The absolute bare minimum RAM requirement for a 64-bit Windows 10 is 2GB.
But good luck doing anything with that.
For normal primary usage, 8GB of RAM is acceptable.
Still, if youre a gamer, you should aim for 16GB.
This will give you plenty of space for games and background programs such as Discord or Chrome.
In some cases, 16GB of RAM isnt enough.
It might be worth it to future-proof your RAM configuration and get 32GB.
This is especially true if youre already going all out and arent on a reasonably tight budget.
RAM, especially DDR4 RAM, is priced pretty well at the moment.
So if you could stretch from 16 to 32GB of RAM, it could be worth it.
Once youve decided how much RAM you want, you then need to determine what RAM.
This is especially important to check with non-K or X series Intel CPUs.
Intel limited the supported RAM speeds to 2933MHz or even 2666MHz on some generations.
You might as well save some money, get a cheaper package, and potentially upgrade the capacity.
Motherboards obviously limit how many RAM sticks, or DIMMs, they can take.
DDR4 is the current RAM standard supported by all recent CPUs.
DDR5, however, is the newcomer.
It is currently only supported by the latest Intel CPUs.
However, the next generation of AMD and Intel CPUs will support it.
DDR4 is priced very well, allowing you to get well-performing 32GB sets for around $150.
DDR5 is more expensive.
This is partly because of the increased complexity as the modules require extra power management features.
DDR5 is also expensive because of a parts shortage, which is starting to clear up.
The Frequency of RAM denotes how often it can transmit data, so faster is obviously better.
Its not that simple, though.
Ultra-high-speed RAM kits dont always work easily or reliably and often dont provide scaling performance increases.
On Intel CPUs, the performance gains are slightly more consistent the higher you go.
There isnt much of a performance difference between DDR4 and DDR5.
DDR5 speeds will improve, though, as the technology matures.
Lower numbers are better but remember that this is related to clock speed.
you’re able to expect higher numbers with faster RAM and still get better performance.
A lower CAS latency will generally give a slight performance boost on either CPU platform.
High-end DDR4 RAM can be found with CL16 or so.
Current high-end DDR5 tends to have a CL of around 34 or 36.
This, too, will improve as DDR5 matures.
Again though, its worth noting that CL is measured in cycles.
DDR5 operates at around twice the cycle speed of DDR4, so theyre comparable.
Its also essential to see to it that all your RAM is identical.
You should buy multiple kits simultaneously to ensure the parts are the same.
If you dont do this, you might be left with standard performance RAM.
So double-check that your RAM is operating at peak performance when you install it.
Now you hopefully know a little more about RAM and its performance.
Here are our recommendations for the best RAM for gaming in 2022.
They run at 6000MTs and have a CAS latency of 40.
The transfer speed is one of the highest available.
However, the CL40 rating is a little slow compared to some rivals.
That said, the pricing of this set is solid for current DDR5 prices.
The heat spreader is a subtle black that should work in any build.
It does lack RGB lighting, though, if that was a feature you wanted.
It runs just below the highest currently available speeds.
Still, it has an ultra-low CAS latency of 32, giving it excellent performance.
G.SKILL continues to make it hard to find specific versions of their RAM.
Not selling them directly or listing variants in an easy-to-find way on Amazon.
The Z5 RGB comes with an excellent large heat spreader and RGB bar.
The heat spreader comes in black or silver to fit your preferred aesthetic.
Currently, this set is relatively expensive, even for DDR5 RAM.
The HyperX Predator
The HyperX Predator DDR4 RAMrange features the fastest RAM available, clocked at 5333MHz.
However, this comes at an eyewatering price premium of $1245 for a pair of 8GB sticks.
This range doesnt include any RGB lighting.
A similar branch does, but that currently maxes out at 4000MHz.
The RAM timings are solid, and the HyperX brand is recognized as reliable and high-quality.
HyperX no longer produces RAM, which has been subsumed by the parent company Kingston.
The styling will divide people, some finding it gorgeous and others flashy.
The kits are available at speeds up to 5333MHz as the HyperX Predator RAM, with slightly looser timings.
We think the 3200MTs CL16 option is the best currently.
Fitting into the AMD DDR4 memory sweet spot and is exceptionally well priced.
This may not be the fastest DDR4 RAM.
That was our roundup of the best gaming RAM in 2022.
Have you recently bought some gaming RAM?
What sold you on it, and what has your experience been with it so far?
Let us know down below.
