Preparing for your year-end holiday PC builds: Performance DDR5 options
Don't just put up with normal DDR5, have a merry DDR5!
We’re a couple months away from the end of the year, and if you’ve been saving up throughout the year, it’s probably not a bad time to consider a PC build to end the year. For AMD fans, the timing isn’t the best; AMD’s upcoming Zen 5 architecture-based Ryzen 8000 processors are likely only going to come sometime in the first half of 2024. Intel fans on the other hand, won’t have to wait as long, with the upcoming 14th gen Core (Raptor Lake Refresh)processors landing sometime later in the month.
When then, is the best time to build a PC? The answer is simple enough: Build one when you need one.
And if you’re looking to build a PC in the very near future, let us give you a bit of a head start with someof the newer performance DDR5 memory that you can consider as part of your upcoming build. Of course, memory brands are aplenty, and the following list is clearly one that isn’t exhaustive, but hopefully this does get you thinking about what’s available out there beyond the e-store retailer or shopkeeper pushing bargain basement options.
DDR5 memory first made its appearance in 2021, but thanks to the latest processors that come with native support for this new class of memory, starting with Intel’s 12th generation and 13th generation CPUs, as well as AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors from the past couple of years.
One of the key improvements that DDR5 offers over DDR4 is in data transfer rates. DDR4 memory officially (according to the JEDEC committe) runs at up to 3200 Megatransfers per second (MT/s), with DDR5 usually starting from 4800 MT/s. For marketing simplicity, you'll often find them sold as "DDR4-3200" and "DDR5-4800", respectively. These days, you'll also often find DDR5 going well well beyond 6000 MT/s, such as some of the new options we're sharing in this feature.However, DDR4 memory has the benefit of being far more mature in terms of development, and come with memory latencies that are far lower. As DDR5 technology continues to develop, memory latencies should improve. However, what DDR5 memory also brings to the table are higher overall capacities, and lower power consumption.
Today, DDR5 memory has made its way into the mainstream, with DDR5-compatible motherboards far more easily found today as the platforms supporting them have been around a couple of years. And with memory prices generally trending downwards over time (check out our how affordable they are at some of the established Sim Lim Square retailers), if you’ve been holding off upgrading your older machines running on DDR4 (or older) memory, now is a good time as any to jump onboard the DDR5 bandwagon for a more future-proof build.
While shopping, you'll also come across overclocing friendly memory that have been tested and certified for either the respective AMD or Intel platforms. On the red camp, you'll see them branded as AMD Expo, and you can learn a little more about them here, while on the blue camp, you'll see them marked as Intel XMP 3.0. We've also written about Intel XMP 3.0 in more depth here.
TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem DDR5
If you’re looking for a minimalist set of DDR5 memory sticks, TeamGroup’s T-Force Xtreem DDR5 memory might not be up your alley. That said, the overall look of these memory sticks isn’t ugly, but we’d recommend that TeamGroup reconsider slapping on the tacky T-FORCE badge / medallion. Under the hood though, these memory sticks come in a range of speeds, with frequencies ranging from 7600MT/s at CL36 latency (2 x 16GB and 2 x 24GB), 8000MT/s at CL38 latency (2 x 16GB and 2 x 24GB), and 8200MT/s at CL28 latency (2 x 24GB). These modules are rated to be compatible with motherboards running on the Intel 700 series chipsets. On the outside, cooling is handled by a set of 2mm-thick two-piece heat spreaders.
Find out more about the TeamGroup T-Force Xtreem DDR5 memory modules here. We'll update again when we've more information of their availability. For now, you can also browse what else you can pick up from TeamGroup on Amazon.
G.Skill DDR5-6400 Memory Kits for AMD AM5 Platform
G.Skill’s new range of DDR5 memory kits under the Trident Z5 Neo RGB series, which come in both black and white variants. These memory kits are specced atDDR5-6400 CL32-39-39in kit capacities of32GB (16GB x 2) and 48GB (24GB x 2) memory kits. They are designed for AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors and AMD X670 chipset motherboards with AGESA 1.0.0.7c BIOS updates. These modules support AMD EXPO overclock profiles if you’d like to squeeze a little more speed out of your build, presuming you have the right motherboard and processor on hand.
Find out more about the G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB series here. They also have Intel XMP certified modules in the same series. Check out more from G.Skill on Amazon here.
XPG Lancer RGB ROG Certified DDR5
If you’re a bit of an ASUS ROG fan, these memory modules from XPG might just be the ideal ones for your new build. Specifically, when the Lancer RGB ROG Certified DDR5 memory modules are paired with an Intel Z790 ROG-compatible motherboards, Intel XMP 3.0 can be turned on to immediately overclock the modules to a spiffy to 6600MT/s. By further enabling "ROG Certified" mode, users can enjoy an additional 3% speed boost to 6800MT/s.Unfortunately, this kit only comes in a 16GB capacity with a CAS latency of CL32.
XPG claims that these modules have undergone extensive testing byROGfor compatibility with ROG Intel DDR5 series motherboards, pretty much ensuring that ROG users can enjoy guaranteed overclocking performance simply by slotting these modules in and turning on "ROG Certified" mode from the BIOS. Visually, these Lancer RGB ROG Certified DDR5 modules certainly look like a million bucks with sleek aluminium heatsinks and a glossy electroplated surface that adds a bit of visual pizazz. Of course, as the product name dictates, RGB functionality is present, should you feel like turning your PC’s innards into a wannabe disco.
Find out more about the Lancer RGB ROG Certified DDR5 memory modules here. Also don't forget to check out what else you can get from XPG on Amazon.
Patriot Viper Xtreme 5 DDR5
The Viper Xtreme 5 DDR5 will come in both RGB-capable and non-RGB models, though in terms of design, RGB or not, these kits do look a little garish and over-the-top when it comes to appearances. Much like most other DDR5 kits, these have aluminium heat spreaders on the outside. Thankfully, looks hardly impact performance in situations like these, with these memory kits available in 7,600 MT/sto8,200 MT/sspeed kits, with kit capacities ranging from 32GB (16GB x 2) to 48GB (24GB x 2). These kits also support Intel XMP 3.0 profiles, when used with compatible Intel motherboards.
Find out more about the Patriot Viper Xtreme 5 DDR5 memory modules here. Take note that Patriot Memory isn't available locally and is only soldoverseas, so they can cost you a lot more.
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