT/s CL16 at the very least

Buy Ballistix 3200
Pros:
  • Relatively inexpensive
  • Guaranteed decent bins of Micron Rev. E
  • Above average overclocking potential
  • Great for achieving high speeds
  • Black color scheme doesn't stand out
Cons:
  • Timings are difficult to tighten and will not tighten as well as kits with other dies
  • Lack of dedicated temperature sensor
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • non MAX timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

Crucial Ballistix RGB 3000MT/s

The fan-favorite Ballistix kit, but with RGB and a temperature sensor!

Buy Ballistix RGB 3000
Pros:
  • Guaranteed decent bins of Micron Rev E
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Great for achieving high speeds
  • Has RGB lighting
  • Built-in temperature sensor
Cons:
  • Timings are difficult to tighten and will not tighten as well as kits with other dies
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 3000MT/s
  • non MAX timings: 15-16-16-35
  • Voltage: 1.35V

- High End Overclocking RAM

Crucial Ballistix max 4000MT/s

A fan-favorite in the overclocking community, stable, consistent and able to overclock to even higher speeds easily.

Buy Ballistix MAX 4000
Pros:
  • Guaranteed decent bins of Micron Rev. E
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Great for achieving high speeds
  • Black color scheme doesn't stand out
Cons:
  • Timings are difficult to tighten and will not tighten as well as kits with other dies
  • Not recommended to run on Ryzen without manual tuning
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 4000MT/s
  • non MAX timings: 18-19-19-39
  • Voltage: 1.35V

 

Patriot Viper Steel 4000MT/s

Great performance, even at XMP. Overclocks very well

Buy Viper Steel 4000
Pros:
  • Guaranteed good bin of Samsung B-die
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Timings can be tightened a fair bit
  • Black color scheme does not stand out
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Lack of dedicated temperature sensor
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 4000MT/s
  • Timings: 19-19-19-39
  • Voltage: 1.35V

HP V10 RGB

A surprise appearance from HP in the RAM area. This great looking kit will perform nicely at both XMP and overclocking

Buy V10 RGB
Pros:
  • Guaranteed good bin of Samsung B-die
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Timings can be tightened a fair bit
  • Has RGB lighting
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • RGB impacts overclocking potential when turned on
  • No thermal sensor
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 14-14-14-34
  • Voltage: 1.35V

- Budget RAM

Silicon Power Gaming

No frills, inexpensive, and works great!

Buy Gaming
Pros:
  • Inexpensive
  • Monochrome color scheme doesn't stand out
  • Great for more RAM-intensive workloads like video editing and rendering
Cons:
  • Low overclocking potential
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x16GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

Teamgroup Delta RGB

Inexpensive, flashy and reliable. Perfect for budget-conscious content creators or gamers that want some bling in their system

Buy Delta RGB
Pros:
  • Inexpensive
  • Has RGB lighting
  • Great for more RAM-intensive workloads like video editing and rendering
Cons:
  • Low overclocking potential
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x16GB
  • Frequency: 3600MT/s
  • Timings: 18-22-22-42
  • Voltage: 1.35V

- Value Overclocking RAM

Crucial Ballistix 3200MT/s

The fan-favorite kit of Ballistix is back in a 32GB configuration, relatively inexpensive and overclocks just as well

Buy Ballistix 3200
Pros:
  • Relatively inexpensive
  • Guaranteed decent bins of Micron Rev. E or Rev. B
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Great for achieving high speeds
  • Great for more RAM-intensive workloads like video editing and rendering
  • White color scheme doesn't stand out
Cons:
  • Due to the possibilities of 2 different dies, mixing 2 of these kits may not be a good idea
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x16GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

Crucial Ballistix RGB 3200MT/s

High capacity, fancy lights, and great potential!

Buy Ballistix RGB 3200
Pros:
  • Relatively inexpensive
  • Guaranteed decent bins of Micron Rev. E or Rev. B
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Great for achieving high speeds
  • Great for more RAM-intensive workloads like video editing and rendering
  • Built-in temperature sensor
  • Has RGB lighting
Cons:
  • Due to the possibilities of 2 different dies, mixing 2 of these kits may not be a good idea
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x16GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

- High End Overclocking RAM

HP V10 RGB

When the 16GB kit isn't enough, HP has you covered with a 32gb version. Same great looks and performance as the 16GB version

Buy V10 RGB
Pros:
  • Guaranteed good bin of Samsung B-Die
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Great for more RAM-intensive workloads like video editing and rendering
  • Has RGB lighting
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • RGB impacts overclocking performance potential when turned on
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x16GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 14-14-14-34
  • Voltage: 1.35V

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