Best DDR4 RAM for Your PC Windows Central 2020

The G.Skill TridentZ RGB 3200 is our favorite DDR4 RAM on the market with formidable performance and a bold design. It's perfect if you're after the best RAM for gaming and productivity.

Our pick

G.Skill TridentZ RGB 3200

The best of DDR4

With this RAM, you'll get great high-bandwidth components with room for tweaks and a price that won't destroy a gaming PC budget. Timings aren't too shabby and robust overclocking support means these will meet just about everybody's needs.

Who should buy the G.Skill Trident Z 3200?

The Trident Z by G.Skill is the best choice for consumers looking to invest in high-end RAM with a strong design and lightning-fast performance to boot.

Is it a good time to buy the G.Skill Trident Z 3200?

The G.Skill Trident Z 3200 is well-positioned on the market and beloved as a leading DDR4 RAM pick. It's a safe buy that will hold up in coming years with overclocking capabilities for that future boost.

Reasons to buy

  • Great design
  • Fast performance
  • That RGB

Reasons not to buy

  • Not ideal for compact PC cases

Why the G.Skill Trident Z 3200 is the best DDR4 RAM

G.Skill is renowned for its performance RAM, and the Trident Z RGB series is no different. These RAM sticks are huge. The large heatsinks make it possible to push the memory beyond stock configuration to get more performance within an overclocked environment. Not only do they look gorgeous, thanks to the same minimalist design, but they have the muscle to power through tasks without fail.

G.Skill is renowned for its performance RAM, and the Trident Z RGB series is no different.

Unfortunately, there is a minor issue with the size of the heatsinks for some — they're big, so if your PC case is tightly packed they might not fit easily (or at all). Some CPU coolers may have issues sitting correctly with these modules installed, depending on motherboard RAM slot locations and formation.

At least you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for these sticks of memory. The 16GB kit (more than enough for most situations) comes in priced fairly when compared against competitor options. And yes, there's all the RGB lighting you need to make your PC setup glow.

Alternatives to the G.Skill Trident Z 3200

If the G.Skill TridentZ RGB doesn't meet your needs, a range of alternatives can be found for any PC build. We've rounded up our favorites you shouldn't overlook.

Runner-up

Corsair Vengeance LPX

Fast and sleek

Corsair's Vengeance LPX series offers a more compact alternative for high-performance RAM. Although a 1.35v power draw could cause some concern with multiple sticks and the heat they'll generate, additional cooling fans are available as optional extras. This should be considered by overclockers pushing their system harder than most.

The Corsair Vengeance LPX series is capable and versatile, well suited across a range of setups. Its streamlined design is fitting for most PCs, with the capabilities to push even more via overclocking.

Value pick

Patriot Viper 4

Don't let the price fool you

While Patriot's Viper 4 family of modules aren't premium RAM, they're no slouches and some even have a little wiggle room for overclocking. We like the 3000MHz (PV48G300C6K) package that contains two 4GB sticks for a total of 8GB.

Should you require solid DDR4 RAM that's also affordable, the Viper 4 series is a great choice. It's an ideal entry-level pick when on a budget, especially for first-time PC builders. However, we recommend better alternatives for those looking to overclock.

Liquid-cooled

XPG Spectrix D80

RAM doesn't get cooler than this

Enter the world's top liquid-cooled RAM, offloading the heat of its 1.35-volt modules with the help of an aluminum heatsink. Hermetically sealed for a consistently effective and leakproof finish, it's among the best for heat dissipation, well-paired with overclocking. And lined with RGB overhead, it'll still be stylish in your custom build.

Running cooler than ice without compromising performance, the XPG Spectrix D80 is our recommended liquid-cooled module. If you want powerful RAM that doesn't cut back on features, its reliable cooling systems and RGB lighting are an essential pairing.

Top capacity

CORSAIR DOMINATOR PLATINUM

Going all-out with style

The Dominator Platinum packs 32GB of high-performance across two 16GB modules. If you need a lot of RAM, Corsair's offering ensures high capacity without compromising on great speeds. Wrapped with a sleek black and metallic finish, it's a clean pick for any build.

With an attractive black and silver design, Corsair delivers RAM that not only works flawlessly in systems but looks the part too. When demanding high-capacity, you can't go wrong with this 32GB duo.

Bottom line

Purchasing RAM is a simple task for desktop machines. Match up respective specifications between the motherboard and RAM and you're good to go. That said, should you wish to go one step further and increase performance, the G.Skill TridentZ RGB series will provide you the means to do just that.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Rich Edmonds is a word conjurer and editor at Windows Central, covering everything related to Windows, gaming, and hardware. You can follow him over on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.

Matt Brown is a staff writer at Windows Central focusing on Xbox and PC. After realizing he wasn't good at video games, he stuck to this writing thing instead. You can follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.

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