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The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 processor is considered to be a mid-tier chip yet offers impressive performance with six physical cores and a total of 12 threads. Like other AM5 processors from AMD, the Ryzen 5 7600 only supports DDR5 RAM. We've rounded up our favorite picks for getting the most from this CPU and you can find the best RAM for the Ryzen 5 7600 in this guide.
Best DDR5 RAM memory kits in 2024
If you're on the lookout for the best DDR5 RAM modules on the market, then we've got something for you.
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.
Random access memory (RAM for short) is an integral part of any gaming PC. The system memory is responsible for storing data for quick access by the CPU and other components. Think of it as a super-charged SSD. The faster the RAM (and more you have available) the better the performance you'll be able to enjoy with resource-intensive games and software. I'm going to run you through my best DDR5 RAM picks for gaming.
How to find out your RAM specs on Windows 11 PCs
If you're not sure what kind of RAM is inside your PC, Windows 11 gives you a way to easily find out the specs of the memory.
Having enough memory in your PC is important if you want to have a smooth experience. RAM, the common acronym for Random Access Memory, is fast and efficient memory that temporarily stores files your computer needs to access quickly and frequently, and the more of it you have, the more files it can store. That means you can switch between apps faster when you have a lot of them open, or it may help in apps that load a lot of assets, such as when editing a high-resolution image or a complex video. If you don't know how much RAM is in your PC, it's relatively easy to find the details on Windows 11.
RAM frequency vs. latency: What matters more?
What decides how fast your RAM is? Frequency or latency?
Amidst all the talk about the best GPUs for gaming and the best CPUs to pair with them, it's common for us to sideline the intricacies of memory. You might keep things simple by picking one of the best RAM for gaming, but there's more to it than just choosing between DDR4 and DDR5 RAM.
3 reasons why DDR5 RAM finally makes more sense for your PC
It's time to upgrade to a memory generation of endless possibilities
The launch of DDR5 RAM in late 2020 didn't go smoothly, but this was to be expected for any new generation of technology. System memory has been running on what's known as DDR4 SDRAM (or Double Data Rate 4 Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory) since 2014. That's 10 years ago and it has evolved into some impressive RAM kits with speeds up to 5,000 MT/s and tight timings. 2020saw the launch of the next generation, unsurprisingly, called DDR5. I previously recommended against upgrading from DDR4 if possible, but now I'm all for it.
When shopping for a new laptop, you've likely come up against a collection of advertised specifications aimed at selling you the right device. Ensuring that the processor (CPU), graphics card (GPU), and random-access memory (RAM) have enough power to handle your desired tasks should always be at the top of your list of priorities, but the jargon isn't always easy to decipher. Drilling down into RAM specifically, modern laptops will often either have LPDDR5 or DDR5 hardware. What's the difference, and which one is better for your laptop?
G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6400 review: Gorgeous RAM design with the performance to match
An excellent DDR5 RAM kit for AMD and Intel processors
Choosing system memory for your PC involves checking what is supported by your processor and motherboard. G.Skill makes numerous modules for different applications. Whether you need some budget-friendly memory for a low-power system or RGB-infused modules with impressive performance for more intensive tasks, G.Skill likely has a RAM kit for you. The Trident Z5 Neo RGB is a gaming series of RAM with a flashy design, solid, reliable performance, and great value compared to more expensive options.
DDR4 vs DDR5 RAM: What's different and which one should you buy?
DDR4 vs DDR5 RAM remains one of the most discussed topics in the PC computing space.
The latest CPUs from both Intel and AMD support DDR5, and we've already started some solid DDR5 memory kits on the market. The arrival of these DDR5 memory kits, however, is yet to fully phase out DDR4, as both Intel 13th-gen and 14th-gen CPUs as well as AMD's more affordable 5000-series CPUs still support it. DDR4 RAM essentially remains a popular choice for anyone on a budget that's looking for good value. Deciding between DDR4 and DDR5 memory could be one of the most important choices you'll have to make as long as both standards remain viable options. It's not just a question of value and performance, but also determines the kinds of motherboards and CPUs you can use.
How much RAM do you need in your computer?
Let's explore how much RAM you need in your computer in order to properly tackle a variety of tasks.
Random-access memory — commonly known as RAM — acts as a sort of broker between your computer's processor (CPU) and storage. Instead of your CPU having to pull everything from your main hard drive, priority data is stored on the RAM for quick access, allowing the CPU to spend less time searching for what it needs. The data stored on RAM is constantly being switched in and out as needed, and the amount of RAM required for certain tasks can differ greatly. This guide aims to answer one of the most notorious tech questions of all time: How much RAM do you need in your computer?
How to upgrade the SSD in Lenovo's Legion Slim 5 14 (2023)
The Legion Slim 5 14's two M.2 SSD slots give you plenty of options when it comes to adding more storage
Lenovo is making some great gaming laptops in its Legion stable, and there are PCs with a wide range of hardware and features to help you get what you want. One of my favorites released in 2023 is the 14.5-inch Legion Slim 5. Now in its eighth generation, it's been refined to deliver a portable but powerful gaming experience with a gorgeous 2.8K OLED display, ample AMD power, and more great features. In my Legion Slim 5 14 (2023) review, I called it "the 14-inch gaming laptop to beat."
How to tell if you can upgrade a laptop's RAM
Laptop design makes it tough to see what's inside. Here are some ways you can figure out whether or not your laptop's RAM can be upgraded.
Laptops are versatile and portable devices that have increasingly become thin and light as they're modernized, usually at the expense of upgradeable internal hardware. The two most common areas where upgrades are still possible include memory (RAM) and solid-state drive (SSD), as laptop processors and graphics cards are almost exclusively soldered to the mainboard.
AMD backtracks on ECC RAM support for Ryzen 8000G APUs
AMD corrects its mistakes and now says that Ryzen 8000G APUs do not support memory modules with ECC functions.
It's a rarity that we see a company announcing features for its new products and then backtracking on the promise later on. But this is what AMD did with its new Ryzen 8000G APUs (Accelerated Processing Unit). After confirming support for ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory in the Ryzen 8000G APUs at launch, the company has now taken a sharp U-turn and removed ECC RAM support from the APUs' specs page.
How to easily overclock RAM without BIOS
If you have an AMD Ryzen CPU, overclocking your RAM can be quite simple with Ryzen Master
Overclocking can help extract some extra performance from your PC hardware. While CPU overclocking can yield appreciable returns if done right, RAM overclocking doesn't always do the same. Even if you spend hours tweaking settings and tightening RAM timings in your BIOS, the end result will probably not justify the investment in most cases.
How to install RAM modules on the motherboard: A beginners guide
It's quick and easy to add memory to your PC.
Installing RAM is a crucial part of the PC building process as it's one of the core components of the computer, without which you won't have a working PC. The modern computers on the market in 2024 either use DDR4 or DDR5 memory modules, both of which are readily available to buy. The process of installing RAM is quite simple, as all you really need to do is slot the modules in place. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you are installing the RAM modules properly on the motherboard.
What are XMP and EXPO and how do they help boost RAM performance?
Enabling XMP and EXPO is an easy way to maximize your RAM performance. But there are some differences in the two approaches.
The recent conversation around PC memory, or RAM, saw an eventful few years with the launch of the newer DDR5 RAM. Although the DDR4 vs. DDR5 RAM dilemma might not trouble people as much as before, there's still some confusion among PC builders about RAM support and choosing between XMP and EXPO when buying memory.
Best RAM for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D in 2024
Store as much temporary data as possible for the best gaming experiences!
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the best processors for gaming on a desktop PC. It has AMD's fancy 3D cache design with plenty to work with, allowing the chip to store more data before relying on slower RAM. To get the most out of the processor, it's important to pair it up with some of the best DDR5 modules on the market, to ensure performance doesn't drop too much when it does have to communicate with system memory. Here's where my list of recommendations comes into play, and you'll find only the best DDR5 RAM right here.
How to check whether your RAM is faulty
Faulty RAM can cause a host of issues and headaches. Here are 3 simple ways to check if your RAM has gone bad.
Once you have enough RAM in your PC, you don't usually give it a second thought. Unlike your CPU and GPU, where you might be concerned about lowering the temperature or optimizing fan curves, RAM doesn't typically need much looking after. But, if you start experiencing weird slowdowns or crashes, and you've eliminated everything else as the culprit, you might have a bad case of faulty RAM.
The Intel Core i7-14700K is a powerful processor with plenty of cores for handling the most intensive games and software. To get the most out of the chip, I'd recommend using DDR5 RAM, which is the fastest modules available for desktop and laptop PCs. The more memory available, the faster your system will run before having to store temporary data on slower storage drives. I've rounded up the best RAM kits for use with the Core i7-14700K for you to build a great PC. I'd recommend 16GB or 32GB of RAM with a new build.
To make the most of the Intel Core i5-14600K, either the best DDR4 or DDR5 RAM will need to be used. System memory is used by the processor to store data for quicker access as these modules are capable of much higher bandwidth than mechanical hard drives or even the fastest M.2 NVMe solid-state drives. The more memory available, the more data the PC will be able to store before having to resort to slower storage drives. For the Core i5-14600K, I'd recommend 32GB as a healthy amount for a new PC.