The best RAM for i7 10700K

TEAMGROUP aims to produce high-quality products with a professional research and development team. TEAMGROUP T-Force Xtreem 16GB Kit is their high-end DDR4 RAM kit that consists of two 8GB sticks. They use the Samsung B-die for this model, which is famous, as we mentioned earlier. The use of B-die allows higher frequencies with tighter CAS latency. The RAM is capable of handling a decent frequency depending on the motherboard. According to the TEAMGROUP website’s official support, it can go up to 28,800 MB/s (PC4 28800). The RAM must run at 1.45V to achieve such data transfer rates. You will need the latest Z390, Z490, or Z590 chipset to achieve such blazing speeds.

Performance is not the only thing that needs to be put under consideration. Aesthetics play a vital role in gaming rigs. The RAM consists of a mirror that smoothly diffuses the light across the panel. Some ARGBs can be addressed to customize the user experience. Running at a rapid speed is not sustainable if you cannot remove the heat produced in time. Underneath all the shiny surfaces is a large aluminum heatsink that keeps the RAM from throttling down to lower speed or crashing when working at high rates. It supports the Intel XMP profile to easily select the perfect combination of frequency, timing, and voltages. Overall, it’s a decent RAM with broad compatibility and gaming performance.

G.Skill currently holds the record of having the highest RAM frequency in the world. Their DDR4 G.Skill Trident Z Neo Series 32GB Kit memory modules lie in the premium category. They are a slick-looking pair of modules meant for gamers with a knick for aesthetics. Each memory module has a total of 8 zones that collectively create the homogenizing RGB effect. The brushed metal surface in a monotonic color pattern gives it a premium look that buyers pay to obtain. It is cooled via aluminum heat sinks that spread across the memory module but have small fins on the top so that the air moving through the chassis comes in contact with it to improve cooling. The 10-layer PCB avoids potential signal interference and provides better heat resistance to the rising IC temperatures. 

It has been tested over XMP profiles running at 16-16-16-36 timings, 1.35V, and 3600 MT/s. Both of them make up 32GB of space. Modern games require around 16GB of space for stable operation, but anything above adds to the extra overhead room for streaming software and background applications. The RAM works best with a Z series motherboard like Z390 and above. Usually, the RAM height is a problem that causes hindrance to the installation of air-based CPU coolers. The kit has a total height of 44mm (1.73 in), which might not be compatible with a dual-tower dual fan cooler like the NH-D15 or Dark Rock Pro 4, but it will not cause any issue with liquid cooling kits. G.Skill provides a lifetime guarantee for their product, indirectly representing their confidence in their device’s longevity.

Corsair has made a name for itself due to its high-speed RAMs over the years, and their Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 16GB Kit is the best value memory stick that works with most motherboards. Focusing on our CPU 10th Generation i7 10700k, it has 100% compatibility with the 16GB kit. It has the cleanest implementation of RGB on RAM. The nine different squares visible from the top of the RAM are an intelligent implementation of aesthetics and heat transfer. Due to the larger space available for the heat sink, the RAM runs much cooler. Without any active cooling system, the modules would cool efficiently through passive means. It was released in 2019 and has maintained solid sales primarily due to its performance. There are 12 individually addressable RGB lights on each module to achieve a look that perfectly blends in with your PC interior.

Diving into the details of the performance of the RAM, the base PCB is made from premium grade 10-layer technology. It is compatible with the latest generation of the Z690 motherboard and is the best RAM for i7 10700K. DDR4 RAMs are still famous, and Corsair is still selling hot cakes due to their low price compared to DDR5 and lower power consumption. By default, tight CAS latency of 16 is maintained at 3200 (PC4-25600). They have patented their Dual-Path DHX cooling technology, which keeps it running at high speeds without any crash or throttle. Its one-stop XMP profile settings allow easy overclocking with Intel processors. Users have reported trying to tighten the timings and increase the frequency, but their efforts haven’t resulted in something outstanding. In short, the memory performs as advertised. Any attempts to overclock it beyond the specs haven’t succeeded.

The biggest hit from the Corsair RAM products is the Vengeance series. For the 10700K, Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 32GB Kit takes the lead as the premium pick on our list. The RAM has a gorgeous-looking top with 10 ARGBs that blend smoothly into each other, maintaining an ultra-bright PC interior. This particular CL16 32GB kit highlights the ability to sustain overclocked frequencies for extended periods, making it ideal for gaming. It is part of the ecosystem that Corsair has built, iCUE. At first look, without the RGB, you will notice the large heatsink that spans over the entire RAM width of 50mm, which is very large for most air-based CPU coolers. You will not be able to install a dual-tower cooler for the i7 10700k, which would be essential to remove the TDP it produces.

The RAM has been tested at 3200MHz speed at 1.35V. Two 16GB RAM modules work at 16-18-18-36 timings. There will be a noticeable addition to the frame rates of some top AAA gaming titles like Watch Dogs, Witcher 3, and GTA V. Compared to a non-gaming standard RAM, the jump in frames per second lies from 9-10 fps. It is a giant leap considering that the CPU, GPU, and Motherboard remain the same. The XMP 2.0 profiles work perfectly with the processor and maintain steady frame rates. Installing the RAM is easy; you can simply plug in the RAM while the system is off and go to your system BIOS. From there, you can select the XMP profiles available. The RAM has the highest data transfer speed at CL16. To finalize the review on this product, we believe it’s meant for professional gamers looking to add some extra fps to their setup.

Running on a budget is not bad; it helps you make wise decisions and keep the price/performance ratio in check. If you want to add extra frames to your gaming setup under a budget, Patriot Viper 16GB Kit should be the ideal pick. It’s not only fast but has all the features that any high-end RAM offers. It is a NON-ECC Unbuffered DIMM with 288-pin. It supports dual-channel and has a mesmerizing RGB on top that runs without any additional wires by drawing power from the motherboard. It runs at a base frequency of 2133MHz, achieving 17GB/s. However, the RAM has been tested at a more challenging 33GB/s data transfer rate with 4133MHz boosted frequency at 1.4V. 

The heatsinks are made of aluminum colored in black to blend in with your PC interior. Its protruded logo might not be visible when installed but adds to the product’s extra satisfaction and premium feel. The Viper logo on the RAM side has glowing effects; letting RGB shine through the Viper eyes gives it the vicious and powerful look a gaming PC component deserves. There are fewer RGB zones on a single RAM than in other high-end brands. It could be good to have 5-zone-based RGB as it will consume less power and remain subtle compared to other premium price-tagged products. Overall, the RAM targets entry-level gamers looking for value rather than a premium feel product. It has a comparable speed to other high-end volatile memory storage.