Best RAM for Ryzen 7 5700X in 2023

Memory to make your 5700X work harder AND smarter!

Matt Vallence
Matt Vallence
19 Min Read
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Clock speed: 3600MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 16GB
  • Clock speed: 3200MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Speed: 3200MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Speed: 3600MHz
  • CAS Latency: 18
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 16GB
  • Clock speed: 3200MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Clock speed: 3600MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Speed: 3600MHz
  • CAS Latency: 18
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Clock speed: 3600MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 16GB
  • Clock speed: 3200MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Speed: 3200MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Speed: 3600MHz
  • CAS Latency: 18
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 16GB
  • Clock speed: 3200MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Clock speed: 3600MHz
  • CAS Latency: 16
Specs:
  • Type: DDR4
  • Capacity: 32GB
  • Speed: 3600MHz
  • CAS Latency: 18

AMD decided to bolster its aging Zen3 lineup with several chips mere months before the debut of Zen4 and AM5. The 5700X is among the most intriguing since it offers eight cores and a low 65W TDP while being more competitively priced than the 5800X. The CPU might be fresh, but the best RAM for Ryzen 7 5700X mainly consists of tried & true favorites. Check them out and start building your next rig today!

Like aged wine, DDR4 has mostly gotten rid of its greatest issues and runs at the peak of efficiency. With so much time to mature, the platform is brimming with viable choices. We’ve condensed them down to the seven we find most appealing, be that because of price, style, performance, or a combination of all three. Whatever your needs, at least one kit on the list will satisfy them.

1

G.Skill Trident Z NEO

G.Skill Trident Z NEO 16GB DDR4 3600MHz CL16
G.Skill Trident Z NEO

Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 32GB (2x16GB) | Clock speed: 3600MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Die: Samsung B | RGB: Yes

Pros:
  • Outstanding performance
  • Lots of room for overclocking
  • Excellent design and lighting
Cons:
  • Expensive for DDR4

The Neo is one of our long-standing DDR4 RAM favorites, so it’s no wonder it’s on the top of yet another list. It’s the best RAM for Ryzen 7 5700X because of its excellent performance and generous overclocking ceiling if you wish to experiment further. Add a cool look & customizable RGB, and you’ve got a kit with barely any faults. Except, perhaps, the cost.

Trident is a line that’s been around the block, so it’s commendable that G.Skill opted for a visual refresh. The new style ditches the single-tone look of its predecessors, going with a contrasting mix of black and silver instead. The prongs are still there, as are deep diffusers that soften the light coming from eight LEDs per stick.

It’s possible to play around with the lighting presets to a great degree. You may do so with the software G.Skill provides or go through your motherboard’s interface. Either way, the effects are pleasing. The Neo stands 44mm tall and works with most coolers. You’ll want to double-check before buying it if you’ve got a chunky one, though.

Out of the box, the Neo is some of the best RAM for Ryzen 7 5700X, or any Ryzen CPU for that matter. It maintains commendable timings of 16-16-16-36 at 3600MHz without exceeding the 1.35V power draw standard. No wonder, since Samsung B-die ICs are at the heart of it. Better yet, users with some RAM overclocking know-how may augment the Neo’s stats further by tinkering.

On the one hand, you can attempt to lower the timings without touching the frequency, which can drop the latency to CL14. On the other, a frequency bump to 4000MHz may yield similar results. Speaking of which, the Neo performs exemplary in games and most tasks. It’s not as consistent for video encoding or compression. Still, it can duke it out with higher frequency kits when it comes to gaming.

2

Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro SL

Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro SL 32GB DDR4 3600MHz CL18
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro SL

Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Clock speed: 3200MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Die: Samsung B | RGB: Yes

Pros:
  • Decent out-of-the-box performance
  • Vibrant and highly customizable lighting
  • No more clearance issues
Cons:
  • Might need a few boot-ups to be recognized for the first time

The original Vengeance RGB Pro is balanced and attractive RAM we’ve recommended for owners of the 5800X. Since AMD is launching a refresh, we thought it was only fitting that the best RAM includes updated products when possible. Such is the case with the SL, a shorter kit with all of the original’s other strengths and shortcomings. It’s not too expensive, offers fantastic lighting control, and it’s sure to feel less cramped in more PC builds.

The uninitiated might look at the RGB Pro SL and not notice a difference. After all, the DIMMs are still imposing with their black heat spreaders and supporting screws. The brand identity hasn’t changed much, but Corsair’s new RAM has a significant advantage – it’s almost 6mm shorter. Users who were hesitant to buy RGB Pro memory because of this can sigh in relief due to the resulting cooler compatibility boost.

Lighting has received a slight but welcome redesign too. The top part of the heat spreader is now perforated with many small triangles to expose the shorter diffuser better. Ten LEDs reside in each stick, and you can control them through your motherboard or iCUE. While it is another program to install, we recommend you do so since iCUE’s color management and system monitoring capabilities set the standard.

Here we have another memory powered by Samsung B-die. The difference between it and the Neo is noteworthy, however. For one thing, the SL achieves lower timings of 18-22-22-42 at the same frequency and voltage presets. Moreover, Corsair must not have been as pedantic as G.Skill when selecting the ICs. The RAM’s overclocking ceiling is easy to hit and carries a steep latency increase for only a couple hundred MHz over XMP.

Overclocking might not be worth it, but the SL does well just the same. It’s up there with the greats whether you’re trying to push for as many frames as possible in competitive titles or efficiently crunch numbers. You might even consider picking it instead of our overall winner if you’re a creative due to slightly better rendering and encoding times.

3

G.Skill Ripjaws V Series

G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB DDR4 3600 CL18
G.Skill RipJaws V

Capacity: 32GB (2x16GB) | Clock speed: 3200MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Die: SK Hynix C | RGB: No

Pros:
  • Affordable
  • Easy to set up
  • Does almost as well as pricier competitors
Cons:
  • No overclocking headroom

The first two kits on our list are fast and shiny, but that also incurs additional expense. What if you want to match their performance at a much more agreeable price? That’s what G.Skill’s second RAM kit is all about! The Ripjaws V is stripped down memory when frills are concerns but keeps up with the competition in terms of raw stats. It’s the RAM to get if you’re saving up for a GPU or a gunning for a cheap yet optimized PC build.

A lack of RGB is the first thing that sets the Ripjaws apart from previously discussed memory. That shouldn’t dissuade you from buying it since the heat spreader itself is among the more attractive on offer. It has several insets and thin cutouts that help with more even heat distribution while imparting an appealing sci-fi appearance.

Black is the most common color. It’s easy to match your case whatever it looks like, though. You can get the memory in several more ranging from vibrant red & blue to gray and silver.

Each Ripjaws V stick is 42mm tall and has an eight-layer PCB. G.Skill ditched Samsung’s ICs for this line, which makes sense as another cost-cutting measure. The shift over to SK Hynix C-die comes with an increase of latency to CL 18. Tinkerers will be disappointed since fiddling with timings and voltages to squeeze more out of the kit is fruitless. They aren’t this RAM’s target audience to begin with, though.

The Ripjaws V’s value becomes even more apparent once you pit it against similarly specced RAM in a gauntlet of tests. It has decent read & write speeds and shows encouraging results in artificial testing. As for games, you’ll likely see it lag several frames behind the Neo in scenarios where you’re already reaching well into three-digit territory. Is that important? Not unless you’re hell-bent on having the best-possible framerate in competitive titles like CS:GO. Even then, you’re unlikely to notice the difference during a heated match.

4

Patriot Viper Steel

Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 32GB 3200MHz CL18
Patriot Viper Steel

Capacity: 32GB (2x16GB) | Clock speed: 3600MHz | CAS Latency: 18 | Die: SK Hynix M | RGB: No

Pros:
  • Great balance of price and specs
  • Looks cool even without RGB
  • Excellent for SFF builds
Cons:
  • Poor overclocking potential

We always turn to Patriot when after lots of DDR4 RAM condensed into as few modules as possible. We’ve chosen 32GB here since it’s an optimal value for most of today’s needs. However, You can also get it in a 64GB version ideal for SFF PCs. Because Viper Steel is also some of the most balanced and affordable memory around.

The Viper Steel continues the trend of RGB-less heat spreaders that look good despite being colorfully challenged. Only one color combo is on offer, but dark gray tinged with black is sure to blend in perfectly with the vast majority of builds. We’re also fans of the serpent representing the Viper logo, and the way its bared teeth tell onlookers that this PC is nothing to mess with.

A height of 45mm positions the Viper Steel among the taller RAM kits in the guide. Still, that’s nowhere near tall enough to cause the kind of problems Corsair Platinum RGB Pro owners have to potentially face.

This is the second kit we’ve looked at to use SK Hynix integrated circuits. Patriot chose to go with M-die, resulting in the Viper Steel’s relatively tight XMP settings. A breakdown of its CAS latency shows values of 18-20-20-40, which should give it a slight edge over competing kits. Not remembering to turn on XMP results in a factory clock of 2666MHz, which is more forgiving than most. Still, making sure XMP is on should be your top priority before doing any testing.

Speaking of which, the Viper Steel is one of those kits that do slightly better on AMD platforms. You wouldn’t notice it in games but may appreciate the seconds using it will shave off from various productivity tasks. All of this sounds peachy, so what’s wrong with the RAM? Nothing! Well, you’re stuck with its XMP settings since M-die will budge only a bit while CAS latency takes a noticeable hit.

5

TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z

TEAMGROUP-T-Force-Vulcan-Z
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z DDR4

Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Clock speed: 3200MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Die: SK Hynix A | RGB: No

Pros:
  • Very attractive price
  • Surprisingly high overclocking ceiling
  • Comes in several color variations
Cons:
  • Performs a bit worse than some equivalents when not overclocked

The R7 5700X is an affordable processor, so why splurge on memory if the benefits aren’t substantial? The people at TEAMGROUP agree and offer the Vulcan Z as an enticing compromise. You can get 32GB of it for close to $70 and either leave it as is for passable performance or tinker with it to extract even more value.

Almost the entire TEAMGROUP RAM lineup is inspired by flight or the elegance of wings in some way, and the same is true here. The Vulcan Z might would likely have been another boring RGB-less kit without such a flair. Luckily, its outspread gray heat spreader and the cutouts that enhance its appearance look the gaming part.

Skipping the RGB affords the Vulcan Z two advantages. It’s cheaper to manufacture and cheaper to sell, netting you the performance equivalent of mid-tier Dominator Platinum RAM without the cost. Additionally, no diffuser means it’s great for SFF cases and doesn’t conflict with weighty air coolers.

The Logical Budget Choice

The Vulcan Z’s specs don’t exactly spark excitement. It’s set to 2400MHz by default, only reaching 800MHz more if and when you remember to use XMP. Its single-rank SK Hynix ICs let the RAM hum along at CL16 latencies while requiring 1.35V.

The spec story ends there for users content with cheap and average-performing memory. However, those who don’t shy away from manual tuning can achieve 3600MHz without touching the timings. More power and extra stability testing is required to make sure such settings hold, though.

A kit like this is effectively equivalent to one set to 3600MHz CL18, so expect it to performa similarly to competitors with such core specs. Sticking to XMP will cost you a few seconds of rendering or unzipping time. On the other hand, framerates in games suffer comparatively little, especially if you have a GPU that can handle 1440p resolutions or greater.

6

Kingston FURY Beast RGB

Kingston FURY Beast RGB 16GB 3600MHz DDR4 CL18
Kingston FURY Beast RGB DDR4

Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 32GB (2x16GB) | Clock speed: 3600MHz | CAS Latency: 18 | Die: SK Hynix | RGB: Yes

Pros:
  • Affordable for what it offers
  • Decent performance
  • Tasteful RGB and low profile
Cons:
  • Doesn’t exceed XMP

DDR4 might be on its way out, but memory manufacturers are still finding ways to make it appealing. Kingston’s Fury Beast is the most recently released RAM in the guide. It combines a good stat spread with unobtrusive looks and even comes with RGB. You can find 16GB kits for less than $80 when on sale, which is a great deal for such versatile 3600MHz memory. Does the Beast have what it takes to be the best RAM for Ryzen 7 5700X? Almost. It doesn’t belong on top, but there’s definitely place on the list for it.

The Fury Beast line replaces the venerable HyperX Fury now that it’s no longer part of Kingston’s lineup. You’ll see the similarities if you’ve had the latter before, like flat all-black heat spreaders and a streamlined profile. Apart from the lighting, the logo stands out as the most attractive feature. It’s made from uncolored aluminum and textured so that it protrudes from the spreader and helps increase its size.

The RGB isn’t on Corsair’s level, but it adds appeal. The diffusers are low, so you won’t be able to see much from the sides. However, their tops are visible enough, revealing rows of LEDs that seamlessly blend from one color to the next.

The Fury Beast’s specs closely align with several of our other candidates. Its single XMP profile boosts the clock frequency from 2666 to 3600MHz. The corresponding voltage is 1.35V, while timings clock in at 18-22-22-42. Kingston’s product page doesn’t specify which ICs they’re using. Judging by the price and the fact that they don’t respond well to further overclocking attempts, we don’t think it’s a high-end die from Samsung.

A lack of overclocking ability has little impact on the Fury Beast’s overall standing. It’s excellent RAM for people who use their PC for various tasks since there are no apparent performance gaps. Aida64, Cinebench, Microsoft Office, or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla all show results within a margin of error compared to other popular kits, some 4000MHz models included.

7

Corsair Vengeance LPX

Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB DDR4 3200MHz CL16
Corsair Vengeance LPX

Capacity: 32GB (2x16GB) | Clock speed: 3600MHz | CAS Latency: 18 | Die: SK Hynix M | RGB: No

Pros:
  • Rock-bottom price for solid RAM
  • Low profile
  • Comes in several colors
Cons:
  • Overclocking isn’t worth it

Corsair is the second memory manufacturer with two entries on the list. Its other RAM takes up the final spot and couldn’t be more different from the SL. The Vengeance LPX is slim, stealthy, and can be yours for far less. As you might have guessed by reading about higher-up kits, price has little to do with the showing it can put forth in the wild. We’re generally impressed with what LPX offers.

Corsair is usually all about flash, so coming across memory as simple-looking as this feels unusual. While function lords over form here, LPX is far from unattractive. Its ribbed accents add visual interest while cleverly helping to radiate away any heat using the memory might generate. A central sticker with large yellow Vengeance letters adds a splash of color to an otherwise all-black ensemble.

At a mere 31mm, LPX is the shortest memory we’ve selected by far. It’s an outlier even when compared to other low-profile RAM, yet it doesn’t get much hotter than kits with taller heat spreaders. Good news for anyone who intends to pair their 5700X with the likes of the Assassin III or NH-D15.

SK Hynix M-die is a popular choice for cost-effective RAM that made its way onto the LPX too. Embracing it leads to our most popular complaint – lack of overclocking headroom. Don’t concern yourself with that if you aren’t keen on overclocking since XMP defaults are more than acceptable. The LPX runs at 320MHz with CL16 timings without incurring additional power draw penalties.

A 400MHz difference makes its mark on performance. Still, the gap between this and 3600 CL18 modules is small due to the latency increase. Artificial testing shows lower numbers, and you’ll get a few frames less in games than speedier alternatives. All of this is offset by the LPX’s good price and the fact that the average user is unlikely to be able to tell the difference.

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Matt has been staring at one monitor or another for much longer than he'd care to admit. He enjoys keeping up with trends in gaming & related hardware, exploring immersive worlds in RPGs, as well as crafting his own using Blender.
15 Comments
  • Are xmp and dual chanel still run if i plug that neo in all slot with that timing?
    I just have 2 pieces of that monster and i wonder it from you
    Thanks

    • Putting RAM into all four slots reduces the max frequency the motherboard can support. That shouldn’t matter to you if you have an X570 or B550 board. Older generation boards might not be able to maintain the same frequency, but it varies. As long as there’s some headroom in the motherbaord’s specs, for example, if it supports 4000+ OC RAM, you should be good.

      Alternatively, you could go with 3200MHz sticks with tight timings since the difference shouldn’t be that big.

    • Yup! As long as you are getting sticks with the exact same latency there shouldn’t be any problems.

      Also keep your motherboard’s max RAM speed in mind. You should be good if you’re getting an X570 / B550 board. If you are upgrading from an older CPU and have a 300-series motherboard, make sure it can support at least 4000MHz RAM since the maximum frequency all sticks can run at is lower if all four slots are in use.

  • Hi, I got a Ryzen 7 5700X and a ASUS ROG Strix B550-A Gaming, paired with the Corsair Vengeance LPX CMK32GX4M2D3600C18 @3600.

    The MoBo specs state 3600(O.C.), will my memory run at 3200 mhz when all is instralled and di I need to crank it up? or will this work when installed?
    I’m wondering because I haven’t built the system yet and I might be better off returning the memory?
    Sorry, new to this, my last buiold was just: stick it in in and play 🙂

    Thanks!

    • Hey there! You don’t need to return the memory – your motherboard can handle it just fine.

      Once you slot the LPX in, it will run at the default factory spec, which should be something like 2133 or 2666MHz. To enable its XMP frequency, you need to boot into the BIOS and go to the AI Tweaker tab. There you’ll see an option called AI Overclock Tuner. Switch that from Auto to R.O.C.P (ASUS’s version of XMP for AMD systems) and save your settings.

      That should be it!

  • Oh wow, you sir are a genius, thank you very much.
    Do you think I get noticable differences from that tweak? I bought the faster memory because it was only €10 extra, so I figured: bIgGeR nUmBer iS bEtteR
    :DD

    • You’ll get a noticeable boost by enabling R.O.C.P. since DDR4’s base settings are quite a bit lower than those advertised on the box. The difference between 3200 and 3600MHz RAM is much smaller, especially since there are 3600MHz kits with tighter timings than this. You’ll get a few frames more than you would have if you went with 3200MHz CL18 memory, but chances are you won’t notice that in the heat of the battle.

  • Hi, I got a Ryzen 7 5700X and a TUF GAMING X570-PRO (WI-FI)
    is it compatible to a 32gbx4 ram with 3600mhz each slot?

  • Late to this party, but I took your advice and went with the Trident Z Neo to pair with the 5700x. Anytime I turn DOCP on to enable the full 3600MHz clock speed, the system becomes unstable and crashes fairly quickly. Even pre-boot while in the BIOS just looking at settings, sometimes. This is my first AMD build, and I’m ready to run back to Intel. Never had this problem with XMB. Do you think it could be my mobo? I went with an ASUS TUF B550M-PLUS Wi-Fi. The board supports clock speeds up to 4400MHz, and the Neo is supposed to be specifically optimized for AMD, so I have no idea what’s happening. I’d hate to have to do a complete rebuild with a new mobo, but this is awful.

    What board did you use with the Trident Z Neo pairing, and did you have DOCP on? Any advice or suggestions that you might have would be greatly appreciated.

    • Hey there! Sorry to hear you’re having RAM, or rather motherboard troubles.

      I’ve done some digging and it looks like you’re not the first one to run into such issues with that particular mobo.

      First of all, how much RAM did you get? A max of 4400MHz should be enough to run four sticks at 3600MHz on paper, but it can depend on the specific motherboard model too. While rare, issues could also happen if you bought two kits that are just the slightest bit incompatible.

      Have you tried running half the sticks to see if that works?

      Also, I take it you updated the BIOS to the latest version? The 5700X came out last year, while this mobo is older. Maybe you need to update the BIOS first to make the system stable.

      If all of that fails, you might need to up the DRAM voltage. The default is 1.35V, so you can try 1.38 or 1.4 & see if that helps.

  • Thanks for the speedy reply, Matt!

    I did install the latest BIOS, and It was the 2x16GB kit that I used in the standard A2/B2 slots. I did not try one stick at a time. Due to the sporadic nature and timing of the crashes, I suspected that maybe I just lost the die lottery or something. I just dropped a 2x16GB kit of the Corsair Vengeance Pro 3600MHz in there, and I’m currently putting it through it’s paces using MemTest86. So far so, so good, after 2 passes, so fingers and toes crossed.

    DOCP is a bit of a different animal compared to XMP, so I’m still getting up to speed with that. I did bump up the voltage to 1.36V a few days ago based on some research I did, but I didn’t want to push it too far. I was also reading that the AMD chips tend to be more sensitive to RAM tunings than Intel chips due to their architecture.

    Interestingly, the system didn’t want to initialize the DRAM at all at first with the Corsair sticks inserted and the automatic settings on. It wasn’t until I enabled DOCP that it would finally work. Looks like it settled at 3596MHz. I don’t think this specific SKU was certified for my mobo model, but as long as it’s stable, I’m good. I don’t intend to push it any higher.

    Thanks again!

  • Ugh. Passed all the tests, but still random crashes with the DRAM QLED indicator lit in both the BIOS and OS. I give up. Lol. Going to strip the case and return all the AMD components. I’ll hang on to the RAM for my next build.

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