AMD’s 5000 series processors have proven to be fantastic when it comes to performance in there of gaming and other computationally demanding workloads. This is especially true for the Ryzen 7 5800X. As a result, many are deciding to build or upgrade their PC based on the 5800X CPU. But with AMD Ryzen CPUs being notorious for requiring fast memory, it’s important that you choose the right RAM for your system. Therefore, in this article, we have reviewed the best RAM for Ryzen 7 5800X.
What to Look for When Buying RAM for Your Ryzen 7 5800X
RAM capacity
16GB (8GB x2) has been the sweet spot for standard PC builds for a good while now, and it continues to be even as we welcome DDR5 memory for current LGA1700 (Intel) and future AM5 socket motherboards. Though, if you are building a Ryzen 7 system anyway, you might as well increase the RAM to 32GB (8GB x4) to squeeze more task headroom for your PC. 8GB is doable, but definitely not recommended. Consider going 64GB (16GB x4) only if you have a specific use case for it (preferably a professional application).
Memory frequency
3600Mhz modules have been circulating for quite a while now, and are generally available at very affordable prices, so that should be your minimum target for the Ryzen 7 5800X. No point to purchase brand-new 3200Mhz kits if you’re going high-end regardless.
Memory timings
Next to frequency, having considerably low timings also greatly helps in speeding up the performance of your RAM stick. Your default target for DDR4 (in accordance with the target of this article) should start between (CL)16-18, and has a variance of only 2 to 3 units for each value.
Dual-channel vs single-channel
Minimum one stick for each channel (two or four), period. It’s a free performance bump in memory bandwidth that is absolutely necessary for any PC build, especially when it comes to Ryzen CPUs. Single-channel should be avoided unless absolutely last resort.
Best RAM for AMD Ryzen CPUs Informational Video
Best RAM for Ryzen 7 5800X
G.Skill Trident Z Neo
Verdict: Best Overall RAM for Ryzen 7 5800X
Anybody who fancies nice RGB colors with balanced chrome and matte black sides should go for the G.Skill Trident Z Neo. This kit has high frequency and low latency providing stability and performance.
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Timings: 16-19-19-39 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 43mm/1.69″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Rigid built quality with long life
- Beautiful design with bright RGB lights
- Heat shredders keep the temps on the down-low
Drawbacks
- Build quality could be better
- A bit on the expensive side
G.Skill’s Trident Z Neo is one of their best-selling models, and if you decide to get this kit, you’ll easily see why. For a price that a lot of people consider more than reasonable, you’re looking at a 16GB kit that has everything – good frequency, good timings, and (for some people) most important – RGB.
Kicking things off with the performance, the two 8GB sticks work in dual channel and run at 3600MHz. This would be “just okay”, but the timings are 16-19-19-39, which is great for a kit that runs at those frequencies. The heatsink also keeps the sticks rather cool, so you’ll have no problems in terms of temperatures either.
In terms of aesthetics, you’ve got a black and white design that looks great in any build, regardless of colorway. On top are the RGB LED strips, which you can set up to a color of your choice pretty easily by downloading G.Skill’s Trident Z Lighting Control Software. Of course, it would’ve been nice to control it with your motherboard’s software, but this does the job.
At the end of the day, the Trident Z Neo kit strikes an excellent balance in terms of looks, performance, and price. Unless you’re really picky about one of those things, this is the kit you should be going.
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro
Verdict: Runner Up RAM for Ryzen
Corsair memory modules are the perfect combination of performance, convenience, and premium design. There’s no need for additional tweaks, although the heat spreader may seem a tad bit taller for some PC builders.
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Timings: 16-18-18-36 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 51mm/2″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Fast performance and can be overclocked
- Easy to install and customize
- Reliable with long life
Drawbacks
- Somewhat pricey
- Tall heat spreader
Corsair’s at the top of the game when it comes to good RAM kits, and their 16GB Vengeance RGB Pro is a great way to get RAM that looks nice and performs great while keeping the price reasonable. It’s also a great choice for Ryzen 7 5800X, so let’s take a look at whether or not you should be considering it.
To begin with, the kit comes with two 8GB sticks, which means you get dual-channel memory from the start. The frequency is a decent 3600MHz, and you get a CAS latency of 16, which also isn’t bad. Overall, the performance should be pretty good, even when you really need an extra bit of performance. The ICs are carefully screened to ensure you can easily overclock them, to further help out with stability and performance.
Then there is the design, and we have to say we’re huge fans. The all-black heatsink does a great job, functionally, and is still low enough for you to be able to fit most air coolers next to it. However, you also get the RGB lights on top, which enhance the looks. These are 10 individually addressable RGB LEDs, and you can control them with Corsair’s iCUE software, which is neat. A great choice for AMD’s new Ryzen 7 5800X.
G.Skill RipJaws V
Verdict: Best Value RAM for Ryzen 7 5800X
RipJaws is your go-to option if you just need a reliable pair of memory modules that work perfectly. A bit lower-tier on the aesthetic side, but it’s a hundred times better than looking at raw memory chips.
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 18 | Timings: 18-22-22-42 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 42mm/1.65″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Affordable
- Reliable and fast with options to overclock
- Timing and latency is ideal
Drawbacks
- Aesthetic design could be better
Before there was RGB on every possible RAM module out there, G.Skill’s RipJaws V kit was one of the best-selling options out there. And that’s still true today, especially if you’d rather get a subtle RAM kit instead of a flashy one, so let’s take a look at a kit that could be a great pick for the Ryzen 7 5800X.
When it comes to aesthetics, you’re looking at a rather simple design. It’s an all-black heat spreader, but one with a relatively high profile. While this might cause problems when it comes to larger CPU coolers, it actually does a very good job of keeping the memory modules cool, even when they’re under load. And another upside is that it blends in with just about any PC build color.
In terms of performance, this kit runs in dual channel, and at 3600MHz, which should be sufficient for your build. You also get really tight timings, 18-22-22-42, so performance is top-notch at any time. If you’re worried about compatibility, G.Skill has a QVL list that tells you whether or not your motherboard is supported, so you can be sure.
Overall, if you’d like to avoid spending a lot of money, and want to get decent performance out of your RAM kit, this is the one to go for.
TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z
Verdict: Best Budget RAM for Ryzen 7 5800X
Don’t let that basic design and slightly lower clock speed fool you. It still packs quite a punch, especially considering its affordability. Besides, you might not want to just dismiss that alternative heat spreader design just yet.
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,200MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Timings: 16-18-18-38 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 32mm/1.26″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Very cheap for almost no (noticeable) performance penalty
- Negligible heat spreader height
- Simple design built for minimalist builds
Drawbacks
- Aesthetics can be a hit or miss
If you want something somewhat cheaper (or can be available for cheap more often) than G.Skill RipJaws modules, with a bit of design flair on the heat spreaders, then the silver version of the T-Force Vulcan Z is a pretty solid option. Spend more for what you can, while not sacrificing looks.
As for its RAM speed, 3200Mhz definitely comes on the lower side of what’s commonly available for DDR4 nowadays. But it still checks out spec-wise to match infinity fabric timings and is the most stable configuration (officially supported) for Zen 3 processors. Especially when tweaked to CL16, allowing the gap between 3600Mhz CL18 to be practically negligible when costs are involved.
Heat spreader design shows the signature V-shape of Vulcan modules, which can give a different impression compared to the rectangular aluminum hunks of HyperX Fury, Corsair Vengeance LPX, or even Crucial Ballistix modules. While height is very low, the silver design still kind of makes it stands out, instead of just blending in with the motherboard’s looks.
All in all, this particular kit is well suited for builds that want to funnel more funds into bigger components, without having to sacrifice performance, or even looks. Heck, maybe saving up here will actually be the reason for you to upgrade to a Ryzen 7 5800X.
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro
Verdict: Best High-Frequency RAM for Ryzen 7 5800X
The perfect module for tall heat spreader fanatics who don’t really prefer manual OC tweaking and has a tangible reason to go above 3600Mhz. As such, this version of the Vengeance Pro is a memory-sensitive workload booster at its finest.
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 4,000MHz | CAS Latency: 19 | Timings: 19-23-23-45 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 51mm/2″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Stable with no tweaks required
- Easily tunable downwards without affecting the entire system
- Reliable long life
Drawbacks
- For specific memory-intensive applications only
- Tall heat spreader
Technically, no visual element of the Vengeance RGB Pro will convince you to simply spend more for the exact same product line. The only difference really is the higher clocks, and perhaps the slightly looser CL timings.
Frankly speaking, 4000Mhz CL19 from a practical use case standpoint… is kind of pointless. While the numbers are definitely visible during benchmarks, it’s never really noticeable in practice. RAM intensive applications, such as Adobe Premiere, or even games like Far Cry 6 played on 1440p and higher will indeed experience a tangible improvement using these pre-tweaked modules. But these are quite specific use cases, applications that are worth the investment only if it is the most common thing you use your PC for.
Speaking of investment, it is also worth noting that the price difference will usually set you back at least $20 more compared to similar offerings that are lower (albeit more practical) in clock frequency. So keep in mind to gauge that as well when considering this module.
TEAMGROUP T-Force Xtreem ARGB 16GB, 3600Mhz
Verdict: Best RGB RAM for Ryzen 7 5800X
That tiny heat spreader is all there is to this kit, the huge addressable RGB area practically fills the entire space. No questions asked; this is easily the best memory module pair for all the ambient themes that you need, even for the obligatory rainbow splash.
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 14 | Timings: 14-15-15-35 | Voltage: 1.45V | Height: 49mm/1.9″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Tiny bump in performance due to CL14 latency
- Considerably huge RGB area
- Very competitive performance within its tier
Drawbacks
- Expensive
- Somewhat tall heat spreader
If you want a pair of memory modules that can instantly catch your attention, then this is it. As you can see from one side alone, the entire “heat spreader” itself is the RGB. Granted, brightness isn’t exactly its forte, but the customizable ambient modes can essentially give the entire motherboard a subdued, environmental glow. The ultimate representation of form over function, only this time function isn’t actually left in the dust at all.
This is because 3600Mhz CL14 is pretty darn stable for all types of builds, regardless of tier. While CL14 sounds like an improvement of CL16, in practice you might as well ignore the difference. Not gonna lie, though, it does look very good on paper and makes the looks-and-style investment on the T-Force Xtreem all the more superficially justifiable.
Now, for the obvious burning question: does the huge RGB area affect module temps? Nope, not at all. As mentioned earlier, the modules give off more of an ambient glow, so it doesn’t really generate a lot of heat. You don’t have to worry about prematurely failing modules for the same reason as those outdated RGB SSDs.
Price is kind of on the higher side for the T-Force Xtreem, so we probably cannot recommend this for more practical users. But hey, that’s the point of these modules right? Splurge on them if you’re interested in what the kit can offer visually. Just don’t do overclocking tweaks on it too much.
Corsair Vengeance LPX
Verdict: Best Low-profile RAM for Ryzen 7 5800X
It has a design that can potentially beat both the minimalist T-Force Vulcan and bulky black RipJaws, at least depending on the application. This makes it a perfect fit for typical Ryzen builds, even for something as high-end as a Ryzen 7.
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 18 | Timings: 18-22-22-42 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 33mm/1.32″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Small form factor for easy installation
- Still uses branded DIMM chips (warranty-related)
- No muss, no fuss in-game performance
Drawbacks
- No automatic memory profile setting feature
For people who don’t want to unnecessarily spend money on RGB and shiny plastics, but would like to get the best possible performance for the money, Corsair’s Vengeance LPX kit hits the nail on the head. This is a kit that comes with a high-performance PCB and with hand-sorted memory chips to make sure you get plenty of room for overclocking, and stability.
When it comes to looks, there isn’t much to it. You’re looking at an all-black heat spreader with a pretty low profile, so it doesn’t cause any issue with regard to air coolers on your CPU. It does a great job of keeping the RAM sticks cool, though, which is nice. As we mentioned, there is no RGB here – but this does keep the price low.
Let’s discuss performance for a bit. At 3600MHz, this dual-channel kit should do a good job. And at a CAS latency of 18, it does. As we mentioned, Corsair has a rather strict testing process to ensure these modules work at their best at any point in time, so you can rest assured you won’t have any performance issues. Intel’s XMP 2.0 support gives you overclocking opportunities, and you’ll get reliable, fast RAM that won’t get in the way of your massive air cooler.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, though you could definitely take advantage of fast, 4000MHz RAM with AMD’s Ryzen 5800X CPU at diminishing returns, your PC will still do with a cheaper RAM that has frequencies of 3600MHz or even 3200MHz. It’s a matter of setting a budget you’re comfortable with, and then getting the kit that works best for you. If you can, by all means, extend that budget and try to get a good kit with low CAS latency, high frequencies, and if you so desire – RGB lights that you can customize.
Frequently Asked Ryzen 7 5800X RAM Questions
Is 3600Mhz RAM good for Ryzen 7 5800X?
Yes, 3600Mhz is good for Ryzen 7 5800X. As with any Zen 3 processor, 3600Mhz remains the most stable frequency, plus the one that is most available in many DDR4 kits today.
Is 32GB RAM overkill for Ryzen 7 5800X?
Yes, 32GB RAM is somewhat overkill for the Ryzen 7 5800X, given that 16GB is still sufficient for most users. However, it is becoming less and less overkill as RAM usage of games and applications increases. You might also want to step it up a notch to 32GB if you have lots of RAM-intensive games and programs running simultaneously. Such as if you are streaming, a content creator, someone who has a large number of browser tabs open, etc.
How much RAM does Ryzen 7 5800X support?
The Ryzen 7 5800X can support up to 128GB of dual-channel memory at 3200Mhz. In any case, you don’t have to worry about populating every single DIMM slot with the highest RAM capacity available for DDR4.
What is the max RAM speed for Ryzen 7 5800X?
7156Mhz is the world record for DDR4, but this used liquid nitrogen for cooling. Not even close to being practical. 4800Mhz is certainly workable a standard max overclock value, but the actual gains are far too little compared to the exorbitant prices of the kits. Just stick close within the range of 3600Mhz (3000-4000Mhz).
