Best DDR3 and DDR4 RAM For Gaming – 2023 Guide

1. Corsair Vengeance

Clocking in at a decent 1600MHz, the Corsair Vengeance is available in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB. It features a built-in aluminum heatsink for dedicated cooling that works well to keep it chill and running well.

It’s configured out of the box to be compatible with most motherboards and can be safely overclocked. The Vengeance is a good, solid entry-level RAM upgrade, and features a limited lifetime warranty.

Corsair has a good track record with its products and performance satisfaction, and the Vengeance would make an excellent addition to any gamer’s system.

2. G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series

For those who find 1600MHz a little on the slow side, the G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series offers 2400MHz of speed for your gaming pleasure. While the price is steeper than the Corsair Vengeance, the Pro Series is available in 16GB and 32GB and offers serious RAM capability for the buck.

The Pro Series features the aluminum heat sink technology and XMP overclocking ability that have become synonymous with Corsair products. And they’re available in multiple colors to boot, allowing you to match your motherboard’s scheme.

It is a good, solid, mid-range gaming DDR3 memory unit that will have your computer singing.

3. Ripjaws 8 GB RAM

Delivered from the production lines of GSkill, the Ripjaws DDR3 memory core lies somewhere between the Corsair Vengeance and the Pro Series in price. Coming in at 1600MHz, it’s not a real contest with the aforementioned Pro Series, but still compares reasonably well to the regular Vengeance line.

This is offered in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB configurations, so you can choose the amount of memory you desire. While out of the box it will likely show a speed in the range of 1300MHz, it’s safely overclocked to 1600MHz with an easy modification of the XMP settings. Although it’s a capable memory unit, this DDR3 offers negligible difference over the Vengeance with regards to performance and is priced higher at the 16GB level. 

A capable memory core it may be, but it offers less value compared to the Vengeance.

4. Kingston Hyper X Fury

Kingston’s Hyper X Fury DDR3 memory core offers a plethora of features for the price. Available in a host of colors from black, blue, red, or white, it’ll easily complement the color scheme of your computer and provide a memory speed burst to match.

Offering a unique heat spreader system to keep it running at the proper temperature, the Fury sets the standard for ease of installation, as well as overclocking ability. It’s rated at 1866MHz in standard configuration, making it an excellent deal in comparison to the Corsair Vengeance.

The Fury comes in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB flavors, at a price that won’t make a huge dent in your wallet, offering excellent value for the cost. So if you’re looking for an extra burst of speed for the price, the Kingston Hyper X Fury makes for an excellent buy.

5. Patriot Viper 3 Series: Black Mamba

The Black Mamba, part of the Patriot brand's Viper 3 series, is a DDR3 stick with a beautiful design that encases a very powerful stick of RAM.

Coming in packs of two at an affordable price around the $50 dollar mark, you get two sticks of eight GB of DDR3 RAM. This memory will provide you with faster and smoother operation of your computer, as well as helps to enhance graphical capabilities for many of today's video games. This graphical capability is further enhanced with the capability of the Black Mamba to overclock your games using XMP 1.3, giving your games high and smooth FPS with no lag.

The Black Mamba is a DDR3 that will be able to fit into any build no matter the user's chosen chip set. As long as the processor of your choice is compatible with DDR3 memory, both AMD and Intel builds will be able to run smoothly with the Black Mamba. That said, this product really shines when used in combination with Intel 6, 7, and 8, as well as AMD 9 and FM, helping to give your computer high-speed, smooth performance.

The Patriot Viper 3 Series Black Mamba is also a very simple piece of hardware to install, with simple plug-and-play capabilities both those new to building computers and people that have been doing it for years will love. Finally, to top it off is the heat distribution of the Mamba, which allows the hardware to stay cool and keeps your computer in perfect condition.

6. Timetec Hynix IC 8GB DDR3 RAM

While not as pretty to look at as some of its contemporaries, the Timetec Hynix is a pretty good piece of hardware in its own right, providing those building their computer with plenty of power for their unit.

The Hynix is a solo eight GB stick of DDR3 RAM designed to run on a low 1.5-volt power supply. This is a good way to power your gaming build without shorting anything out or running up your electricity bill. While the Hynix is not compatible with every build you find out there, there are plenty of brands that support the product including Intel, Acer, and MSI, among others.

Installation of the Hynix is easy as it comes, with plug-and-play compatibility with a number of motherboards. This will allow you to quickly get the most out of your RAM, which will help to provide your computer with as smooth and fast of an experience as you can get without overclocking. Should the worst happen and you find the Hynix malfunctioning, the product comes with a lifetime warranty, which allows you to easily replace the Hynix if need be.

As simple as they come, the Timetec Hynix comes with a price point in the $40 dollar range, which will allow you to build on a budget, and gives you a great DDR3 RAM stick for a low price point. While not as advanced as some other DDR3, the Hynix will give most users exactly what they are looking for in RAM for their computer.

 Crucial Ballistix Tactical

One of the few DDR3 memory cores designed primarily for gaming enthusiasts, the Crucial Ballistix Tactical series is a 1600MHz offering with a lot going for it. While lacking a color scheme choice (it comes in a bright yellow color), it may be nothing much to look at, but has it where it counts when it comes to performance.

It features a limited lifetime warranty, which is a telling mark when it comes to performance and durability. It also offers a range of options based on your memory needs. Unfortunately, it’s double the price of the Ripjaws memory at the 32GB level, making it not worth the extra cost, as both units compare favorably.

 Crucial Ballistix Sport

For the budget conscious, the Crucial Ballistix Sport stakes a claim in the low-end DDR3 module niche. Offering ease of installation and overclocking ability, the Ballistix Sport line boasts a legion of dedicated users.

Much like the Tactical series, this DDR3 memory unit offers a limited lifetime warranty and supports XMP for advanced tinkering under the hood. While this line maxes out at 16GB, it’s an excellent option for those looking to upgrade their RAM at a lower cost.

Even though it lacks the performance of its sibling, the Ballistix Tactical, the Sport line offers great memory capacity for the price. Additionally, it’s one of those memory cores that just works out of the box, with exceptional system recognizability from the get-go. Overall, it’s a great DDR3 setup, considering the price.

1. Crucial

The basic Crucial line of DDR4 RAM tends to be the exception to the rule when it comes to the price of bargain-basement RAM modules, and unfortunately, it shows in its performance.

Offering a mere 2133MHz to 2400MHz of memory speed to the mix, this series is good only for those looking for reduced power usage when speed is not an issue. Indeed, the speed range is comparable to higher-end DDR3 modules, so the benefits are negligible.

Still, it’s relatively cheap. However, its lack of performance compared to other RAM sets pretty well negates the value of having DDR4 in the first place, so the prospective buyer should beware.

2. ADATA XPG

Another lower-speed offering on the market, ADATA’s XPG line sacrifices processing speed for overall performance. Clocking in at 2400MHz for the smaller end units and ranging upwards to 2800MHz, it can’t match others in the MHz department.

However, the XPG does perform remarkably well despite these limitations. ADATA claims they use the highest standards in manufacturing the ten-layered printed circuit boards, allowing for higher performance than comparable units. Its well-designed heat spreader is especially efficient, allowing for a mere power usage of only 1.2V, the lowest of any of the RAM sets profiled here.

It’s also visually attractive, featuring a strikingly angled shape bathed in red. However, it is a lot of money for less speed, but hardcore gamers swear by its incredible performance and durability. If you’re a serious gamer and want to stretch your DDR4 performance to the max, and you have the cash to burn, then the ADATA XPG series is worth the money.

3. G.Skill RipJaw DDR4

G-Skill's products always have a tendency to have a very unique look to them, and the same is true with the G-Skill Ripjaw, which sports a vibrant red outer shell that is sure to catch the eye of most computer builders right out of the box. While this shell looks great, it also does a hell of a job distributing heat and keeping the temp of your DDR4 low.

This shell houses a 288-pin DDR4 2400 speed ram with eight GB of memory, giving your computer's performance the boost that you are looking for. From apps to videos and games, everything will run on your computer a little bit smoother.

The Ripjaw is compatible with most processors and motherboards you will find, however, due to the size, some smaller boards may have some issues seating the DDR4 RAM comfortably. The positive is that if the Ripjaw fits into your gaming rig, you will be provided with some top-of-the-line gaming experience, with low latency from the RAM and the ability to overclock into some of the smoothest gaming you can likely find anywhere.

The Ripjaw uses low 1.2-volt power, which will help you to keep the power consumption of your computer low, which, in turn, can help to prevent short circuiting and overheating. This combination of power and efficiency help to make the beast that is the G-Skill Ripjaw one of the best DDR4 RAMs you can buy.

4. Corsair Value Select 8 GB RAM

Corsair is a brand that brings with it some of the best computer products you can find, as is the case with their eight GB DDR4 RAM offering, the Value Select. The name is appropriate as well, as the Value Select gives you all the great DDR4 performance without the DDR4 price.

For what you pay, you get a 2133 MHz DIMM RAM designed with nearly every kind of computer user in mind. From gamers looking for the highest gaming frame rates to those looking to just get through the creation of a presentation for work, the Value Select was created to strike a balance that provides smooth operation in both the gaming and non-gaming worlds of computer use. This design allows it to also be compatible with most motherboard models, allowing you to incorporate the Value Select in any build you are designing.

While there are no overclocking capabilities to speak of with the Value Select, it does give users enough bang for their buck to give a smooth gaming experience. Should misfortune befall your Value Select RAM, the unit does come with a lifetime warranty that should cover any and all unforeseen circumstances.

It may not be the biggest dog in the fight, but it does have one hell of a bite. No matter if you are someone who is building a computer for gaming or business, the Corsair Value Select will be able to give you what you need.

PNY Anarchy

The price range of DDR4 is telling in that even the decent budget-level will still set you back a good amount. In this case, the PNY Anarchy series offers a suite of features for the price.

With 2400MHz of memory processing speed and overclocking ability to a built-in heat spreader and two color options, the PNY Anarchy delivers great value for the cost. What really sets this line apart from others is its lower power usage, operating with a 20% lower power consumption than comparable DDR3 modules.

It’s probably one of the better low-end units on the market, despite the fact that there are faster RAM blocks available. For those who’re looking for RAM that’s going to take you to the next level, check out the Anarchy Series.

 Corsair Dominator Platinum

Ranging from 3000MHz to 3200MHz depending on the configuration, the Corsair Dominator Platinum series delivers excellent memory speed at a competitive price.

While it is pricier than G.Skill’s Trident Z, Corsair, it comes with the added benefit of Corsair’s higher name value. The Platinum series is truly designed with gamers and high-performance users in mind, specifically with its DHX cooling system capable of handling virtually any environment.

While there is no color palette on offer, it does feature the ability to add a light bar kit to incorporate LED lighting into it. Looks, performance, durability, and speed are all hallmarks of the Corsair line, and the Dominator Platinum DDR4 series is a worthy addition.

 G.Skill Trident Z

Offering a whopping 3200MHz out of the box, with the ability to overclock up to 3733MHz, the G.Skill Trident Z series offers superior RAM performance. This product is perfect for serious gamers, giving you the opportunity to play with the big boys.

The onboard heat spreader keeps the RAM blocks cool while operating at top speed, and offers a great deal of power when used on a supporting CPU motherboard. It doesn’t come cheaply, but it’s definitely worth the price for the serious gamer.

The power configuration sucks up 1.35V of power, lower than comparable DDR3 RAM blocks, but higher than the low-end PNY Anarchy. All in all, the G.Skill Trident Z line will supercharge your system and let you play at the highest levels.

 Crucial Ballistix Sport (DDR4 Version)

While an upgrade on the basic Crucial line, the Ballistix Sport series still operates at a slightly lower level in comparison to other DDR4 offerings. The speed is good – 3000MHz with overclocking possible up to 3200MHz, but where this unit does shine is in its lower power signature than comparable RAM blocks.

Like the G.Skill Trident Z, it uses only 1.35V of power, ideal for high-performance, energy-sucking systems. The cost for this is lower than other higher-end RAM, but unfortunately, it isn’t quite up to those same performance specs.

While it does offer better overall performance than it’s cheaper sibling the basic Crucial line, the Ballistix Sport series can easily be overlooked for better products.

 Viper Elite: Extreme Performance

DDR4 RAM designed for gaming purposes doesn't come much better than the Viper, a Patriot brand product. This is apparent right out of the box for this DDR4, as you will see a custom designed, beautiful plating on the product, which is designed to help keep the temperatures low on your computer, to prevent overheating.

Using XMP 2.0 technology, the Viper can easily be overclocked, giving gamers the smooth, seamless gaming they have been dreaming of. This is great when used with new, high-end motherboards (which the Viper is compatible with), as it will give you a gaming experience that will make your friends jealous.

Going the extra mile, the folks at Patriot hand-test all the ICs used with the Viper. This helps to ensure that each unit is able to operate effectively off of its 1.5 volt currency. This, in turn, helps with the longevity of the Viper, meaning you won't be needing to replace this DDR4 RAM anytime soon. These products also come in packages of two, giving you two lanes for your memory and keeping your computer running fast.

We can not speak highly enough of the Patriot Viper, as it is one of the best all-around DDR4 RAM you are likely to find. Should you want something that is certain to work out of the box, can protect itself while in operation, and provides unparalleled gaming, look no further than the Patriot Viper.

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