Best RAM For Ryzen 5000 (Zen 3) Series CPUs: 5950X, 5900X, 5800X, 5600X
With RAM having a huge impact on AMD processors, we take a closer look at today's market to try and find the best RAM for Ryzen 5000 series CPUs
At long last, the wait for AMD’s highly-anticipated Ryzen 5000 series CPU lineup is almost over. The new lineup is set to launch on the 5th of November and has consumers hyped thanks to a massive leap in performance when compared to last gen’s 3000 series predecessors.
One of the big improvements when comparing Zen 3 to Zen 2, apart from their increased clock speed and improved architecture, is the performance gains found when pairing them with faster RAM.
RAM is your PC’s physical memory. It stores essential data used by open applications and tasks that can be rapidly accessed by the CPU at any time and in any order. For all intents and purposes, having faster RAM usually translates to quicker processing performance.
That said, AMD has announced an increase in RAM speed compatibility for the latest Zen 3 architecture, improving on last gen’s 3800MHz sweet spot. AMD now suggests that 4000MHz is the sweet spot for Zen 3, meaning even quicker processing time and higher levels of overclocking headroom.
With that in mind, and thanks to an increase in online debate, we’re going to be finding the best RAM for Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. We’ll be considering price, performance, aesthetics, and latency as we go, ensuring that only informed and value products are selected.
So, with plenty to get through, let’s waste no further time and dive into it!
Our Top Picks
Best RAM For Ryzen 5000
In-depth Review
G.Skill TridentZ RGB 4000MHz
G.Skill TridentZ RGB 4000MHz
We’ve been impressed by the quality and performance of G.Skill’s RAM over the years, with their TridentZ RGB being up there with the best of the bunch. For me, the TridentZ RGB is the perfect balance between performance, aesthetics, and price – albeit slightly on the higher side of the pricing spectrum. We’ve given the TridentZ RGB 4000MHz our editor’s choice award and for good reason – it really does tick all the right boxes when it comes to Ryzen 5000 series CPUs.
Aesthetically, this RAM kit might be some of the best on the market, bringing a sharp, stylish look to the table that is accentuated by tasteful RGB. The heatsink has been well considered and does a superb job of mitigating heat when the memory is being used to its maximum capacity. The build quality is also a key reason why this RAM gets our top spot in this guide, it feels absolutely rock solid and fit to stand the test of time.
Aesthetics and build aside, more importantly, the G.Skill TridentZ RGB offers up excellent performance whether you’re gaming or performing productivity workflows. The fast 4000MHz clock speed is the ideal sweet spot for the new CPUs, allowing the processor to reach its maximum potential during heavy loads.
CAS latency is very good for RAM of this speed, coming in at 18-19-19-39 respectively. Whilst out of the box timings are decent, you do have the opportunity to overclock both the clock frequency and timings a little. That said, you probably won’t get a tonne of extra performance by doing so – still, it’s certainly more than other, less flexible RAM offerings.
Overall, a top-end RAM kit that gets nothing but praise from us.
G.Skill Trident Z Royal
G.Skill Trident Z Royal
Next up we have our enthusiast pick, the G.Skill Trident Z Royal RGB. Despite this RAM kit looking a bit tacky and cheap, the same can not be said for the performance it provides – or the price tag it comes equipped with. This is one of the most expensive RAM kits on the market and for good reason.
G.Skill has well and truly pushed the boat out as far as design is concerned, opting for a bling look that is arguably going out of fashion quicker than socks and sandals. That being said, when put into a build that offers eye-catching aesthetics, I feel it looks pretty nice – albeit unique. As with the Editor’s choice, the Trident Z Royal offers an efficient heatsink and very good build quality – both of which are expected at this eye-watering price point.
From a performance standpoint, this RAM outperforms the other recommendations with ease. The 2 x 8GB sticks come equipped with a 4800MHz clock frequency, higher than any other in this guide. With a clock frequency this high, you’d probably expect more sluggish timings – however, that’s not the case. The Trident Royal offers the same CAS latency as the Trident Z 4000MHz RAM, effectively making it much sharper when it comes to accessing data.
If you’re in the market for an eye-catching RAM kit that provides high-end performance, then look no further. G.Skill have you covered.
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 4000MHz
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 4000MHz
Corsair has been a fan-favorite for some years now, providing the market with some of the best price-to-performance RAM kits you’ll find. Their Vengeance RGB Pro seriously is a step up in class over their popular Vengeance LPX series, providing higher clock frequencies and greater heat dissipation respectively. Corsair has given their PRO edition a tasteful RGB zone which is extremely vibrant when in use. Alongside this sits a very efficient heatsink that not only does a great job of mitigating heat but also feels very robust as well.
From a performance standpoint, 4000MHz is the sweet spot for AMD’s latest Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. It allows the high-end CPUs to operate at their maximum potential, all the while giving you a tonne of overclocking headroom if you want to tighten the timings or boost the clock frequency. Performance aside, the best feature of this RAM kit has to be the value. Whilst it’s not the cheapest kit in this guide, it certainly offers some of the best value.
If you’re looking for a great all-round RAM kit that is excellent value for money, Corsair’s Vengeance RGB Pro should be high on your list of considerations.
Thermaltake TOUGHRAM RGB DDR4 4000MHz
Thermaltake TOUGHRAM RGB DDR4 4000MHz
Toughram is quickly becoming a favorite amongst PC builders and gamers alike. Thermaltake have been offering this particular brand of RAM kit for some time now, bringing great performance and value to the table – not to mention exceptional RGB. With a ton of RGB customization to choose from (thanks to the TOUGHRAM user software) and solid build components, it’s easy to see why this RAM is quickly gathering a fan following.
Taking a look at performance briefly, the Toughram comes to the table boasting a 4000MHz clock frequency and a CAS latency of 19. Whilst this isn’t the best in this guide, it still offers rapid performance in both gaming and workflow type situations. Thermaltake have further fitted this RAM kit with an extremely efficient heatsink, offering low temps throughout the entirety of its usage.
As far as value goes, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything better than this particular RAM kit.
Patriot Viper Steel Series DDR4 16GB 4000MHz
Patriot Viper Steel Series DDR4 16GB 4000MHz
Last but not least, we have the Patriot Viper Steel RAM kit. Despite this being the cheapest RAM in this guide, it still comes to the table with great performance for both gaming and productivity workflows alike. Once again, this RAM kit comes to the table with a 4000MHz clock frequency and modest timings of 19-19-19-39. Again, whilst this isn’t the best, you do have the option to squeeze a little extra out of it by adjusting the timings slightly.
Unlike the other RAM modules in this guide, the Patriot Viper Steel set does not offer any RGB whatsoever. That said, the design of these RAM kits is by no means ugly. The heatsink comes with a gamey aesthetic that doesn’t look terrible by any means – albeit not premium either.
The main draw for this RAM kit has to be its value. It is by far the cheapest in this guide and still offers great performance across both gaming and workflow tasks. If you want a decent kit of RAM that isn’t going to break the bank, look no further.
Final Word
So, there you have it guys, our comprehensive guide to the best RAM for Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. We hope this guide has not only made choosing your next RAM kit that bit easier, but more informed as well. At the end of the day, there are a tonne of RAM kits to choose from right now, making the purchasing process that little bit more difficult – especially if you want to get the best value for money.
That said, all the RAM kits we feature have been tried and tested for quality and performance. We are more than confident in recommending these as the best RAM for Ryzen 5000 CPUs right now.
If you have any questions regarding Ryzen 5000 series CPUs or RAM, feel free to drop us a comment in the section below. Better still, why not head on over to our Community Hub where you can discuss everything Ryzen 5000 series related with like-minded individuals.