The Best RAM Under $400

On CAS latency it ties with the Vengeance RGB PRO at CL18. On rated speed it ties with the Vengeance RGB PRO at 3600MT/s. It matches the Vengeance RGB PRO on capacity (32GB (2 sticks)).

Like the Vengeance RGB PRO, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the Elite Plus DDR5 uses a DDR5 memory type. Enable the memory profile in the BIOS after installing it; without it, the kit runs at a slower default speed. It is a DDR4 kit, so it fits AM4 boards and LGA1700 boards sold in DDR4 versions; it does not fit AM5, LGA1851 or any DDR5 board.

It undercut the Vengeance RGB PRO and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: rated speed of 3600MT/s, behind the Flare X5 16GB (5600MT/s). If that matters, the Flare X5 16GB offers 5600MT/s.

It matches the T-Create Expert DDR4 on CAS latency (CL18). On capacity it ties with the T-Create Expert DDR4 at 32GB (2 sticks). It shares a DDR4 memory type with the T-Create Expert DDR4; the FURY Beast 16GB goes with a DDR5 memory type.

It also offers timings of 18-22-22-42. Enable the memory profile in the BIOS after installing it; without it, the kit runs at a slower default speed. It is a DDR4 kit, so it fits AM4 boards and LGA1700 boards sold in DDR4 versions; it does not fit AM5, LGA1851 or any DDR5 board.

RGB heatspreaders are taller than plain ones, so check the clearance under a large tower cooler. It was priced above the T-Create Expert DDR4 and below the Flare X5 16GB at the time of writing. It gives ground on rated speed, where the Flare X5 16GB offers 5600MT/s.

On CAS latency it sits mid-pack at CL36: the T-Create Expert DDR4 offers CL18, and the FURY Beast 16GB comes in at CL40. On rated speed it ties with the FURY Beast 16GB at 5600MT/s. It matches the Elite Plus DDR5 and the FURY Beast 16GB on capacity (16GB (2 sticks)).

Like the Elite Plus DDR5 and FURY Beast 16GB, it has a DDR5 memory type, while the T-Create Expert DDR4 uses a DDR4 memory type. It also offers a 1.20V rating and timings of 36-36-36-89. Enable the memory profile in the BIOS after installing it; without it, the kit runs at a slower default speed.

It is a DDR5 kit for AM5, LGA1851 and DDR5 versions of LGA1700 boards; it does not fit DDR4 slots. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper Vengeance RGB PRO and the pricier Elite Plus DDR5, at the time of writing.

On the spec sheet, it offers a CL40 CAS latency and offers a 4800MT/s rated speed. On CAS latency it ties with the FURY Beast 16GB at CL40. On rated speed it sits mid-pack at 4800MT/s: the Flare X5 16GB offers 5600MT/s, and the Vengeance RGB PRO comes in at 3600MT/s.

It matches the Flare X5 16GB and the FURY Beast 16GB on capacity (16GB (2 sticks)). Like the Flare X5 16GB and FURY Beast 16GB, it has a DDR5 memory type, while the T-Create Expert DDR4 uses a DDR4 memory type. Enable the memory profile in the BIOS after installing it; without it, the kit runs at a slower default speed.

It is a DDR5 kit for AM5, LGA1851 and DDR5 versions of LGA1700 boards; it does not fit DDR4 slots. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Flare X5 16GB and the pricier FURY Beast 16GB, at the time of writing.

It also offers a CL40 CAS latency and offers a 5600MT/s rated speed. It uses a low-profile heat spreader and supports Intel XMP 3.0. On CAS latency it ties with the Elite Plus DDR5 at CL40.

On rated speed it ties with the Flare X5 16GB at 5600MT/s. It matches the Flare X5 16GB and the Elite Plus DDR5 on capacity (16GB (2 sticks)). Like the Flare X5 16GB and Elite Plus DDR5, it has a DDR5 memory type, while the T-Create Expert DDR4 uses a DDR4 memory type.

Enable the memory profile in the BIOS after installing it; without it, the kit runs at a slower default speed. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Elite Plus DDR5. If CAS latency is your priority, the T-Create Expert DDR4 (CL18) is the stronger choice.