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RAM. Huh. What is it good for? Absolutely everything.
Whether it’s simple web browsing, gaming, video editing, or anything in between the quantity and quality of your RAM is going to play a huge role in how enjoyable your experience is. It’s simultaneously one of the simplest and most crucial components of your PC.
But as simple as it may be, not all RAM is created equal, and a lot of that is down to who’s creating it. We set out to find the best RAM brands, letting you know who the top 5 RAM manufacturers in 2023 are.
Do Brands Matter For RAM?
Brand may not be as important to determining compatibility and performance as with some other components, but it still makes a difference when it comes to RAM. Certain key performance metrics can vary from brand to brand, as can the sizes and frequencies that the RAM modules come in.
Some lower-quality manufacturers can struggle to achieve good latency numbers, while higher-quality manufacturers will have good latency across their entire lineup. Also, some cheaper brands will only sell smaller kits of low-frequency RAM, which can limit your performance.
The other big difference among brands of RAM is construction. Most RAM modules have an external covering, usually made of aluminum, called a heat spreader. How well placed and constructed the heat spreader is, or if it’s made of plastic or other materials and not aluminum is going to affect the cooling potential of your RAM.
This may not be as much of an issue for casual users, but if you’ve got a more intense build, especially if you’re overclocking your components, you’re going to see a lot of difference from the cooling potential.
The difference in construction between brands can also come into play if you’re looking for LED-capable RAM. Higher-end brands will often have more LEDs, fewer hot spots in the led bar, and will have cleaner sync effects.
What Makes RAM Good?
When it comes to RAM, most people don’t look further than the size of the kit or the individual modules. To be fair, the quantity of RAM is going to be one of the biggest factors when it comes to picking out your RAM, and one that you don’t have to know a lot to get right.
Most users are going to get ideal performance with 16GB, and there are extremely few situations where you’ll need more than 32GB, so if you don’t have a lot of intense demands getting “good” RAM can be as simple as picking a good price on a 16GB kit.
If you want to dive a bit deeper, there are two big factors that determine the overall quality of your RAM: frequency and latency.
Frequency is the number of clock cycles per second, which are measured in MHz. The higher the RAM’s frequency the more operations it can perform per second, and the quicker your programs will load and respond. This means that a higher RAM frequency is better, but only up to a point.
If your RAM frequency is higher than your CPU clock rate then you’re not actually using any of the potential speed beyond that limit. You’ll have essentially spent money (sometimes a lot of money) on power that is more or less collecting dust. Some motherboards will also have limits on the frequency of RAM.
The other main factor and one that’s a little more complicated is latency. This is actually a collection of factors that measure the amount of time (measured by the number of cycles) it takes to complete basic core functions. These are expressed in a series of four numbers, with a smaller number being better across the board.
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The 5 Best RAM Brands in 2023
With all of this in mind, we’ve put together our list of what we consider the top 5 RAM manufacturers in 2023. These are all brands that offer quality, and consistent and reliable performance across their entire lineup.
There is also an extent to which personal preference and need come into play when selecting your RAM. The brands we’ve selected should all have the base level of performance you’ll need, and kits and modules in whatever size you need, so if you like the look of a brand or module we’ve placed a bit lower on the list, rest assured that you’re not going to be sacrificing performance in order to get it.
1. G.Skill
With RAM being such a basic component, and one that so many parts manufacturers make, it takes a special level of excellence and attention to be known for making RAM.
However, longtime industry staple G-Skill has managed exactly that. Their RAM modules consistently appear at the top of ranking lists and are always in stock at computer supply stores.
They haven’t grown complacent in their success either. Not only are their offerings powerful and reliable, but many of them are downright stylish.
On top of that, G.Skill also offers a limited lifetime warranty on all its RAM modules, which covers defects in both parts and manufacturing should the part break under regular use.
G.Skill Trident Z NEO
”Best Premium RAM from G.Skill”
Speeds Available: 2666MHz, 3000MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz, 3800MHz, 4000MHz
Kits Available: 2x8GB, 4x8GB, 8x8GB 2x16GB, 4x16GB, 8x16GB, 2x32GB, 4x32GB, 8x32GB
The Trident Z series is the crown jewel (literally in the case of the Royal and Royal Elite editions) of the G.Skill lineup. The version of the Trident Z you’re most likely to find in stock is the Trident Z Neo, their RGB-enabled module which is available in black, white, and silver. There are also non-RGB options available if you want something a bit subtler.
In addition, the Trident Z Lineup is available in kits ranging from what would be suitable for the casual consumer all the way up to commercial applications or custom builders. The series also offers a wide range of speeds and excellent latency, with some of the entries in their 3200MHz and 3600MHz range hitting peak possible latency.
For most of the lineup, the heat spreaders are brushed aluminum, which offers excellent cooling on their own, but are further augmented by fins that extend up over the top of the module.
The G.Skill Trident Z NEO is a perfect example of why G.Skill is currently, in our opinion, the best RAM manufacturer. It offers excellent performance, stunning aesthetics, reliability, and as we already mentioned, a lifetime warranty. The best part is G.Skill offers RAM kits for basically any budget, so whether you’re looking for a premium or budget RAM kit, you’ll have a large number of options to choose from.
G.Skill Aegis
”Best Budget RAM from G.Skill”
Speeds Available: 2133MHz, 2400MHz, 2666MHz, 2800MHz, 3000MHz, 3200MHz
Kits Available: 4GB, 2x4GB, 4x4GB, 8GB, 2x8GB, 4x8GB, 16GB, 2x16GB, 4x16GB
The G.Skill Aegis is simplicity itself. It doesn’t have the full encasing of the heat spreader you frequently see with many other RAM modules, so you may need to keep a closer eye on your internal temperature. The simpler construction does give this a lower profile, making it an ideal option for builds that are tight on space.
It doesn’t have as wide a range of available speeds as the Trident Z series, which might be a drawback if you’re running them with a more powerful CPU. Also, there is no 32GB module available, which is only going to be a drawback for heavy-duty professional users.
Gamers, streamers, and even most video editors and other creative professionals will be able to get the optimal use out of one of the kits the Aegis series is available in. If you don’t have too much space in your budget, and just simply looking for something with solid, reliable performance without RGB lighting, the G.Skill Aegis is the perfect RAM for you.
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2. Corsair
Corsair is one of the most prolific gaming brands currently on the market. Not content to sell just mice, keyboards, and headsets they moved on to computer components, including cases, coolers, power supplies, and for the purposes of our list, RAM.
The Corsair Vengeance series is a highly rated, incredibly well-performing brand. It’s not only powerful but will complement any gaming build. It’s one of the only two series of RAM that corsair makes, which despite all the great things we have to say about it, keeps Corsair from claiming the top spot on our list.
The Corsair warranty, like most RAM brands, protects your RAM from manufacturer defects for the lifetime of the product.
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro
”Best Premium RAM from Corsair”
Speeds Available: 2666MHz, 2933MHz, 3000MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz, 3800MHz, 4000MHz, 4266MHZ, 4600MHz
Kits Available: 8GB, 2x8GB, 4x8GB, 16GB, 2x16GB, 4x16GB, 2x32GB, 4x32GB, 8x32GB
The Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro, as you may have guessed, is the RGB version of Corsair’s finest and most popular RAM module. It’s available in black and white, and unlike many RGB RAM options, the lighting feels far from an afterthought.
As far as offerings in speed and latency, they’ll go toe to toe with anyone in the market, offering a wider range of speeds than G.Skill, and also hitting the current cap for DDR4 latency on several of their higher-performing modules.
Whatever speeds your processor is running at, you’ll be able to support them with these RAM modules, or if you’ve achieved higher speeds these are also compatible with overclocking.
The lack of a single channel 32GB kit, and the 8 channel 8GB and 16GB kits feels a bit asymmetrical at first thought but ultimately makes sense. 2x16GB is a better way to get 32GB of RAM, and 8-channel RAM setups are pretty much reserved for people who are maxing out the RAM in their build anyway.
Overall, the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro is a fantastic RAM module for high-end gaming. It offers maximum performance and reliability, attractive aesthetics, and bright, customizable RGB lighting. If you’re looking for a premium RAM kit to complement your high-performing rig, you simply cannot go wrong wit the Vengeance RGB Pro.
Corsair Vengeance LPX
”Best Budget RAM from Corsair”
Speeds Available: 2666MHz, 2933MHz, 3000MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz, 3800MHz, 4000MHz, 4266MHZ, 4600MHz
Kits Available: 8GB, 2x8GB, 4x8GB, 16GB, 2x16GB, 4x16GB, 2x32GB, 4x32GB, 8x32GB
The Corsair Vengeance LPX isn’t what we’d typically call a budget entry. Any reduction in price is purely down to the lack of LEDs compared to the RGB version of the same module. But as we mentioned earlier, Corsair has somewhat limited options when it comes to their RAM lineup.
If you actually look at what the Corsair Vengeance series offers though, it’s not actually that limited. With speeds ranging from 2666MHz all the way up to 4600MHz, and numerous options for both size and latency across the lineup, you’ve got access to a variety of prices and performance many other RAM manufacturers never achieve with multiple products. Their lower tiers still aren’t the cheapest, but it’s a difference of only a few dollars.
The difference in price aside, you’d have to really hate RGB elements to consider their absence here a major advantage, but there are other benefits to the Vengeance LPX series.
The main one is that this is a much lower-profile RAM than its cousin. That’s going to make it easier to install if you have large coolers or are otherwise limited in space. Plus, just like the RGB series, the LPX is available in black and white.
With all this being said, the Corsair Vengeance LPX has been one of the most popular RAM modules on the planet to this day. If low-profile design and performance per dollar sound better to you than style and RGB, we highly recommend you consider the Vengeance LPX.
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3. HyperX
The HyperX gaming brand has been making RAM modules for 20 years now. Over the years, they established themselves as one of the best and most reliable RAM manufacturers in the world.
HyperX operates in a very similar space to Corsair, which means that in order to be competitive it needs to match or at least approach them in quality while setting itself apart with style and branding. They’ve mostly succeeded, with a line of flashy and highly functional low-profile RAM modules.
Their lineup is a bit more diverse than corsairs, but still pretty tightly clustered in terms of both price and performance. Similar to other RAM manufacturers, HyperX also offers a limited lifetime warranty for all of their modules.
Kingston FURY Renegade
”Best Premium RAM from HyperX”
Speeds Available: 2666MHz, 3000MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz, 4000MHz, 4266MHz, 4600MHz, 4800MHz, 5000MHz, 5133MHz, 5333MHz
Kits Available: 8GB, 2x8GB, 4x8GB, 16GB, 2x16GB, 4x16GB, 8x16GB, 32GB, 2x32GB, 4x32GB, 8x32GB
The Kingston FURY Renegade product line runs the gamut from smaller, budget-friendly kits to intense, extremely powerful ones. Many of the higher-tier kits are only going to be compatible with current-gen overclocked CPUs.
HyperX is primarily a gaming brand, though some of these higher-performing modules, and the extremely large kits they come in, are going to be excessive for most gamers.
Additionally, the lower profile construction and solid aluminum heat spreaders keep them from looking out of place in professional and industrial builds, so if you’re not scraping the barrel to put together an eight-channel rig, they’re well worth it.
The Renegade lineup is available in both RGB and non-RGB variants, though a smaller number of modules, mostly around the lower middle tiers, aren’t available in RGB. The RGB versions also tend to have a little worse latency than the non-RGB, but not to a degree that is going to affect performance for most users.
Kingston FURY Beast
”Best Budget RAM from HyperX”
Speeds Available: 2666MHz, 3000MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz, 3733MHz
Kits Available: 4GB, 2x4GB, 4x4GB, 8GB, 2x8GB, 4x8GB, 16GB, 2x16GB, 4x16GB, 32GB, 2x32GB, 4x32GB
Repeating what we saw with the Corsair brand, the HyperX Beast series is still a bit more expensive than what we would typically look for in a budget brand. It does at least have the distinction of being a separate product line, and one that’s cheaper than the Renegade series, with or without RGBs.
Both the speeds and sizes of kits in the Beast lineup are lower, with most (but not all) of the options being more suitable to casual users. If you’re into overclocking, you’ll probably want to choose the Renegade series over this one.
As a serious point in its favor, all sizes and speeds of the Beast series are available in both RGB and non-RGB, with minimal differences in price. Unlike many RGB RAM options, the LED bar appears to be embedded into the heat spreaders rather than sitting on top of them, which keeps the profile low and creates a striking visual effect.
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4. ADATA
Adata is a Taiwanese brand that has been making memory, and only memory, for 20 years now, and they’re quite good at it. They’ve got a wide range of RAM modules, from extremely stripped-down performance RAM to flashy showcase components.
We first fell in love with Adata’s XPG (Extreme Performance Gear) lineup upon seeing their D60G RGB RAM. They’re covered in shimmering, geometric RGB panels for a striking effect. If you’re not completely sold on RGB RAM they’re going to be a bit much which is why we selected a couple of different options for our list, but they definitely deserve to be mentioned.
Again, like basically all RAM manufacturers, Adata XPG also offers a limited lifetime warranty on its RAM modules.
Adata XPG D50
”Best Premium RAM from Adata”
Available Speeds: 3000MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz, 4133MHz
Available Kits: 8GB, 2x8GB, 16GB, 2x16GB, 32GB, 2x32GB
The Adata XPG D50 takes a little bit of the geometric RGB flair we fell in love with, and mounts in brushed aluminum heat spreaders. You get a bit of color without sacrificing even the appearance of raw functionality, even if they are quite a bit taller than average. They’re available in white, silver, and black.
From a company that only makes memory, we honestly expected a wider range of speeds and sizes, though obviously there’s nothing stopping you from buying multiple packs.
As it stands, the modules that are available are on the upper-middle end of what’s typically available. They should be compatible with most current-gen CPUs and maybe some light overclocking. There are also “extreme models” with much higher clock speeds, but they’re difficult to find in stock anywhere.
Latency is what ends up being the biggest drawback here. For modules that are focused so closely on high levels of performance, they’ve let latency drop off a bit, especially compared to what some of the options higher on our list managed to do with modules with similar clock speeds.
Adata XPG Gammix D10
”Best Budget RAM from Adata”
Available Speeds: 2666MHz, 3000 MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz
Available Kits: 2x8GB, 2x16GB
“Let’s make this cheap. Let’s make this simple. You have two options, and they both come in black.”
That seems to have been the logic behind the Gammix, the simple all-black budget offering from XPG. You won’t need to spend a lot of time thinking about this one. Either it works for your PC or it doesn’t.
If it does, great, it’s cheap and it performs solidly. If not, it doesn’t. It runs at a speed that won’t eliminate most current-gen CPUs, though it’s not the best option for overclocking.
Surprisingly, the latency on these is pretty good. A couple of cycles faster than the D50, in fact. It’s not something we typically expect from RAM that’s so firmly in the budget range.
Other than that, there’s really not a lot to say about these modules, and that’s probably by design. This is RAM for people who don’t want to think about RAM too much.
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5. OLOy
Founded in 2018 in Hong Kong, OLOy is a Chinese RAM manufacturer with a very short history behind them. Because of that, they face a lot of skepticism among gamers and PC users but are starting to earn some trust and recognition, mainly because of the insane price per GB their modules offer.
It is safe to say that OLOy is the most budget-friendly RAM company currently on the market. Even their premium and RGB options come in significantly cheaper than most of their competitors.
Their performance ranges are pretty strictly mid-tier with not a lot of options available on what would typically be considered the high or low end of the performance, which is why they claim the lowest spot on our list, but what they do often performs extremely well.
OLOy products are protected against malfunctions resulting from defective parts or labor by a limited lifetime warranty.
OLOy Warhawk
”Best Premium RAM from OLOy”
Speeds Available: 3000MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz
Kits Available: 8GB, 2x8GB, 16GB, 2x16GB
The OLOy Warhawk has got to be one of the most memorable RAM modules on the market today. Usually, when a RAM manufacturer says their product has wings they’re talking about little fins that augment the heat spreader. The Warhawk has what we would actually call wings.
They’re large sweepings things that add almost an inch to the Warhawk’s total height, with RGB strips running through them. It’s one of the few modules that makes an impression before and after you plug it in.
The biggest downside is that the size and speeds available are pretty limited. The total lineup consists of four kit sizes and is available in more colors (black, white, red, and blue) than speeds.
The good news is that these sizes and speeds are what the majority of people are going to be looking for. If you have an older CPU, or if you have an extremely new one you might be edged out by the available speeds.
The latency is solid for the price and speeds available. A few of the options higher on our list, especially in the premium tiers, are going to have measurably better latency, but the OLOy entries still deliver a workable level of performance.
With that being said, the OLOy Warhawk is still an excellent RAM module and one we recommend to budget-conscious gamers. It offers satisfying performance, unique looks, and one of the best prices per GB on the market.
OLOy Owl
”Best Budget RAM from OLOy”
Speeds Available: 2400MHz, 2666MHz, 3000MHz, 3200MHz, 3600MHz, 4000MHz, 4133MHz
Kits Available: 8GB, 2x8GB, 16GB, 2x16GB
The OLOy Owl isn’t nearly as striking as the Warhawk, but it still makes somewhat of an impression, although we couldn’t tell you how much of that’s by association. The raised loops and fins give the Owl a warlike look, even as it signals that it’s willing to compromise on price.
The Owl has the same issues as the Warhawk does: a little too much time on design, and not quite enough on the available speeds and sizes, though the Owl does offer both slower and faster modules.
The Owl mostly comes in black, but white and orange options are also available. They can be a bit harder to find in stock in all sizes since the Owl is meant to be more of a workhorse than a showpiece.
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Final Words
There are dozens of options for RAM manufacturers out there, and RAM can be a pretty basic component if you don’t want to think about it. It’s important to make sure what you’re getting is compatible with your other components, but there are a lot of tools available for just that.
The biggest thing is finding a RAM brand you’re happy with, both in terms of performance and appearance, and making sure you’re not overpaying for power and memory that you’re not going to be using.
These brands offer a wide range of styles as well as available speeds and sizes. Find one that works with your build, and these brands won’t steer you wrong.
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