ReviewsRAMBest RAM For i9-12900K

Best RAM For i9-12900K [Hands-On Tested]

We looked at countless RAM kits and made a list of the top ones for the Intel Core i9-12900K processor.

Expert Verified by Nauman Siddique

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:

RAM
G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB
TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB
Crucial DDR5
G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4
Looks
G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB Series (Intel XMP 3.0) DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 6600MT/s CL34-40-40-105 1.40V Desktop Computer Memory UDIMM - Matte Black (F5-6600J3440G16GA2-TZ5RK)
TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 Ram 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz PC5-48000 CL30 Desktop Memory Module Ram For 600 700 Series Chipset XMP 3.0 Ready Black - FF3D532G6000HC30DC01
Crucial RAM 32GB DDR5 4800MT/s CL40 Desktop Memory CT32G48C40U5
G.SKILL Trident Z RGB Series (Intel XMP) DDR4 RAM 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MT/s CL16-18-18-38 1.35V Desktop Computer Memory UDIMM (F4-3200C16D-16GTZR)
Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz CL16 Intel XMP 2.0 iCUE Compatible Computer Memory - Black (CMW16GX4M2C3200C16)
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz C16 Desktop Memory Kit - Black (CMK16GX4M2B3200C16)
Award
Best Overall DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
Best RGB DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
Best Budget DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
Best Overall DDR4 RAM For i9 12900K
Best DDR4 Gaming RAM For i9-12900K
Best Budget DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K
What We Liked
Incredible Thermal Performance, Outstanding 6,600MHz Frequency, Low Latency, Beautiful Aesthetics, Impressive Build Quality
Excellent Performance, Impressive 6,000MHz Frequency, Beautiful RGB Aesthetics, Good Build Quality
Affordable, Decent Gaming Performance, Adequate 4,800MHz Frequency, Low Voltage Input
Outstanding Gaming Performance, Aggressive RGB Design, Excellent Build Quality, Low Latency, Decent Overclocking Potential
Solid Gaming Performance, Beautiful RGB, Impressive Overclocking Capabilities, Low Latency
Excellent Low-Profile Design, Decent 3,200MHz Frequency, Super Affordable, Remarkable Performance & Value, Slight Overclocking Potential
What We Disliked
Limited Overclocking Performance
Less Overclocking Headroom
No Heatsink, Lacks RGB, Loose CAS Timings
Higher Overclocked Voltage, Slightly Lower Frequency
Compatibility Issues, Slightly Low Frequency
Lacks RGB, Simple Heatsink Design
Type
DDR5
DDR5
DDR5
DDR4
DDR4
DDR4
Frequency
6,600MHz
6,000MHz
4,800MHz
3,200MHz
3,200MHz
3,200MHz
Latency
CL34
CL30
CL40
CL16
CL16
CL16
Latency (Nanoseconds)
10.3ns
10ns
16.6ns
10ns
10ns
10ns
Capacity
32GB (2x 16GB)
32GB (2x 16GB)
32GB (2x 16GB)
32GB (2x 16GB)
16GB (2x 8GB)
16GB (2x 8GB)
RGB
RAM
G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB
Looks
G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB Series (Intel XMP 3.0) DDR5 RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 6600MT/s CL34-40-40-105 1.40V Desktop Computer Memory UDIMM - Matte Black (F5-6600J3440G16GA2-TZ5RK)
Award
Best Overall DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
What We Liked
Incredible Thermal Performance, Outstanding 6,600MHz Frequency, Low Latency, Beautiful Aesthetics, Impressive Build Quality
What We Disliked
Limited Overclocking Performance
Type
DDR5
Frequency
6,600MHz
Latency
CL34
Latency (Nanoseconds)
10.3ns
Capacity
32GB (2x 16GB)
RGB
Amazon
RAM
TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB
Looks
TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB DDR5 Ram 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MHz PC5-48000 CL30 Desktop Memory Module Ram For 600 700 Series Chipset XMP 3.0 Ready Black - FF3D532G6000HC30DC01
Award
Best RGB DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
What We Liked
Excellent Performance, Impressive 6,000MHz Frequency, Beautiful RGB Aesthetics, Good Build Quality
What We Disliked
Less Overclocking Headroom
Type
DDR5
Frequency
6,000MHz
Latency
CL30
Latency (Nanoseconds)
10ns
Capacity
32GB (2x 16GB)
RGB
Amazon
RAM
Crucial DDR5
Looks
Crucial RAM 32GB DDR5 4800MT/s CL40 Desktop Memory CT32G48C40U5
Award
Best Budget DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K
What We Liked
Affordable, Decent Gaming Performance, Adequate 4,800MHz Frequency, Low Voltage Input
What We Disliked
No Heatsink, Lacks RGB, Loose CAS Timings
Type
DDR5
Frequency
4,800MHz
Latency
CL40
Latency (Nanoseconds)
16.6ns
Capacity
32GB (2x 16GB)
RGB
Amazon
RAM
G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4
Looks
G.SKILL Trident Z RGB Series (Intel XMP) DDR4 RAM 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MT/s CL16-18-18-38 1.35V Desktop Computer Memory UDIMM (F4-3200C16D-16GTZR)
Award
Best Overall DDR4 RAM For i9 12900K
What We Liked
Outstanding Gaming Performance, Aggressive RGB Design, Excellent Build Quality, Low Latency, Decent Overclocking Potential
What We Disliked
Higher Overclocked Voltage, Slightly Lower Frequency
Type
DDR4
Frequency
3,200MHz
Latency
CL16
Latency (Nanoseconds)
10ns
Capacity
32GB (2x 16GB)
RGB
Amazon
RAM
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4
Looks
Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) 3200MHz CL16 Intel XMP 2.0 iCUE Compatible Computer Memory - Black (CMW16GX4M2C3200C16)
Award
Best DDR4 Gaming RAM For i9-12900K
What We Liked
Solid Gaming Performance, Beautiful RGB, Impressive Overclocking Capabilities, Low Latency
What We Disliked
Compatibility Issues, Slightly Low Frequency
Type
DDR4
Frequency
3,200MHz
Latency
CL16
Latency (Nanoseconds)
10ns
Capacity
16GB (2x 8GB)
RGB
Amazon
RAM
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4
Looks
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz C16 Desktop Memory Kit - Black (CMK16GX4M2B3200C16)
Award
Best Budget DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K
What We Liked
Excellent Low-Profile Design, Decent 3,200MHz Frequency, Super Affordable, Remarkable Performance & Value, Slight Overclocking Potential
What We Disliked
Lacks RGB, Simple Heatsink Design
Type
DDR4
Frequency
3,200MHz
Latency
CL16
Latency (Nanoseconds)
10ns
Capacity
16GB (2x 8GB)
RGB
Amazon

Last update on 2024-03-18

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:

  1. Best Overall DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB
  2. Best RGB DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K: TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB
  3. Best Budget DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K: Crucial DDR5
  4. Best Overall DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K: G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4
  5. Best DDR4 Gaming RAM For i9-12900K: Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4
  6. Best Budget DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4

G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB

Best Overall DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K

Best Overall DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K - G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB
G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB.

Specifications: Memory Type: DDR5 | Capacity: 32GB (2x 16GB) | Frequency: 6,600MHz | Latency: CL34 | Latency (Nanoseconds): 10.3ns | RGB: YesVoltage: 1.40V

Pros

  • Outstanding 6,600MHz frequency
  • Low 10.3ns latency
  • Beautiful aesthetics
  • Impressive build quality
  • Incredible thermal performance

Cons

  • Limited overclocking performance

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.

PRO TIP: Opt for RAM kits with tighter CAS timings to maintain optimal gaming performance, even when utilizing faster frequency RAM kits.

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.

āœ… 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

āŒ 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.

Editor`s Note
Image

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.

ā€“ 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

Best RGB DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K - TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB
TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB.

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.

PRO TIP: The RAM kit has two XMP profiles, so use the one that relates best to your use-case scenario.

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:

āœ… 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

āŒ 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

Best Budget DDR5 RAM For i9-12900K - Crucial DDR5
Crucial DDR5.

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

āœ… 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

āŒ 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

Best Overall RAM DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K - G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4
G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4.

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.

WARNING: While overclocking can yield decent results, it can also damage your RAM kit, so it’s best to overclock in moderation.

Buy It If

āœ… 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

āŒ 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

Best DDR4 Gaming RAM For i9-12900K - Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4.

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 Corsairā€™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:

āœ… 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

āŒ 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

Best Budget DDR4 RAM For i9-12900K - Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4
Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4.

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

āœ… 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

āŒ 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

Should I buy DDR5 RAM for gaming?

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.

Is DDR5 faster than DDR4 for i9-12900K?

Yes. DDR5 RAM kits have higher frequencies and carry greater overclocking potential.

Which RAM speed should I buy for i9-12900K?

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.

Can I run DDR4 on Z690?

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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