Are you putting together a gaming rig or an office PC (you’ll still need speed for productivity) and you need some help selecting the right ram kits? There are very few places on the net as thorough and in -depth as Tom’s Hardware. They just released there their list of the best ram chips for anybody to peruse from PC gaming enthusiast to those wanting the best hardware they can afford.
What the list is: Tom’s tested dozens of DDR5 and DDR4 kits on modern Intel and AMD platforms, ranked by a composite (geometric mean) performance score across gaming and productivity. Their tables are split by CPU brand (Intel/AMD) and by common capacities (32GB, 48GB, 64GB, 96GB, 128GB, 192GB). Tom’s Hardware
Quick buying cues
- Intel + DDR5 “go-fast” kits: Intel’s memory controller and board ecosystem let very high data rates stretch their legs; Tom’s top 48GB results include G.Skill Trident Z5 CK DDR5-8800 and Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5-8400, both scoring in the mid-5600s—ideal for enthusiasts chasing peak FPS and CPU-sensitive workloads. Tom’s Hardware
- AMD + DDR5 sweet spot: AM5 likes DDR5-6000 to 6400 with tight timings. Top AMD 32GB/48GB kits cluster there (e.g., G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5-6400, TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem DDR5-7200 for larger capacities), making them strong “plug-and-play” performers with EXPO.
- Still on DDR4? Tom’s also ranks DDR4 leaders for Intel and AMD: high-bin 3600–4000 MT/s kits with tight CAS (e.g., TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB, G.Skill Trident Z Neo/Royal) continue to top the charts for legacy platforms. Budget-friendly options like GeIL Orion and PNY XLR8 score well too.
Standout picks by segment
Enthusiast performance (chasing the absolute fastest)
- Intel, DDR5, 48GB:
- G.Skill Trident Z5 CK (DDR5-8800, 42-55-55) and Corsair Vengeance RGB (DDR5-8400, 40-52-52) sit among the very fastest by score—built for max headroom on high-end Z890 boards.
- Intel, DDR5, 64GB:
- G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB (DDR5-6400, 32-39-39) leads with one of the highest composite scores in this capacity class; Corsair Dominator Titanium (DDR5-6600) is right on its heels.
- AMD, DDR5, 48–96GB:
- TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem (DDR5-7200, 34-42-42) headlines the 48GB class for AM5; G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB (DDR5-6000, 26-36-36) is a top 96GB pick tuned for AMD’s preferred range.
Sweet-spot gaming & creation (most users)
- Intel, DDR5, 32GB:
- Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB / Crucial Pro Overclocking / G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB (all DDR5-6400) are clustered at the top—great value/perf with simple XMP.
- AMD, DDR5, 32GB:
- G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB (DDR5-6400), Klevv Cras V RGB (DDR5-6400), and Crucial Pro Overclocking (DDR5-6400) post the strongest AMD 32GB results—EXPO/XMP hybrids make setup straightforward.
High-capacity creators (128–192GB)
- Intel, DDR5, 128–192GB:
- V-Color Manta Xfinity (DDR5-6400, 2×64GB) tops the 128GB list; Biwin Black Opal DW100 (DDR5-6000, 4×48GB) leads 192GB. These kits trade absolute timings for capacity stability.
- AMD, DDR5, 192GB:
- Biwin Black Opal DW100 (DDR5-6000) leads the AM5 192GB chart; Corsair Vengeance (DDR5-5200) offers a more conservative option, prioritizing compatibility.
DDR4 leaders (best of the legacy platform)
- Intel, DDR4:
- 16–32GB classes see TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem ARGB, G.Skill Trident Z (Neo/Royal), Klevv Bolt XR and others topping scores at 3600–4000 MT/s with tight primaries. Budget lines like Patriot Viper, Silicon Power Xpower Zenith, and PNY XLR8 remain strong values.
- AMD, DDR4:
- G.Skill Trident Z Neo/Royal, Adata XPG Spectrix D60G/D50, and TeamGroup Xtreem dominate at 3600–4000 MT/s. Value picks include GeIL Orion, PNY XLR8, Silicon Power Xpower Zenith.
Platform notes & recommended speeds
- AMD AM5 (Ryzen 7000/9000): Official support is DDR5-5200 (Zen 4) and DDR5-5600 (Zen 5), but Tom’s results show great real-world outcomes with DDR5-6000–6400 EXPO/XMP kits—often the smartest “set it and forget it” choice.
- Intel (Arrow Lake & friends): Very high MT/s kits can run via Gear 2/Gear 4; expect small controller-ratio penalties at the extreme end. Many gamers will find DDR5-6400–7200 a balanced target, with higher speeds for benchmarkers.
How Tom’s tested (at a glance)
Tom’s ran Intel DDR5 on Core Ultra 9 285K + MSI MEG Z890 Unify-X, AMD DDR5 on Ryzen 9 9900X + MSI MPG X870E Carbon, with an RTX 4080 for gaming, and documented prior DDR4 testbeds (i9-10900K / Ryzen 9 5900X). Scores are the geometric mean across benchmarks to emphasize real performance over aesthetics/OC potential.
Tom’s Hardware chip breakdown
| Platform | Capacity | Target speed & timings | Example kits | Why this pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel (LGA1700/LGA1851), DDR5 | 32GB (2×16) | DDR5-6400–7200, CL30–36 | G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 6400/7200 (XMP); Corsair Dominator/Vengeance 6400–7200; Crucial Pro Overclocking 6400 | Best price/perf for gaming & creation; easy XMP, broad board support. |
| Intel (LGA1700/LGA1851), DDR5 | 48GB (2×24) | DDR5-7200–8000, CL34–40 | G.Skill Trident Z5 7600–8000; Corsair Vengeance 7200–8000 | Sweet spot for high-end Intel; great for heavy tabs + light creation. |
| Intel (LGA1700/LGA1851), DDR5 | 64GB (2×32) | DDR5-6400–7200, CL30–36 | G.Skill Trident Z5 6400; Corsair Dominator 6600–7200; Crucial Pro OC 6400 | “Do-everything” capacity; minimal tuning needed, strong composite scores. |
| Intel (enthusiast/benching) | 48–64GB | DDR5-7600–8400+, CL38–46 | G.Skill Trident Z5 7800–8200; Corsair Vengeance 7600–8400 | Chasing max FPS/benchmarks; expect gear-ratio tweaks and more tuning. |
| AMD AM5 (Ryzen 7000/9000), DDR5 | 32GB (2×16) | DDR5-6000–6400, CL28–36 | G.Skill Trident Z5/Neo 6000–6400 (EXPO); Crucial Pro EXPO 6000–6400; KLEVV/Kits w/ EXPO | AM5 sweet spot (1:1 FCLK/UCLK/MCLK comfort). “Set it & forget it.” |
| AMD AM5 (Ryzen 7000/9000), DDR5 | 48GB (2×24) | DDR5-6000–6400, CL30–36 | G.Skill Trident Z5/Neo 6000–6400 EXPO; TeamGroup T-Force 6000–6400 EXPO | Extra headroom for creator/multitaskers without leaving the sweet spot. |
| AMD AM5 (Ryzen 7000/9000), DDR5 (creator) | 96GB (2×48) / 128GB (2×64) | DDR5-5600–6000, CL30–38 | Corsair Vengeance 5600–6000 EXPO; V-Color / Crucial 5600–6000 | Prioritizes stability with big DIMMs; still strong real-world perf. |
| High-capacity (either platform) | 192GB (4×48) | DDR5-5600–6000 | Biwin 4×48GB 5600–6000; Corsair 5600 | For VMs, video, data sets; accept lower clocks for compatibility. |
| Budget DDR5 (either) | 32–64GB | DDR5-5600–6000, CL30–36 | Crucial Pro (standard/OC); Corsair Vengeance 5600–6000; TeamGroup T-Create | Most value per dollar; tiny real-world loss vs. 6400. |
| Legacy DDR4 (Intel/AM4) | 16–32GB | DDR4-3600–4000, CL14–18 (tight) | G.Skill Trident Z/Neo; TeamGroup Xtreem; Patriot Viper; PNY XLR8 | Still ideal for mature DDR4 rigs; prioritize tight timings over raw MHz. |
Bottom line
- Gamers & power users (most builds): Aim for 32–64GB DDR5-6400 with decent timings. Pick EXPO for AM5, XMP for Intel. Kits from G.Skill Trident Z5, Corsair Dominator/Vengeance, Crucial Pro Overclocking consistently land at the top.
- Enthusiasts / record-chasers: Step up to DDR5-7200–8800+ on Intel with proven boards and cooling. Expect diminishing returns and tuning effort.
- Budget / legacy systems: Quality DDR4-3600–4000 kits with tight CAS (TeamGroup/G.Skill/Patriot) remain the best play; cheaper GeIL/PNY/Silicon Power lines post competitive scores.
If you’d like, I can condense this into a one-screen recommendation chart for your site (e.g., “Best Intel 32/64GB,” “Best AMD 32/64GB,” “Best Budget DDR4/DDR5”), or tailor picks to your exact CPU and motherboard.
