10 Best DDR4 Rams for Gaming PCs 2018
Double Data Rate 4th Generation (DDR4) RAM memory is one of the important components of a Gaming PC. DDR4 is able to achieve higher speed and efficiency thanks to increased transfer rates and decreased voltage. This is the latest variant of memory computing and as expected, it’s one of the best.
A DDR4 RAM Stick can go a long way in terms of helping your PC build stand out. However, some people still find some trouble picking the right thing for the sticks and don’t know what needs to be considered in order to buy the right stick.
This article aims to talk about the criteria that needs to be met for the consumer to be convinced that the memory stick they picked is one of the best. Not only that but you’ll also get the Best 10 Memory Sticks to give you a boost!
What are DDR4 Rams Good for?
DDR4 RAM Memory Sticks have transfer rates that go between 2133 and 4266 Million Transfers per Second (MT/s). The reason why this is impressive is because DDR3 memories can only do up to 800 to 2133MT/s. The high amount of transfer rates allows for better functionality with current generation processors and other hardware.
What RAM does for your computer is to not allow it to slow down. As computers become more and more demanding of resources, the chances for it to slow down increase. This holds true especially if the user is running highly demanding Operative Systems like Windows 10 or MacOS High Sierra.
There is another perk with the fact that DDR4 memory sticks don’t have to use as much voltage power as DDR3 memory sticks. As such, a good DDR4 memory stick will help laptops and other portable devices to last a lot longer in the field while having a Memory advantage.
This doesn’t transfer to much in gaming though. DDR4 memory sticks can have more transfers but they really aren’t necessary in the world of gaming as games don’t require that much transfer power to run, as such, if you have DDR3 sticks, you’re better off not upgrading to DDR4 unless the motherboard you’re running requires it.
Which Brands Are the Best?
The very first company that sticks out the most is Samsung, as they are the pioneers of DDR4 technology. In fact, Samsung was the first DDR4 Memory Stick manufacturer all the way back in 2011 and has retained their title as one of the best DDR4 Memory Stick manufacturers since.
Another great runner for best memory brand has to be Corsair. This company has manufactured a lot of great DDR3 and DDR4 memory sticks that have performed way above the expectations, often making a place in a lot of “Best of” listings and reviews.
Of course, we can’t talk about the Best Brands of DDR4 RAM Technology without bringing the Memory Titan itself, Kingston. The Kingston HyperX Fury products are known for having the capability of auto-overclock and optimizing the speeds of every computer using smart detection systems which inspect at the PC’s components.
How Much RAM is Needed for Gaming?
A lot of games in the Steam Marketplace aren’t that demanding in terms of the amount of RAM they require in order to run. It is generally thought that 4GB of RAM is the minimum requirement for most games in the current market like Rocket League, Garry’s Mod, No Man’s Sky, Burnout: Paradise and GameDev Tycoon.
However, it has become a rule of thumb that 8GB of RAM is needed to run most games without any worrying about slow down or something of the sort. In fact, a lot of games like Dragon Ball FighterZ, Mirror’s Edge, Hitman: Absolution, Batman: Arkham City and Overwatch require 8GB of RAM to run properly without issues.
Players who want to go for overkill or want to play games seamlessly while also doing things such as streaming or live chatting would find themselves better going for 16GB or 32GB of RAM. Although going above 16 is absolutely unnecessary and if you experience any sort of slow down then it is the fault of the Video Card, not the amount of RAM needed.
What are the Best DDR4 RAM Choices?
And now, we’ll list the best 10 DDR4 Sticks that Appuals can offer for the people who want to build their PC and make it as powerful as it’ll ever be. Obviously we’ll show their pros and cons as none of this is the completely perfect RAM choice. However, we can assure you that the picks we’ve chosen will ensure they suit your Gaming PC’s necessities.
Corsair Vengeance LPX Series
The Corsair Vengeance LPX is one of the best DDR4 Sticks out there. This stick is one of the best memory sticks that’s purely designed for seamless overclocking. Every module is built from an eight-layer PCB and highly-screened memory ICs, with this, overclocking is possible without much of an issue.
The Corsair Vengeance LPX is also available in the following Frequencies and Kits
| RAM | Bus Speed | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB (2x4GB) | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2800Mhz | 3000Mhz | |||
| Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2800Mhz | 3000Mhz (CL15) | 3200Mhz | 3600Mhz (CL16) | |
| Corsair LPX 32GB (2x16GB) | 2400Mhz | 2133Mhz | 2800Mhz | 3000Mhz (CL15) | 3000Mhz (CL16) | 3200Mhz | |
| CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 32GB (4x8GB) | 2400Mhz | 2133Mhz | 3000Mhz (CL15) | 3200Mhz | |||
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Multiple methods to allow Overclocking like PCB and Heat Spreader |  |
It's not as cheap as other DDR4 sticks can get. |
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The DDR4 form factor is optimized for the latest Intel Motherboards | ||
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Frequency up to 3000mHz | ||
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XMP 2.0 Support |
Corsair Vengeance LPX Series
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Multiple methods to allow Overclocking like PCB and Heat Spreader |
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The DDR4 form factor is optimized for the latest Intel Motherboards |
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Frequency up to 3000mHz |
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XMP 2.0 Support |
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It's not as cheap as other DDR4 sticks can get. |
Check Price
Another great feature is the Intel XMP 2.0 support this chip can pack. The Extreme Memory Profile compatibility allows this chip to automatically overclock itself without the need of additional input, making it an excellent product for people who want to push their PC to the absolute limit.
There is a wide variety of choices for any PC Gamer who wants a Stick that accomodates best to their Motherboard. That said, there are some users who struggle a bit in terms of finding the right choice in terms of the right Stick cause some choices work better for certain Motherboards, as such, it’s important to ask the manufacturers about the compatibility of the Motherboard before making a purchase.
However, the compatibility issues do not hold back the amount of benefits the Corsair Vengeance LPX chips can offer as well. Especially with the capability of Overclocking easier and get easily used to the gamer’s demands in terms of performance.
This chip sacrifices a lot of things in favor of a single thing, which is Performance. It doesn’t look extremely magnificent and it’s a pretty tricky device to configure, but the gamer will definitely get their best performance out of any other DDR4 RAM chip.
G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) (PC4 25600) F4-3200C16D-16GTZR
The G.Skill TridentZ RGB Series RAM is one of the best DDR4 Memory Sticks out there. Not only does it offer quite high speeds that also can perform great on different motherboards that are compatible with this chip, but it also offers high frequencies as high as 4,266 Mhz which guarantees that you get absolutely no slow down in any program.
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3200 Mhz of frequency | |
High CAS Latency (16). |
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RGB Lighting on the top of the stick | ||
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Can support speeds between 2400 and 4266Mhz |
G.SKILL TridentZ RGB Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) (PC4 25600) F4-3200C16D-16GTZR
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3200 Mhz of frequency |
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RGB Lighting on the top of the stick |
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Can support speeds between 2400 and 4266Mhz |
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High CAS Latency (16). |
Check PriceThe TridentZ RGB Series also offers the capability of performing at its best on Intel computers, allowing users who prefer their powerful motherboards and i7 chips to get more bang for their buck while also looking quite spectacularly in the process.
Of course, we can’t talk about the TridentZ RGB Series without its characteristic RGB color spectrum that’s included on the top of the unit. Each unit comes with customizable colors that will illuminate your Gaming PC, giving it the most sleek and colorful appearance it can get without any issue.
This RAM chip is made for the gamer who wants to stand out from the crowd with his gaming PC. Definitely a PC that will be standing out in more ways than one and make jaws drop with the light show these chips can offer.
Ballistix Sport LT Series
One of the highest memory speed and reliability memory sticks out there and also one of the best overall. The Ballistix Sport LT Memory Stick allows for high frequency memory speeds that star off from 2,400 Mhz of Frequency and can go above and beyond that in order to bring the most seamless computing experience.
The Ballistix Sport LT also Comes in the Following Speeds:
| Bus Speed | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ballistix Sport LT 8GB Single | 2400MT/s | 2666MT/s |
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Perfectly Suited for Performance Enthusiasts | |
None |
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Allows to run high-end Applications seamlessly | ||
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Plug and Play Installation | ||
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Faster speeds and responsiveness than standard Crucial DDR4 memory |
Ballistix Sport LT Series
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Perfectly Suited for Performance Enthusiasts |
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Allows to run high-end Applications seamlessly |
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Plug and Play Installation |
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Faster speeds and responsiveness than standard Crucial DDR4 memory |
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None |
Check PriceThis memory stick is mostly designed for PC Gamers and Performance Enthusiasts that want to squeeze the maximum potential out of their computer without needing to go for those fancy looking RGB sets or go after big brands like Corsair or Kingston.
The design of the stick is also pretty cool looking with the whole “Sport” theme it has going on. It gives it a modern look without needing to resort to rainbow color schemes in order tostand out from the crowd, which is a respectable effort.
This is also one of the easiest sticks to install as one of the highlighted features of this memory stick is the fact that the intuitive model design, Plug&Play availability, and compatibility with XMP 2.0 profiles along with other features makes it one of the best memories to use for people who don’t really know how to install a RAM and just want to plug it into its slot and see the benefits right away.
HyperX Kingston Fury Series
This is the classic of classics, Kingston’s HyperX series has the FURY variety of RAM Chips that can perform as well as you can expect. These babies stand out the most for actually being compatible with AMD processors, helping a lot of users who prefer items such as the RYZEN line of processors over the Intel Core i units.
The best part of the HyperX FURY is the fact that these DDR4 RAM chips can actually overclock automatically thanks to the compatibility with Intel’s XMP 2.0 profiles. It is also important to note that the frequency of the chips can also go up to 3466 Mhz of frequency.
HyperX FURY also comes in the following Frequencies and Kits:
| Bus Speeds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HyperX FURY (16GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | 3200hz | 3466Mhz |
| HyperX FURY (8GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | 3200hz | 3466Mhz |
| HyperX FURY (4GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | |||
| HyperX FURY 64GB Kit (4X16GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | ||
| HyperX FURY 32GB Kit (4X8GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | ||
| HyperX FURY 32GB Kit (2X16GB) | 2133Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | 3200hz | 3466Mhz | |
| HyperX FURY 16GB Kit (4X4GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | |||
| HyperX FURY 16GB Kit (2X8GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 2933Mhz | 3200hz | 3466Mhz |
| HyperX FURY 8GB Kit (2X4GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz |
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Auto-Overclock up to 3466Mhz | |
Variable CAS Latency (15-19) |
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XMP 2.0 Compatibility | |
Speed depends on the motherboard's BIOS |
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Also Compatible with AMD Processors |
Kingston HyperX FURY Series
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Auto-Overclock up to 3466Mhz |
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XMP 2.0 Compatibility |
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Also Compatible with AMD Processors |
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Variable CAS Latency (15-19) |
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Speed depends on the motherboard's BIOS |
Check PriceThe HyperX FURY sis one of the biggest classics in the entire industry, helping PC Gamers far and wide while also not sucking them dry of their funds. This is definitely one of the biggest premiere choices for PC Gaming and it also allows for a great experience altogether.
Another thing that makes the FURY stand out from its competitors is the fact that it can be an Energy Efficient RAM Chip. This Chip only needs 1.2 V of energy, making it one of the most energy friendly choices that won’t need to consume as much electricity in order to work properly.
This also tends to be the cost effective choice for a lot of gamers. If the player wants to get a budget Gaming PC this is certainly one of the first choices in terms of budget choices which gives the best experience for not a lot of dollar.
CORSAIR DOMINATOR Series
The Corsair Dominator Platinum is not a thing that has to be taken lightly. There is an ample variety of benefits that this line of DDR4 memory units offers for users overall. There is a reason why Corsair is just the most sought-after line of products by gamers and computer enthusiasts after all.
Corsair PLATINUM is also Available on the Following Frequencies and Kits:
| Bus Speeds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corsair PLATINUM 128GB Kit (8X16GB) | 2666Mhz | 3200Mhz | 2400Mhz (C14) | 3000Mhz (C16) | ||
| Corsair PLATINUM 64 GB Kit (8X8GB) | 4000Mhz | 2666Mhz | 3200Mhz | 2400Mhz (C14) | 3333hz | 3800Mhz |
| Corsair PLATINUM 64GB Kit (4X16GB) | 3000Mhz (C15) | 3200Mhz | 3466Mhz | 2400Mhz (C14) | 3333Mhz | |
| Corsair PLATINUM 32GB Kit (4X8GB) | 4000Mhz | 3600Mhz | 3733Mhz | 2400Mhz C14 | 3333Mhz | |
| Corsair PLATINUM 32GB Kit (2X16GB) | 3000Mhz (C15) | 3200Mhz | 3466Mhz | |||
| Corsair PLATINUM16GB (4X4GB) | 3000Mhz (C15) | 2666Mhz | 3200Mhz | 3600hz | 3200Mhz Red Top |
This product hails from early 2012 and has been unmatched ever since. DHX Cooling, an incredibly stylish appearance, ease of installation, the fact that it can be upgraded to include its own fan and light bars, and best of all, the overal presentation and capability of this product gives it its undisputed place among PC Gamers.
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Highest-End Memory with added efficiency for Content Creators | |
Extremely high price point |
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High-end Overclock Capabilities | ||
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Comes with LED Fans and upgradable light bars |
Corsair Dominator Platinum Series
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Highest-End Memory with added efficiency for Content Creators |
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High-end Overclock Capabilities |
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Comes with LED Fans and upgradable light bars |
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Extremely high price point |
Check PriceThe only thing that sets back this product is the price. Some kits can range from $1,000 USD depending on what the user is looking for. As such, this set is only made for people who are looking for a Premium Experience that delivers above and beyond expectations.
Other than that though, the Corsair Platinum offers an experience that only the best of Elite Gamers can offer. With big amounts of RAM power that promise no slowdown while also offering an experience that almost secures the chips from dying due to overheat.
A premiere product isn’t always an attempt to rob the players for their money. Corsair Platinum proves this by delivering the experience PC gamers want and then some without any issue whatsoever.
Patriot Memory Viper 4 Series
The best part about this memory stick is the fact that it’s made for Performance enthusiasts and the most hardcore of gamers overall. Manufactured using the highest quality components, Patriot’s Viper 4 Series DRAM memory kits are hand tested and validated for system compatibility.
Patriot Memory Viper 4 Series is also available in the Following Kits and Frequencies:
| Bus Speed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Viper 8GB (2X4GB) | 3000Mhz | |||
| Patriot Viper 16GB (2X8GB) | 3000Mhz | 3200Mhz | 3400Mhz | 3733Mhz |
This is a popular brand known for its capability of supporting speeds as high as 3733Mhz. Not only that but it also comes jam packed with excellent heat dissipiation to ensure the memory module runs cool and stable, also including a fully custom, air-craft grade all aluminum heat shield.
Patriot Viper 4 Series
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Compatible with X99 Skylake and later platforms |
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High performance Heat Shield |
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None |
Check PriceOverall, this is a memory Stick that only allows for great things to happen without any of the inconveniences other memories can offer. Of course it also comes with the added perk of supporting XMP 2.0 profiles and can overclock quite easily without needing input. The Patriot Memory Viper 4 Series is definitely one of the picks any user who wants to improve their PC gaming experience should check out.
It’s a pick that could be a bit controversial due to how simple it can be. However, this chip also works fine for AMD processors and Intel Processors alike and it helps both users without any sort of preferential treatment on one over the other. As such, this is a great all-rounder alternative for PC gamers who don’t want to stick to the conventional Intel Core i lineup of processors.
GIGABYTE AORUS RGB Memory 3200MHz DDR4 16GB (2X8GB)
GIGABYTE, a tech company known better for its graphic cards and motherboards decided to throw this curveball that impressed the PC gaming community at large. This is its first XMP supported DRAM, with DDR4 XMP 3200 16GB（8GB*2）memory modules and exclusive 2* RGB Infused Demo Modules.
This memory stick was first introduced all the way back in Computex in June of this year. It instantly gained the love of the Press and became the earner of the “Best Product” award from Tom’s Hardware as well as TechRadar. With this, the product became popular and started to give Corsair and other brands a run for their money.
GIGABYTE AORUS RGB MEMORY can support a multitude of AORUS exclusive RGB lighting effects with a light diffuser on the heatsink to provide the perfect balance of light and style. Not only that but the effects themselves can be customizable with ease by the user.
This also became one of the mandatory components to include in other high-end gaming PC’s thanks to its XMP compatibility and default speed of 3200 Mhz. AORUS RGB Memory heatsinks are an astounding 3 times denser than that of standard memory modules for significantly more effective heat dissipation.
GIGABYTE AORUS RGB Memory 3200MHz DDR4 16GB (2X8GB)
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Supports 3200 Mhz frequencies |
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Only comes in 16GB Kit |
Check PriceOverall, this is a great Runner Up and a great upstart by GIGABYTE that will probably reach a lot of gamer’s CPUs in the near future. The greatest features that this Memory Stick Kit offer can give the bigger companies a healthy competition for the best memory performance.
GIGABYTE is still new to the industry of RAM memory, of course. We can only expect that they continue to give products that continue to increase in quality and provide with better and more varied choices of DDR4 RAM experiences for any and all users.
G.Skill 16GB (2 x 8GB) Ripjaws V Series F4-3200C16D-16GVKB
This DDR4 G.Skill memory exists as an alternative for people who want to still use G.Skill Sticks without needing to go for the RGB choice. This is a pretty good stick that is meant to be used by performance addicts. Offering optimized compatibility with DDR4-compatible Intel Core platforms.
This memory stick also comes with a Sleek Design and its very own Aluminum Heat Sink alongside other perks like ultra low-voltage capabilities with 1.3V of usage and XMP 2.0 compatibility in the case of Intel Chipsets.
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Supports Intel Z170 Platform Intel X99 Platform chipsets | |
High CAS Latency 16 |
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Has its own Heat Spreader |
G.Skill 16GB (2 x 8GB) Ripjaws V Series F4-3200C16D-16GVKB
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Supports Intel Z170 Platform Intel X99 Platform chipsets |
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Has its own Heat Spreader |
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High CAS Latency 16 |
Check PriceOverall, the G.Skill Ripjaws V Series is a jaw-dropping memory that fulfills its purpose while providing the high-end performance experience that most performance enthusiasts seek without offering more beyond the highlights. Players will find a lot of fun times with this memory and get one of the best gaming experiences with absolutely no slowdown.
These memory sticks have a decent amount of latency compared to other products in the market. However, this isn’t noticeable enough compared to the rest of the benefits that this chip can offer. The Ripjaws V Series will definitely always stand out because of this and allow users to get the best experience.
If you want a Gaming PC with the G.Skill trademark performance without wanting any of those fancy-schmancy rainbow color effects and also offers a more budgeted choice, then this variant of the G.Skill RAM chips is for you.
ADATA XPG Z1 Series
The XPG Z1 Memory Stick is designed to be the “Ultimate Choice for PC Gamers and Overclockers” according to ADATA themselves. Of course, this doesn’t mean it actually does what it sets out to do but can perform its functions just fine as is.
ADATA XPG Z1 is also available on the Following Frequencies and Kits
| Bus Speed | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADATA XPG Z1 8GB Kit (2X4GB) | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | ||
| ADATA XPG Z116GB kit (2X8GB) | 2133Mhz | 2400Mhz | 2666Mhz | 3000Mhz |
| ADATA XPG Z1 16GB Kit (4X4GB) | 2400Mhz | |||
| ADATA XPG Z1 32GB Kit (2X16GB) | 3000Mhz | |||
| ADATA XPG Z1 32GB Kit (4X8GB) | 2133Mhz |
The jet wing-inspired design of XPG Z1 actually works for its benefit, featuring excellent cooling and stable data transfer due to Thermal Conductive Technology and 10-layer PCBs with 2oz of copper to effectively reduce electric resistance and consume less power, which greatly enhances the quality of signal transfer.
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Thermal Conductive Technology for improved heat dissipation | |
Expensive |
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Consumes 20% less power than DDR3 Sticks |
ADATA XPG X1 Series
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Thermal Conductive Technology for improved heat dissipation |
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Consumes 20% less power than DDR3 Sticks |
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Expensive |
Check PriceThe XPG Z1 is a standard DDR4 chip that actually performs its duty quite well. It can be a pretty hefty product for the fact that it can’t allow for higher frequencies and is rather outdated compared to the perks offered by other memories in this list. However, the classics will never expire and the ADATA XPG Z1 is quite an excellent proof of that.
These products aso offer incredible Tech Support and a very prominent Plug&play feature that allows it to connect to motherboards of this generation without any issue. A lot of people tend to prefer this to compliment their RYZEN builds, which are AMD processors.
Overall, this is a great product that has not aged at all despite how long it’s been in the market. It offers a great variety of choices that can be friendly on the budget or offer an extremely powerful experience. As such, this product is a great recommendation for PC Gamers.
Timetec Hynix IC Series
The Timetec Hynx IC DDR4 chip is one of those chips that has nearly nothing to write home about. However, it also offers the support for a huge variety of Motherboards and processors made by a wide variety of fabricants and manufacturers. Also comes in the following Kits:
The Timetec Hynix IC also comes in the following Variants:
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| Timetec Hynix IC 16GB Chip | Single Rank |
| Timetec Hynix IC 8GB Chip | Single Rank / Dual Rank |
| Timetec Hynix IC 4GB | Single Rank |
| Timetec Hynix IC 32GB Kit (2x16GB) | Single Rank |
| Timetec Hynix IC 16GB Kit (2X8GB) | Single Rank / Dual Rank |
| Timetec Hynix IC 8GB Kit (2X4GB) | Single Rank / Dual Rank |
The RAM Chip on itself doesn’t offer such things as incredibly valuable Heat Sinks or compatibility with XMP profiles. It instead offers a simple and austere offering for the gamer who wants to do nothing fancy with their chips and just wants an effective product with a good price.
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2400 Mhz Frequency Speed | |
High CAS Latency (17). |
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Compatible with a huge variety of Motherboards |
Timetec Hynx IC Series
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2400 Mhz Frequency Speed |
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Compatible with a huge variety of Motherboards |
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High CAS Latency (17). |
Check PriceThe Timetec Hynix IC chip is a memory that allows for the simplest of memory users to be part of the gaming community. It is quite definitely a chip that has nearly no outstanding features and the few highlights it has are the ones that gamers value most, efficency, reliability and performance.
The Hynx IC definitely offers a choice for the gamers who want to keep themselves on a budget and want to keep motherboards from manufacturers like Acer, ASUS and Gigabyte. Questions about compatibility are often answered most of the time by Timetec themselves and the chips offer the best performance despite being a chip that doesn’t have added features like Heat Sinks.
It pretty shows that you don’t need fancy stuff in order to continue shining in the PC Gaming World. This makes the Timetec Hynix IC stand out from the crowd as much as any other entry on this list.
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