Best RAM for Ryzen: Buying Guide
After a long time you have finally decided to assemble your new PC in complete autonomy. Excellent choice, were it not for the constant indecision about the best components to buy. As the CPU you have chosen one of AMD’s many Ryzen processors and, as a result, you have secured a compatible motherboard. But now it’s time to choose RAM, but you don’t know where to start.
Don’t worry: I’m here if you want, and in this guide I can explain how to choose one of the best RAM for Ryzen currently available on the market. First, I’m going to explain the main features of RAM, then how to choose the most suitable ones for AMD processors. At a fairly low cost you can find excellent options, perhaps giving up some optional extras, such as the integrated heatsink.
If you are a complete newcomer to the field, fear not: there are actually a few, but very important things to keep in mind when purchasing a RAM. All you have to do now is dedicate 10 minutes of your precious time to reading this guide. In addition to illustrating the various features and peculiarities of RAM banks, I will also recommend some of the best alternatives on the market for Ryzen CPUs. Having said that, I just have to wish you a good read!
Index
- How to choose a RAM for AMD Ryzen
- RAM capacity
- DDR generation
- Frequency and latency
- Dual Channel, Triple Channel, Quad Channel
- How to check RAM compatibility with AMD Ryzen
- Best RAM for Ryzen
- Best RAM for Ryzen 2000 series
- Best RAM for Ryzen 3000 series and above
How to choose a RAM for AMD Ryzen
In the next paragraphs I will illustrate some of the most important features to consider when buying a RAM bank. You must know that each RAM has clear parameters that indicate its performance, the type of operation and compatibility with motherboards: here are the most important ones.
RAM capacity
For RAM capacity is defined as the amount of memory, usually expressed in GB, which is available at a single module. As for the medium-high- end PCs, oriented to gaming or multitasking, with programs such as multimedia editors, I suggest you refer to a minimum 8 GB RAM configuration, but really minimum, much better 16 GB or, if you can, even 32 GB.
Each single module has a memory value in GB indicated on it which, if your motherboard has multiple RAM slots, must be added to that of the other modules you will install. So, for example, two 8GB RAM modules will give your PC 16GB RAM.
You can check the feasibility of this operation in the characteristics of your motherboard if it is enabled for installing multiple modules and managing them. In any case, you can also rely on a single module, but even then I recommend that you check the maximum range supported by your motherboard.
The RAM capacity does not affect the speed of the same, but concerns the possibility of managing multiple programs open simultaneously on your PC, or programs that require a large amount of memory to function correctly (typically those of multimedia editing, those of design 3D the video games.
For this reason, in choosing the correct RAM, I suggest you also take a look at the minimum requirements required by the programs that you will use most frequently on your new PC. For a non-intensive use, with basic programs such as the Office package, the browser and other small programs, even 8 GB of RAM can be for you.
DDR generation
Regarding the abbreviation DDR, in RAM, we mean the double data rate (double data speed), that is a feature that differentiates the latest generation RAM from the SDR (single data rate) ones, now very dated, based on the speed of data transmission.
This type of standard is now widespread through RAM with DDR3 and DDR4, or RAM with very high transfer speeds, despite the very competitive price. Obviously, RAMs with DDR3 standards have construction characteristics different from those with DDR4 and are generally slower and less performing, although cheaper.
My advice, when possible, is to rely on DDR4 standard RAM banks, as they guarantee compatibility with the most modern motherboards and allow you to upgrade your PC components in the future while maintaining the same RAM modules.
In 2020, new RAM models with DDR5 standards have been announced, but they are not yet on the market, so I will not deal with them here (I will update the guide as soon as available).
Frequency and latency
The main method to “measure” the speed of a RAM concerns the values related to the frequency and latency of the same. By RAM speed, we mean, trivially, the opening speed of a program and the responsiveness of the commands.
The frequency is expressed in MHz and refers to the speed of data movement within the memory, which translates into a greater speed in carrying out the tasks that the PC reserves, precisely, for the RAM. The higher the frequency, the faster a RAM is to perform operations within programs already open.
You can mount different frequency RAM modules within the same PC, but these will work at the same frequency as the slower RAM. The frequency you see written on the RAM usually ranges from 800 to 2133 MHz for DDR3 RAM and from 1600 to 4133 MHz for DDR4.
Each motherboard, however, has indicated in the construction characteristics the maximum frequency of RAM that can be installed on it. The motherboards compatible with AMD, generally, are those B450, X370, X470 and X570, which, depending on the price range, can support RAM up to 4133 MHz.
Often, the frequency reported by RAM manufacturers coincides with the maximum frequency that can be reached by them and not with the actual working frequency when they are installed. I recommend that you take a look at my tutorial on how to overclock RAM in order to reach the advertised frequencies.
The latency, however, refers to the speed at which the RAM reacts to an input (trivially, the time that elapses between the click of the mouse and the ‘ opening of the program ). The higher the latency, the less responsive the RAM is. For this, it is recommended, rather than taking RAM with a very high frequency, but with latency beyond measure, to refer to RAM with low latency and an average frequency.
Latency is indicated by the abbreviation CL and is expressed by numbers that can range from 12 to 22. In short, a RAM with a latency of CL14, but with a frequency of 3000 MHz, could have a greater capacity to react than a RAM with a latency of CL18 and a frequency of 3200 MHz, offering, for example, a greater speed in opening the programs.
Dual Channel, Triple Channel, Quad Channel
The physical module on which the RAM is to be installed is made up of several vertical slots on the motherboard. Some motherboards offer up to 4 RAM installation slots, which can communicate with each other in a synchronized manner.
In this way, the data transmission speed between two, three or four different RAM banks can even quadruple, depending on the transmission channels present on the motherboard. For this, it is advisable to buy two or more banks of RAM as opposed to only one with very large capacity.
For Dual Channel, we mean that on two slots of the motherboard, if you install RAM compatible with this type of technology (you always find it among the advertised features), the data transmission speed will be doubled.
RAM with Triple and Quad Channel technology, consequently, have tripled or quadrupled speed when 3 or 4 modules are installed in motherboard slots compatible with this technology. Usually, it is used to buy two banks of Dual Channel RAM, connected to the motherboard on the second and fourth slots (which are normally reserved for Dual Channel transmissions ).
How to check RAM compatibility with AMD Ryzen
To check RAM compatibility with AMD Ryzen processors (in case you want to find out, for example which are the best RAM for the Ryzen 3600 or the best RAM for the Ryzen 5600 x ), the site of AMD has a section dedicated to this.
Go, therefore, to the Ryzen Compatible Memory List section, browse the menu that appeared on the screen to identify the various compatible RAM models.
Then click on the Tier drop-down menu, in order to categorize the RAMs according to their compatibility with Ryzen 2000 Series and Higher ( best RAM for Ryzen 2000 and higher) and Ryzen 3000 Series and Higher ( best RAM for Ryzen 3000 and superior).
Furthermore, you can catalog the RAM by Brand (brand) and by the frequency at which they work, through the XMP Timings menu, which shows the maximum frequency values of the various RAMs. Finally, click on the blue links under the Name column to open the manufacturer’s website and analyze the characteristics of one of the compatible RAMs.
Best RAM for Ryzen
Now that you have a clear understanding of the features to prioritize when purchasing a bank of RAM for Ryzen, I will go to propose the best solutions depending on the series of Ryzen CPUs. The 2000 series ones came out a few years ago and support up to DDR4 memory at max 2933 MHz. The 3000 series CPUs and the latest 5000 series CPUs, on the other hand, support DDR4 memories up to over 4133 MHz, although the maximum frequency that I recommend you to consider is a maximum of 3600 MHz, as the differences beyond this value are really noticeable little in daily use.
Best RAM for Ryzen 2000 series
Now that you have clear which features to prioritize when buying, I’m going to propose some solutions for the AMD Ryzen 2000 series.
G.Skill Aegis F4 3000 MHz DDR4 CL16
In case you need to buy a single 8 GB RAM bank, for a PC on which you still want to run some game or editing program, I suggest you rely on G.Skill Aegis F4. This memory has decent latency at 16 and a frequency of 3000 MHz which, if not overclocked, remains at 2133 MHz, fully compatible with Ryzen 2000 CPUs. The price is low, but the heatsink is absent. Also present is the offer with two 8 GB RAM banks each.
G.Skill Aegis F4-3000C16S-8GISB 8 GB RAM memory, DDR4, 3000 MHz, C …
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GSkill F4-3000C16D-16GISB 16 GB RAM memory, (2 x 8 GB) DDR4, 3000 …
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Crucial Ballistix 2666 MHz DDR4 CL16
The Crucial RAMs are a safety in terms of quality and in this 2666 MHz version with 16 latency they are perfect for Ryzen 2000 CPUs. The cost is not high and they have a heatsink. They are available in different sizes, colors and capacities, although it is recommended that you buy two 8GB for PCs that are aimed at gaming.
Crucial Ballistix BL2K8G26C16U4B 2666 MHz, DDR4, DRAM, Gaming Memory …
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Crucial Ballistix BL2K16G26C16U4B 2666 MHz, DDR4, DRAM, Gaming Memory …
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HyperX FURY Black 2666 MHz DDR4 CL16
This memory bank are accessible at a very competitive price and enjoy the quality typical of HyperX products. Latency at 16 and 2666 MHz make them optimal for gaming and work sessions with professional graphics software. Also available in 4 RAM kits.
HyperX FURY Black HX426C16FB3K2 / 16 Memory 16GB Kit (2x8GB), 2666MHz D …
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HyperX FURY Black HX426C16FB3K4 / 32 Memory 32GB, Kit (4x8GB), 2666MHz …
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HyperX Predator 2666 MHz DDR4 CL13
In the slightly higher price range, we find the HyperX Predator from 2666 MHz and a very interesting latency by 13. Indicated for gaming, these RAMs do not have great aesthetic characteristics, but they are perfect for Ryzen 2000 CPUs and above.
HyperX Predator HX426C13PB3 / 16 Memory Modules 2666MHz DDR4 CL13 DIM …
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HyperX Predator HX426C13PB3K2 / 16 Memory Modules 2666MHz DDR4 CL13 D …
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Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 2933 MHz DDR4 CL16
Corsair RAMs are among the best on the market and this 2933 MHz and 16 latency version are suitable for those who want to give a nice aesthetic touch to their PC. In fact, they feature a heatsink with LED light, which can be coordinated with other Corsair RGB components.
Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 2933MHz C16 XMP 2.0 Kit …
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Best RAM for Ryzen 3000 series and above
The AMD Ryzen 3000 and 5000 series CPUs are characterized by support for practically all the frequencies of every DDR4 RAM on the market. For this, the choice of the most suitable RAM is much wider and allows you to choose even very expensive solutions.
Crucial Ballistix 3200MHz DDR4 CL16
This version of the Crucial Ballistix , with a very attractive design, are perfect for those looking for RAM for gaming and for work at very competitive prices and with interesting features. The 3200 MHz combined with a latency of 16, in fact, make these RAM recommended for those who want to assemble a medium-high-end PC (present cuts up to 32 GB per module) with an eye to aesthetics, thanks to the red or white color.
Crucial Ballistix BL2K8G32C16U4R 3200 MHz, DDR4, DRAM, Gaming Memory …
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Crucial Ballistix BL2K8G32C16U4W 3200 MHz, DDR4, DRAM, Gaming Memory …
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Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200 MHz DDR4 CL16
From the 3200 MHz frequency to the 16 frequency, these RAMs allow you to use your PC for gaming and work in all simplicity and offer full compatibility with the latest Ryzen CPUs released on the market. The cost is low, despite the characteristics up to it.
Corsair Vengeance LPX High Performance Desktop Memory, 16 GB …
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Corsair Vengeance LPX High Performance Desktop Memory, 32 GB …
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Patriot Viper Steel 4133 MHz DDR4 CL19
With these RAM, Patriot tries to offer a really extreme frequency, going up to 4133 MHz, with an acceptable latency at 19. Be careful, as not all motherboards support RAM modules with such high frequencies and the same goes for your Ryzen CPU model.
Patriot Viper Steel RAM DDR4 4133 Mhz 16GB (2x8GB) C19 Memory Kit …
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Patriot Viper Steel RAM DDR4 3600 Mhz 32GB (2x16GB) C18 Memory Kit …
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Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 3600 MHz DDR4 CL18
With a fairly high price, these RAMs are optimized for AMD systems and guarantee an excellent frequency at 3600 MHz, at the expense of a latency of 18. Also recommended for those with an eye for aesthetics, as they have a nice RGB heatsink.
CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB 16GB (2x8GB) DDR Desktop Memory Kit …
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Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB High Performance Desktop Memory Kit …
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G.Skill Trident Z F4 3600 MHz DDR4 CL16
This version of G.Skill Trident Z represents one of the best combinations in terms of frequency and latency ratio, with a very competitive price. 3600 MHz with latency at 16 is more than enough for high-end PCs, with Ryzen CPUs also in the 5000 series.
G.Skill Trident Z F4-3600C16D-16GTZNC-memory 16 GB 2 x 8 GB DDR4 3600 …
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G.Skill Memory module F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR …
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Crucial Ballistix RGB 3600 MHz DDR4 CL16
Crucial is positioned in the top of the range with these RAMs with a frequency of 3600 MHz, latency from 16, up to 64 GB of capacity divided into two modules of 32 GB each, RGB heatsink and three different types of color. They are RAM suitable for those who do not mind expenses and want to ensure the best there is on the market.