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The 12th-generation Intel CPUs are out for the masses, and the flagship i9-12900K CPU showcases 16 cores and 24 threads. Moreover, the 5.20GHz boost clocks ensure outstanding gaming performance. So, for a CPU this powerful, you will also need impressive components. Therefore, in today’s article, after extensive research, we have compiled a list of the top RAM kits for the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU.
Here is a comparison table of our top picks:
More for the Intel Core i9-12900K:
Best RAM For i9-12900K
Here are our top picks for the best RAM for the Core i9-12900K:
- Best Overall DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB
- Best RGB DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K: TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB
- Best Budget DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K: Crucial DDR5
- Best Overall DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K: G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4
- Best DDR4 Gaming RAM For i9-12900K: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4
- Best Budget DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4
G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB
Best Overall DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
Specifications: Memory Type: DDR5 | Capacity: 32GB (2x 16GB) | Frequency: 6,600MHz | Latency: CL34 | Latency (Nanoseconds): 10.3ns | RGB: Yes | Voltage: 1.40V
Pros
Cons
Design: The G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 RAM kit showcases an eye-catching angular design featuring built-in RGB, courtesy of the translucent bar lining the top of the RAM sticks. Additionally, I loved that the RAM comes in two colors: Matte Black and Metallic Silver.
Performance: The RAM kit provides an outstanding 6,600MHz frequency, CL34 timings, and a low 10.3ns latency. During my performance testing, the kit showcased incredible performance during gaming at 1440p and 4K resolutions and helped the CPU with video editing tasks.
Overclocking Potential: While the RAM kit has immense XMP 3.0-enabled performance, I was disappointed by its overclocking capabilities. To explain, during my testing, the RAM only achieved a slight 400MHz boost with a substantial voltage increment. Moreover, any further changes made it unstable.
Buy It If
Check out these exclusive photos of the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32GB DDR5 from our latest review.
✅ You want a gorgeous RAM kit for productivity tasks: If you’re looking for a beautiful RAM kit that complements not only your PC build but also the i9-12900K CPU for productivity tasks, then I recommend purchasing the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 kit because of its performance and looks.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You want to overclock your RAM: I don’t recommend buying this RAM kit if you’re considering overclocking to maximize your purchase value. In my testing, the RAM kit showed almost zero overclocking capabilities.
What Makes It The Best Overall DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K?
The G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 RAM kit provides outstanding XMP 3.0-enabled performance, allowing users to gain an edge in productivity tasks and gaming easily. Moreover, the RAM provides beautiful looks to boast. So, this makes it the best overall DDR5 RAM for the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU.
Out of all the RAM kits, I loved the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5 kit the most because of its impressive performance and aesthetics. If your main use-case scenario is based on video editing, this RAM kit will take you to places with the Intel Core i9-12900K blended in your build. So, if the kit matches your budget, you won’t regret making this purchase.
– Dr. Usman Saleem
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 9/10 |
TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB
Best RGB DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
Specifications: Memory Type: DDR5 | Capacity: 32GB (2x 16GB) | Frequency: 6,000MHz | Latency: CL30 | Latency (Nanoseconds): 10ns | RGB: Yes | Voltage: 1.35V
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Impressive 6,000MHz frequency
- Beautiful RGB aesthetics
- Good build quality
Cons
- Less overclocking headroom
Design: The TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 RAM kit showcases an outstanding aluminum brushed heatsink and an aggressive design with sharp angles. We loved the RGB customizations in particular with the RAM kit. Moreover, the RAM’s build quality increases its longevity and pricing value.
Performance: Talking about performance, the RAM kit provides an impressive 6,000MHz frequency, tight CL30 timings, and a low 10ns latency. During our dedicated performance testing, the kit produced astonishing results with the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU at 1440p and 4K resolutions.
Nauman Siddique, our hardware reviewer, loved the RAM’s performance and stated the following in his review:
“The Delta RGB 32GB DDR5 kit packs a good performance with tight timings giving it a distinctive advantage over loose timing kits. What makes this kit even more compelling is the pricing giving this kit a good price-to-performance ratio.”
Overclocking Potential: Outside of its XMP 3.0-enabled performance, we were disappointed by the RAM’s overclocking capabilities. To explain, we only got a 400MHz boost after increasing the voltage to 1.80V. The RAM wasn’t completely stable even then without changing the CAS timings.
Buy It If
Here are a few images from our dedicated review:
✅ You want a visually attractive PC with super-fast latencies: If you’re looking for a RAM kit that has beautiful aesthetics while also showcasing impressive gaming performance, we recommend buying the TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 RAM kit because of its looks and performance.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You want to overclock your RAM: We don’t recommend purchasing this RAM kit if you’re considering overclocking because this kit does not like being overclocked.
What Makes It The Best RGB DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K?
The TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 RAM kit provides outstanding gaming performance, tight CL timings, and an impressive 6,000MHz frequency. Moreover, the RAM incorporates immaculate RGB lighting, taking the kit’s aesthetics to another level. All-in-all, making it the best RGB DDR5 RAM for the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 7/10 | Design: 10/10 |
Crucial DDR5
Best Budget DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
Specifications: Memory Type: DDR5 | Capacity: 32GB (2x 16GB) | Frequency: 4,800MHz | Latency: CL40 | Latency (Nanoseconds): 16.6ns | RGB: No | Voltage: 1.1V
Pros
- Affordable
- Decent gaming performance
- Adequate 4,800MHz frequency
- Low voltage input
Cons
- No heatsink
- Lacks RGB
- Loose CAS timings
Design: The Crucial DDR5 RAM kit is as basic as it comes. The DIMMs lack a heat spreader, and the DRAM chips are out in the open, lying on a bare PCB like the good old days. However, at least the RAM kit doesn’t suffer from any thermal throttling, even while being overclocked.
Performance: Going towards its performance, the RAM kit offers a decent 4,800MHz frequency, loose CL40 timings, and a slow 16.6ns latency. The on-paper specifications don’t look good, but during my testing, the kit showcased decent gaming performance with the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU at 1440p and 4K resolutions.
Overclocking Potential: Aside from its XMP performance, the RAM kit showcases slight overclocking potential, which is a godsend for budget RAM kits. I got a 400MHz boost during my testing by increasing the voltage to 1.30V. I didn’t change the timings because of thermal constraints, but you can attempt to do so.
Buy It If
✅ You want decent DDR5 performance on a tighter budget: If you’re on a tight budget but require a DDR5 RAM kit for your use-case scenario, I recommend purchasing the Crucial DDR5 RAM because of its value and performance.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You need a heatsink with RGB: If you want a RAM kit with a proper heatsink to reduce temperatures and better aesthetics with RGB lighting, then I don’t recommend buying this RAM kit.
What Makes It The Best Budget DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K?
The Crucial DDR5 RAM kit provides outstanding value at an affordable price. Moreover, the RAM does not bottleneck the i9-12900K CPU or thermal throttle even while overclocked. With its slight overclocking capabilities, we have crowned it the best budget DDR5 RAM for the Intel Core i9-12900K processor.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 7/10 |
G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4
Best Overall DDR4 RAM For i9 12900K
Specifications: Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 32GB (2x 16GB) | Frequency: 3,200MHz | Latency: CL16 | Latency (Nanoseconds): 10ns | RGB: Yes | Voltage: 1.35V
Pros
- Outstanding gaming performance
- Aggressive RGB design
- Excellent build quality
- Low latency
- Decent overclocking potential
Cons
- Higher overclocked voltage
- Slightly lower frequency
Design: The G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4 RAM kit certainly sets itself apart with an aggressive, angular design. This design language goes well with other gaming components that share a similar style, and the larger RGB bars on the top of the modules also help in this regard.
Performance: The RAM kit showcases impressive gaming performance with its 3,200MHz frequency, tight CL16 timings, and a good 10ns latency. During my testing with the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU, the modules showed decent video editing capabilities at 1440p and 4K resolutions.
Overclocking Potential: Besides its XMP 3.0-enabled performance, I loved the RAM’s overclocking capabilities. To explain, I got a decent 600MHz boost during my testing but had to increase the voltage to 1.55V to achieve stable results. However, I couldn’t see any potential to change the CAS timings.
Buy It If
✅ You want the optimal DDR4 RAM for the i9-12900K: If you don’t want to upgrade to DDR5 RAM and require outstanding performance, looks, and overclocking potential from a DDR4 kit, I recommend purchasing the G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4 RAM kit.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You dislike higher voltage: If you dislike higher RAM voltage, especially while overclocking, I don’t recommend buying this kit because of its power-hungry nature.
What Makes It The Best Overall DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K?
The G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR4 RAM kit is one-of-a-kind, providing outstanding value, performance, and aesthetics with impressive overclocking potential. The kit has almost no cons, making it the best overall RAM for the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4
Best DDR4 Gaming RAM For i9-12900K
Specifications: Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x 8GB) | Frequency: 3,200MHz | Latency: CL16 | Latency (Nanoseconds): 10ns | RGB: Yes | Voltage: 1.35V
Pros
- Solid gaming performance
- Beautiful RGB
- Impressive overclocking capabilities
- Low latency
Cons
- Compatibility issues
- Slightly low frequency
Design: The Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM kit is available in black and white to easily fit your PC’s theme. In addition, there is a huge and vibrant RGB bar on the top, which is a big selling point for this kit. We also loved the customization capabilities the kit provides.
Talking about the RAM’s beautiful aesthetics, Sajjad Hussain, our senior hardware reviewer, stated in his review:
“I credit Corsair for incorporating 10 ARGB LEDs into a compact space, delivering an impressive visual experience unaffected by surrounding light. The kit’s lighting solution meets my expectations for Corsair’s standards.”
Performance: The RAM kit provides an adequate 3,200MHz frequency, tight CL16 timings, and a decent 10ns latency. Our dedicated performance testing showed outstanding gaming performance at 1440p and 4K resolutions with the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU. The RAM loaded maps almost instantly in all intensive games.
Overclocking Potential: We were astounded by the RAM’s overclocking potential when we put it through the grinder in our personalized overclocking tests. To explain, we got a decent 600MHz boost with a voltage increment to 1.380V. You can change the CL timings to CL14, but you’ll have to give up on the frequency boost.
Buy It If
We took a few images during our review:
✅ You want the best gaming experience with a DDR4 RAM kit: If you want the best gaming experience with a DDR4 RAM kit installed with the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU, we recommend buying the Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM kit because of its looks and performance.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You’re using a larger air cooler: If you’re using a larger air cooler like the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 to cool your CPU, we don’t recommend buying this RAM kit because of its taller height and lower RAM clearance.
What Makes It The Best DDR4 Gaming RAM For i9-12900K?
The Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4 RAM kit provides outstanding gaming performance, lower latency, and impressive overclocking capabilities. Moreover, its remarkable RGB and overall design make it pleasing to the eye. Thus, all these points make it the best DDR4 gaming RAM for the Intel Core i9-12900K processor.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 9/10 |
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4
Best Budget DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K
Specifications: Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 16GB (2x 8GB) | Frequency: 3,200MHz | Latency: CL16 | Latency (Nanoseconds): 10ns | RGB: No | Voltage: 1.35V
Pros
- Excellent low-profile design
- Decent 3,200MHz frequency
- Super affordable
- Remarkable performance and value
- Slight overclocking potential
Cons
- Lacks RGB
- Simple heatsink design
Design: The Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 RAM kit is basic, with no aggressive styling or fancy RGB lighting. Instead, Corsair has provided a simple black metallic heat spreader for heat dissipation. I loved the RAM’s low-profile design the most, allowing immense RAM clearance even with a large air cooler.
Performance: The RAM kit has a decent 3,200MHz frequency, tight CL16 timings, and a low 10ns latency. During my performance testing, the RAM kit showed adequate FPS in all games at 1440p and 4K resolutions with the Intel Core i9-12900K processor.
Overclocking Potential: Going towards its overclocked performance, the RAM kit provides slight overclocking potential, adding value to its affordable price. I got a slight 400MHz boost during my testing without changing the voltage or the CAS timings.
Buy It If
✅ You want decent performance on a tight budget: If you’re on a tight budget and require decent performance from a DDR4 RAM kit to not bottleneck the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU, I recommend the Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 RAM kit.
Don’t Buy It If
❌ You want an aesthetically pleasing design: If you want an aesthetically pleasing design from a budget RAM kit, I don’t recommend buying the Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 RAM kit because of its simple and bland design without any RGB.
What Makes It The Best Budget DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K?
The Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 16GB RAM kit provides decent performance and slight overclocking capabilities without breaking an arm and a leg. Therefore, it is the best budget DDR4 RAM for the Intel Core i9-12900K CPU.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Design: 7/10 |
How We Picked & Selected These RAM Kits For The i9-12900K
Picking the best RAM kits for a performance-focused CPU such as the Core i9-12900K is not as straightforward as one might think. Therefore, we considered the following factors while picking the RAM for the i9-12900K. You should also consider these factors whenever you’re buying RAM.
- Budget: Setting RAM modules apart from each other are several factors, such as build quality, aesthetics, and general design, as well as performance and heat dissipation, which combine to form a variable price for the RAM kits, depending on the brand. Therefore, you need to pick the best value for price products.
- Performance: Objectively speaking, performance can be classified as the most critical aspect of any RAM kit. CAS latency and frequency showcase how much performance a RAM kit will provide. Therefore, you should always choose tighter CL timings and higher frequencies.
- Build Quality: In terms of build quality, almost all manufacturers are now fully sealing RAM modules for improved longevity, thanks to increased dust and humidity resistance. Brands tend to differ, some favoring premium construction while others fancy something more functional to keep the price low.
- Compatibility: It’s essential to cross-match the height of your desired RAM modules with the height of your CPU cooler since RAM kits nowadays have tall heatsinks for advanced thermal dissipation, which may cause potential compatibility issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
DDR5 is the memory platform you want to use if you plan to keep your computer for years without any upgrades. Initial benchmarks show that DDR5 memory is slightly faster than DDR4 memory in gaming. So, make your decision based on your use-case scenario.
Yes. DDR5 RAM kits have higher frequencies and carry greater overclocking potential.
The Core i9-12900K is a premium performance-focused CPU, so it should be ideally paired with fast, low-latency RAM. The G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB is the best DDR5 variant, while the G.Skill Trident Z RGB is the best DDR4 variant.
Yes, the Z690 platform does support DDR4 memory.
Recent Updates
- December 17, 2023: Few text and grammar changes to improve readability. Added image galleries. Changed one product.
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[Reviews Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
Certified in Google IT Support Specialization
Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com
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