With the release of AMD’s 5000 series processors, there are a lot of PC enthusiasts looking to build around the Ryzen 9 5900X. But a powerful CPU such as the 5900X does require fast RAM if you want to get the most performance out of it. As a result, we have curated a list of the best RAM for Ryzen 9 5900X.
To make things easier for you, we have carefully selected and reviewed a couple of memory options that go great with AMD Ryzen processors. While you can’t go wrong with any of them, there’s no denying that some are better than others. More specifically, RAM with speeds of 3600MHz is ideal for most, but if you can afford to go higher in frequency such as 4000Mhz, you should see slightly improved performance.
CAS latency is another factor you should take into account along with the frequency. Then you can start thinking about RGB – which is a dealbreaker for more people than you’d think. But at the end of the day, there is an option for everyone, and you’ll find it on the list below. Before you buy, make sure you consider your needs and requirements, and most of all, your budget. It’s important that you pick the right RAM for your 5900X, so let’s get into the details.
Best RAM Best RAM for Ryzen 9 5900X
1. Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB, 3600MHz
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
- Stunning RGB LEDs with multiple patterns
- Flawless performance with room for OC
- Easy to customize XMP settings
Drawbacks
- A little bit pricey
Corsair has long been at the top of the memory game, and their Vengeance RGB Pro is an excellent kit for people who want to get everything, at a reasonable price. Good frequency, good timings, and RGB – and all priced, well, even cheap some might say. So, what do you get for your money?
Well, the first thing you get is a pair of really good-looking memory sticks. The all-black heat spreader works with just about any color when it comes to components, but it does have a downside – it is rather tall, which might cause issues with some larger CPU air coolers. On top of the heat spreader, you get an LED strip that works with Corsair’s iCUE software, and you can set the lights as you wish. If you have other Corsair components or accessories, you can even synchronize the RAM colors with that, too.
It’s not all about aesthetics, though, so let’s discuss performance for a minute. The two sticks you get work in dual channel, and they run at a reasonable 3600MHz. What’s also nice is that you have CL16 timings, so the overall performance is pretty great. Nothing to complain about, especially at this price. Overall, if you need a good performer, this is an excellent choice for Ryzen 9 5900X.
2. G.Skill Trident Z Neo 32GB, 3600MHz
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 32GB (2x16GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 18 | Timings: 18-22-22-42 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 43mm/1.69″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Excellent build quality and vivid RGB lights
- Reliable and performs exceptionally well with Ryzen processors
- Customizable with thousands of RGB patterns
Drawbacks
- Build quality could be improved
- Expensive
With 16GB of RAM quickly becoming “standard”, a lot of power users feel the need for more. If that sounds like you, G.Skill’s Trident Z Neo 32GB kit should be a strong contender for your new Ryzen 9 5900X build.
In terms of aesthetics, G.Skill has you covered. The Trident Z Neo is just the module you need if you can’t decide on a colorway for your system. The black and white heat spreader works with any color under the sun, and if you want to add a bit of an accent, you can use the RGB LEDs on the top for that. The colors can be controlled using G.Skill’s own software, and they do look pretty good.
To add to this, 32GB of RAM is quite a bit, and this is fast RAM, too, with tight timings. We’re talking about a 3600MHz kit that has 18-22-22-42 timings at 1.35V. This is great, and something your CPU will appreciate. Yes, some might say that faster could be better, but if you’re limited with your budget and do need the 32GB, this is still one of the best choices you can make.
Simply put, this is one of the best-looking RAM kits out there, with an ample capacity of 32GB, and a good CAS latency of 18.
3. G.Skill RipJaws V 16GB, 3600MHz
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Timings: 16-19-19-39 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 42mm/1.65″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- The timing is excellent for a dual-rank module
- Money’s worth performance
- Affordable
Drawbacks
- Visual design is a bit dated
There aren’t all that many good value RAM kits out there, but G.Skill’s RipJaws V is one of the best you’ll find. For a reasonable price, you get a pretty discrete-looking kit of two 8GB modules, with excellent performance and tight timings.
First things first, while the 3600MHz frequency might not sound all too impressive, the CAS latency is – you’re looking at a 16-19-19-39 kit. This is very good, especially when you’re going for a high-performance processor like the Ryzen 9 5900X that can take advantage of that. And if you want to be sure it’s going to be compatible with your motherboard, G.Skill has a handy QVL list that shows you all compatible options. But overall, we have zero complaints about performance.
We do have one about the design, though. Nowadays, the usual compromise you have to do is to sacrifice air cooler compatibility for a higher profile heat spreader with RGB lights. But here, you get a high-profile heat spreader and no RGB. Yes, it does result in better heat dissipation, but for some people looking for RGB lighting, it won’t really be worth it.
We would’ve liked to see either a lower profile design or some kind of RGB lighting option. If that doesn’t bother you, though, the RipJaws V gets you great value and excellent performance.
4. Thermaltake TOUGHRAM RGB 16GB, 4000MHz
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 4,000MHz | CAS Latency: 19 | Timings: 19-23-23-42 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 48.2mm/1.89″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Sophisticated RGB Lighting with 16.8m colors
- Optimized for AMD chips
- High performance with support for XMP 2.0
Drawbacks
- Timings could be better but are still fine
- Expensive
We know – Thermaltake might not be the first brand you turn to for RAM. But they made a lot of noise with their TOUGHRAM, and it’s definitely worth taking a look at. With a price this high, it’s not for everyone, but if it fits your budget, it’s probably a great choice.
First things first, the design is simple, yet beautiful. The RAM sticks look like a block, with a black and silver heat spreader on the side, and a rather large RGB light on top. Those lights are actually addressable LEDs, which you can customize with pretty much any color software out there. They even support syncing with Razer Chroma lights as well, a neat functionality you don’t see a lot. And another thing you don’t see elsewhere is the support for the TOUGHRAM RGB software which allows you to monitor temperatures, frequencies, and overall performance.
Speaking of performance, you get a lot of it with TOUGHRAM. The two sticks work in dual channel and run at a frequency of 4000MHz, which is the sweet spot for Ryzen 5000 series CPUs. To add to this, the CL19 timings are pretty tight considering the frequency, which results in even better performance. Overall, the TOUGHRAM kit gets you a lot for your money, even despite the high price.
5. Crucial Ballistix RGB 16GB, 3600MHz
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 16 | Timings: 16-18-18-38 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 39.17mm/1.54″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Unique heat shredders offer excellent airflow
- Fast and stable performance with headroom for OC
- Just the right amount of RGB lights, not too flashy
Drawbacks
- Single rank module
- RGB control software could be improved
Crucial’s Ballistix memory comes in a vast variety of options, but the Ballistix RGB kit is one of the best choices if you’re building a new system with AMD’s Ryzen 9 5900X. It’s a well-balanced package with plenty of things going for it, and it comes in white for all of you color-coordinating builders out there.
Performance is pretty great, thanks to the 3600MHz frequency, as well as the pretty tight CL16 timings. The XMP 2.0 support will automatically overclock the RAM, which is one less thing you need to do, and you’ll have it running at its best before you know it. Another thing we liked is that the aluminum heat spreader isn’t just for show – it does a great job at keeping the memory modules’ temperature low.
It does look nice, though, and unlike many other RGB RAM modules, it doesn’t result in an extremely high profile. You can still fit a larger air cooler, even if the slots are close to your CPU socket. And the RGB lights do look great. You get 16 LEDs organized in 8 zones, and they’re compatible with pretty much any RGB software out there.
Last but not least, the price is great, especially when you factor in everything you get with the Ballistix RGB. Definitely worth considering.
6. Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB, 3600MHz
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
- Low-Profile design offers room to install large CPU heatsinks
- Reliable product with exceptionally fast performance
- Cheap
Drawbacks
- Runs at default 2133MHz upon first boot up
If there’s one big issue with many modern RAM kits, it’s the fact that the heat spreaders are rather high, which makes it impossible to find a good air cooler for your processor. If you’re going to take that route with the Ryzen 9 5900X, Corsair’s Vengeance LPX kit has you covered.
Considering you won’t find any RGB lights or other additional extras on the Vengeance LPX, the heat spreader is rather low and doesn’t get in the way. The design is all-black, and pretty subtle, with the only accent being the yellow Vengeance logo on the side. We don’t mind it, quite the opposite – with so many modules opting to go the flashy, RGB direction, this is a nice change.
When it comes to performance, you won’t have any issues with the Vengeance LPX. Corsair chooses hand-sorted memory chips which makes sure that you have plenty of overclocking headroom. This specific kit is optimized for newer motherboards, too, which makes it perfect for a Ryzen 5000 series CPU like the 5900X. The high-performance PCB helps with overclocking too, and you can actually push this pretty hard. You do get a limited lifetime warranty for it as well, to give you a bit of peace of mind. The perfect choice if subtle is what you’re after.
7. XPG D60G RGB 16GB, 3600MHz
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 3,600MHz | CAS Latency: 18 | Timings: 18-20-20 | Voltage: 1.4V | Height: 45.9mm/1.80″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- Performances exceptionally well with X570 and X299 chipsets
- The spectrum customizable RGB is a sight for sore eyes
- Overclockable abilities, not restricted to BIOS
Drawbacks
- RGB lights may be too much for some
With so many great cases with tempered glass side panels, how your system looks inside is becoming even more important by the minute. If you’re going to be building your system in such a case, a RAM kit like XPG’s D60G is an excellent choice.
Why you might ask? Because instead of a small RGB LED surface on top of the heat spreader, XPG took the heat spreader and made (almost) all of it an RGB LED surface. The LEDs shine pretty brightly, and you can customize them as much as you want to because they work with software by most major motherboard manufacturers. The end result is an incredibly attractive RAM kit that acts as an accent point in your system.
To make things even better, XPG has ensured performance is great, too. You have two modules running at 3600MHz thanks to XMP 2.0, and you don’t even have to bother to get to that – it’s all automatic. The timings are CL18, which isn’t too impressive but isn’t too bad either.
When you factor in everything, it’s obvious that performance took a back seat here, but that doesn’t change the fact that the D60G is among the best RAM for Ryzen 9 5900X you’ll come across. Pricey? Yes, but worth it.
8. Patriot Viper Steel Series 16GB, 4000MHz
Specifications
Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x8GB) | Speed: 4,000MHz | CAS Latency: 19 | Timings: 19-19-19-39 | Voltage: 1.35V | Height: 44.45mm/1.75″ | Warranty: LifetimeBenefits
- With XMP 2.0 enabled, the performance is unbeatable
- Deliver excellent performance when backed with AMD processors
- Exceptional gaming performance
Drawbacks
- Stability problems at higher speeds
- Not much boost with OC
Some PC builders put aesthetics in the back seat when talking about RAM, and would rather get the best possible option as far as performance goes. For those builders, Patriot’s Viper Steel Series kit is the perfect RAM kit. Yes, it might be expensive, but it is very much worth it.
Since performance is the primary focus, let’s see what we’re dealing with. The two RAM sticks run at 4000MHz using XMP 2.0, and the tested timings come out at 19-19-19-39. Given the frequency, this is actually really, really good. A CPU like the Ryzen 9 5900X can definitely take advantage of it. Then there’s the fact that everything is tested on modern AMD platforms, so you’ll have zero issues in terms of compatibility.
Aesthetically, even though they don’t have lights or an exquisite design on the heat spreader, the modules look subtle and neat. The silver and black design blends in with just about any building color, so you don’t have to worry about the RAM sticking like a sore thumb. And that heat spreader does do a great job at keeping temperatures reasonable, which is great.
At the end of the day, if you care about RGB lights and flashy RAM modules, this isn’t for you. But if you’d rather get the ultimate in terms of performance, by all means, go for it.
Best RAM for AMD Ryzen CPUs Informational Video
Final Thoughts
With all things said and done, there’s no denying that there is something for everyone on the list. Whether you want your RAM to be the accent point in your PC and have it attract as much attention as possible, or you don’t care about looks and want the best in terms of performance, you should be covered. All that’s left for you to do is determine what kind of budget you’re working with, and then choose the option from the list that fulfills your needs best.
