The launch of Intel's 12th-generation Alder Lake chips marked the arrival of DDR5 RAM kits on the market, which is the next evolution of system memory. DDR5 is faster than DDR4 and brings with it other notable benefits. But with AMD Ryzen 7000 as well as Intel 13th and 14th-generation chips out in the world and benefiting from it, it's worth the higher price tag. We're now entering the era of DDR5 for those wanting to extract the most from their systems, so these are the best DDR5 RAM kits you need to know about.

Best DDR5 RAM to buy in 2024

The Adata XPG Lancer DDR5 is capable of reaching frequencies of up to 7,200MHz and offers up to 16GB worth of memory allocation per module. XPG made some of the best DDR4 RAM so the quality of its DDR5 is of no surprise. These Lancer DDR5 memory sticks are also suitable for overclocking and come with support for Intel XMP 3.0 for one-click performance tuning.

A CL32 latency rating is among the lowest we've seen so far in the DDR5 space, so it's very promising. This DDR5 memory from XPG also offers a PMIC (Power Management Integrated Circuit) and ECC (Error Correcting Code), thereby increasing the overall performance and stability of the kit. If all that wasn't enough already, these things also feature customizable RGB lighting. They're simply one of the best RAM kits available.

The Kingston Fury Beast was one of the first DDR5 RAM kits to hit the market after the arrival of Alder Lake chips. We're looking at a standard blacked-out heat spreader with a striking design and some sharp edges. One of the best things about these sticks is that they have a low-profile design that stands 48.25mm tall. This makes them compatible with a wide variety of CPU coolers on the market. The Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 kit is available between 16GB and 64GB kits. Kingston sells a couple of different versions of these sticks with varying memory frequencies and latencies.

We're looking at a base memory speed of 4,800MT/s and memory latency of between CL40 and CL36. It supports XMP for one-click overclocking up to 6,000MT/s, depending on the kit. When it comes to performance, the Kingston Fury Beast DDR5 sticks were able to deliver some solid results. We tested the kit with a 12th-gen Intel Core i9-12900K, which was one of the best CPUs from Intel's 12th generation. Using a Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Pro DDR5 motherboard, we were also able to push the modules up to 5200MT/s at 1.25v using the XMP profiles without much of an issue.

Unlike most other DDR5 memory, TeamGroup's DDR5 module comes with a naked black-colored PCB. There's no fancy heat spreader or flashy RGB at play here. TeamGroup is offering two 16GB DDR5 modules in a dual-channel presentation. They both operate at DDR5-4800 with 40-40-40-77 timings and only require 1.1V to hit the advertised data speeds. TeamGroup's DDR5-4800 memory modules adhere to JEDEC's specifications for DDR5 and pack a built-in power management IC (PMIC) and voltage regulator module (VRM).

Despite being non-ECC memory, this kit supports the DDR5 on-die ECC that corrects DRAM cells for stability. As is the case with most DDR5 memory modules, TeamGroup's DDR5 memory does command a slight premium over DDR4. However, compared to many other DDR5 kits, this one is quite affordable. The lack of RGB or included heat spreaders has helped keep the cost down. For pricing, this kit is in the same ballpark as some of the high-end DDR4 kits that are available on the market.

Corsair's Dominator Platinum DDR5 memory modules look almost identical to their DDR4 counterpart with a very similar design for the aluminum heat spreader. The new modules are available in both black and white colors, so you get to choose the one that goes well with the aesthetic of your build. You can customize the RAM module lighting using Corsair iCUE software, which is a central hub to control your other Corsair products too. The Corsair iCUE software also integrates the XMP Profile Manager for the DDR5 modules. XMP 3.0 allows these modules to have up to five profiles, and they all can be customized from the software.

This allows you to play around with memory speeds if you wish, although that's entirely optional. Corsair offers 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB kits of its DDR5 memory, but you'll have to opt for the 64GB module for the black color option. Corsair's memory kits can feature timings of just CL30 and 1.1V DRAM voltage out of the box, allowing users to have an easy plug-and-play experience. Speeds go up to 8,200MT/s which is more than fast enough for the latest AMD and Intel processors.

G.Skill makes some excellent RAM and the Trident Z5 DDR5-7200 kit is one of our favorites for performance. In our testing and review, we found the G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5-7200 to be an excellent choice for AMD and Intel chip owners, though the former will not be able to make full use of the available speeds due to the limitations with AMD Ryzen processors. These modules are capable of hitting speeds of up to 8,000 MT/s with EXPO and XMP, though even our slightly slower kit was able to push beyond its rated speed, thus we imagine it to be possible to move comfortably into the 8,000 MT/s range.

Capacity for these kits is available as either 32GB, 48GB, or 64GB, formed of two 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB modules, respectively. The price isn't too bad either with this 7200 MT/s 32GB kit costing around $170. Latency can be as low as CL32, which is pretty good for a DDR5 DRAM kit.

Corsair has updated its Vengeance series with a new DDR5 RAM kit in addition to the Dominator Platinum series. The new Vengeance kit arrives with a slight makeover, although the overall design remains quite familiar from previous generations. It settles for an aluminum heat spreader with a basic design that's as perfect to use with larger coolers as it always has been. Just like the Dominator Platinum kits, the Vengeance kit checks in at DDR5-5200 speeds. These modules are capable of going all the way up to 7,800MT/s, however.

Capacity is also excellent, starting from just 16GB kits and ending up at expensive offerings with 192GB capacities. Regardless of which kit you end up picking, you'll be able to enjoy relatively low power consumption. The Vengeance DDR5 kit will allow you to control the XMP profile via Corsair's iCUE software. You'll get multiple XMP profiles to choose from and changing them is as easy as pressing a button. The 'Overclock PMIC' that we saw on the more expensive Dominator Platinum DDR5 module is also present here, which is great. The Vengeance DDR5 kits aren't as flashy as the Dominator Platinum kits. Hence, they are a little easier on the pockets. Corsair is also offering a lifetime warranty.

If you are in the market to buy a premium performance DDR5 memory kit at a reasonable price, then you might want to consider checking out the G.Skill Ripjaws S5. The Ripjaws S5 may sport a simple design, but it's designed to be more understated compared to the likes of the company's Trident range. The new modules are available in both matte black and matte white variants, and they'll blend in nicely with a variety of different build themes out there. We also like how G.Skill has retained the low-profile design of the original Ripjaws.

The new Ripjaws S5 is just 33mm tall, which means it shouldn't have any clearance issues inside most builds. This is a crucial factor to consider mainly because a lot of CPU coolers have big heatsinks now that tend to interfere with memory modules. You can buy 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB Ripjaws S5 kits with speeds of up to 6,000MT/s and a latency of just CL30. The power consumption is from 1.10V and is among the lowest we've seen in the DDR5 memory space. Some of the highlights of the G.SKill Ripjaws S5 include XMP 3.0 support that allows you to easily tune the modules with saved profiles. You also get a lifetime warranty.

TeamGroup's T-Force Delta is a flashy kit from the company with a sophisticated heat spreader and a bunch of addressable RGBs to add more bling to your build. These new modules feature a unique design with sharp edges on the top along with RGB LEDs. TeamGroup doesn't have any lighting control software, but you'll be able to customize them using your motherboard's software. Motherboard makers including Asus, MSI, and ASRock are all compatible.

TeamGroup's T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 line-up includes 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB kits. Both kits have data transfer rates between 4800MT/s and 8,000MT/s, and they also feature next-generation XMP 3.0 SPD profiles, making it easier for users to tweak the speeds with the press of a button. The T-Force Delta RGB memory modules also come with their own voltage-regulating circuitry and power management IC (PMIC).

Choosing the best DDR5 RAM

We think the XPG Lancer is one of the best DDR5 RAM kits on the market right now. It balances performance and price rather well, allowing other parts of your system to run at their best. It's worth remembering that AMD processors aren't able to boost as high as Intel chips when it comes to memory. Purchasing kits with speeds beyond 6,000 MT/s will have diminishing returns as the chip and motherboard will likely be able to handle the speeds. Luckily, most of the kits in this collection can be underclocked and have slower versions available.

A lot of manufacturers have managed to launch new memory kits on the market, but we're still in that transition period between DDR4 and DDR5. You can check out our collection of the best DDR4 RAM kits if you don't necessarily need the bleeding-edge technology or if you're simply not looking to spend a lot of money on RAM kits yet. If you have indeed made up your mind about building a new PC though, then you might want to check out some of our other collections like the best motherboards, best GPUs, or even the best CPUs to see what are your options on the market.