ramcultists

RAM Buying Guide – February 2022

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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 3200Mhz

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

Buy Ballistix 3200
Pros:
  • Relatively inexpensive
  • 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
  • Lack of dedicated temperature sensor
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 3200MT/s
  • non MAX timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

Crucial Ballistix RGB 3600Mhz

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

Buy Ballistix RGB 3600
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: 3600MT/s
  • non MAX timings: 16-18-18-38
  • Voltage: 1.35V

- High End Overclocking RAM

Patriot Viper Steel

Budget Samsung B-Die, perfect for those who want some free performance out of a simple overclock

Buy Viper Steels Buy Viper Steel
Pros:
  • Guaranteed Samsung B-die
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Timings can be tightened a fair bit
  • Monochrome color scheme does not stand out
Cons:
  • May struggle at XMP without any tuning on most systems
  • Not recommended to run at XMP on any AMD Ryzen CPU but 4000G/5000g with FCLK tuning
Specs:
  • Capacity: 2x8GB
  • Frequency: 4000MT/s or 4400MT/s
  • Timings: 19-19-19-39
  • Voltage for 4000 kit: 1.35V
  • Voltage for 4400 kit: 1.45V

Teamgroup T-force Dark Pro

Great performance, even at XMP. Overclocks very well

Buy Dark pro
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: 3200MT/s
  • Timings: 14-14-14-31
  • Voltage: 1.35V

G.Skill Trident Z RGB

A fan favorite kit of RAM with stunning looks, great for those who value looks just as much as they value performance

Buy Trident Z RGB
Pros:
  • Guaranteed good bin of Samsung B-die
  • Built-in temperature sensor
  • Has RGB lighting
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • RGB impacts overclocking potential when turned on
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 3200Mhz

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
  • 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 3200Mhz

 

High capacity, fancy lights, and great potential!

Buy Ballistix RGB 3200
Pros:
  • Relatively inexpensive
  • Guaranteed decent bins of Micron Rev. E
  • 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

G.Skill Trident Z RGB

Performance, capacity, and great looks!

Buy Trident Z
Pros:
  • Guaranteed good bin of Samsung B-Die
  • Great overclocking potential
  • Built-in temperature sensor
  • 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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