Top 15 best memory modules DDR4: rating 2021-2022 and which manufacturer should choose

Building or upgrading your computer is not a fleeting affair.

RAM is one of the most important parts for both office and gaming PCs or laptops.

When choosing RAM, it is necessary to pay as much attention to it as to the motherboard or drives, because it will largely depend on the speed of response, operation and stability of the entire system.

In addition, the potential of the iron with the wrong choice of RAM is not fully disclosed.

But many modern systems work with the DDR4 format. What is this format and which boards are the best?

Let's find out.

Rating of TOP-15 best DDR4 memory modules

Place	Name	Price
Top 3 best DDR4 RAM modules: price/performance
1	HyperX Fury HX426C16FB3K2/16 8GB	Check price
2	Samsung M378A1K43CB2-CTD 8GB	Check price
3	HyperX Fury HX432C16FB3K2/16 8GB	Check out the price
Top 3 best 8GB DDR4 RAM modules
1	Crucial CT8G4DFS824A	Check price
2	Silicon Power SP008GBLFU240B02	Check price
3	Crucial CT8G4DFS8266	Learn the price
Top 3 best DDR4 16GB RAM modules
1	Crucial CT16G4SFD8266	Learn the price
2	HyperX Fury HX432C16FB3K2/32	Check out the price
3	HyperX Impact HX426S15IB2/16	Check price
Top 3 best 32GB DDR4 memory modules
1	HyperX Fury HX432C16FB3/32	Check price
2	Crucial CT32G4RFD4266	Check price
3	Samsung M393A4K40CB2-CTD	Learn the price
Top 3 best DDR4 RAM modules for Ryzen
1	HyperX Fury RGB HX432C16FB3AK2/16	Check price
2	Samsung M471A1K43CB1-CTD	Check price
3	Kingston ValueRAM KVR26S19S8/8	Check price

How to choose and what to look for?

When choosing DDR4 RAM you should consider the following features:

Compatibility. Not all models are compatible with a particular piece of hardware, so you should check this parameter or consult a specialist.
Cooling efficiency. The parameter depends on the presence of a heatsink on the board itself, as well as on the built-in radiators. In addition, radiators affect the appearance of RAM, and this is often an important indicator for gamers or streamers. Almost all modern models have built-in radiators, but some older models do not.
Volume. Most often this is the first thing consumers look at. The volume should not be small or large, because not all editions of operating systems can support large parameters of RAM. If technically possible, it is better to use two 8 GB slabs than one 16 GB one, or two 16 GB slabs than one 32 GB one.
Frequencies and timings affect the speed of the modules you install. The lower the latency, the faster the processor can access the memory cells and the faster the PC will run. The frequencies affect the speed of information processing and therefore also increase the speed of the overall system.

Remember that modern processors can support only the new format of RAM and ignore the old one, that is, if you buy a DDR3 format card, it simply will not work in the system.

Also keep in mind that formats are not compatible with each other and do not work simultaneously - you should give preference to either one or the other, even if the system and hardware supports both DDR4 and DDR3.

The best DDR4 RAM modules: price/performance

HyperX Fury HX426C16FB3K2/16 8GB

A model with weak overclocking performance and average frequency and XMP-compatible bandwidth.

Dual-module kit suitable for motherboards with a 2666 MHz limit.

A peer-to-peer model, suitable for boosting RAM on standard working PCs.

Small overclocking potential due to old Nanya A-Die memory chips on 20nm process technology.

The maximum operating temperature is 90 degrees, but on average, even under high loads the chips do not get hotter than 45-50 degrees - cooling works at its best.

Specifications:

Form factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Bandwidth: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: none/each;
CAS Latency (CL): 16;
Number of modules: 2.

Pros of

good technical characteristics;
average price;
a set of two modules.

Cons

unexhaustible.

Samsung M378A1K43CB2-CTD 8GB

Well-known brand model, delivered in a single slat.й. The memory has a high overclocking potential and at the same time - very budget-friendly.

In the presence of a quality motherboard module can easily take a frequency of 1000 MHz more.

Common on the market, and if you want your computer can be equipped with multiple strips.

In addition, the cards are compatible with almost all memory cards from other manufacturers.

Technical Specifications:

Form Factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Bandwidth: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: no/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 19;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

the possibility of staged modernization;
prevalence in the market;
low price;
overclocking potential.

Minuses

simple design.

HyperX Fury HX432C16FB3K2/16 8GB.

Not a bad RAM, widely known to anyone interested in hardware. The model The model is not overclockable, but it makes up for it with good data throughput and frequencies.

It is a "put it and forget it" card for those who are not bothered by delays, timings and other terms.

It is quite up to the specs, which makes it relevant for an average user.

Overclocking, according to user reviews, is somewhat unstable, but provides stable operation at the manufacturer's claimed clock frequency.

Technical Specifications:

Form Factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 3200 MHz;
Bandwidth: 25600MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: none/each;
CAS Latency (CL): 16;
Number of modules: 2.

Pros of

design;
adequate price;
the presence of heat sinks.

Cons

no overclocking potential.

The best DDR4 8GB RAM modules

Crucial CT8G4DFS824A

RAM with a good amount of single bar is one of the best models in the budget segment.

This volume is very widespread, and if you want to buy a second slat is not difficult.

Overclocking potential is good, the chips are stable even at 2800 MHz, with newer processors can increase up to 3200 MHz, but you have to sacrifice the delay.

Shipped in a sealed plastic container, which guarantees the novelty of the board.

When overclocking, the difference between single-channel and dual-channel modes is noticeable, so it is better to use two modules at the same time.

Technical Specifications:

Form Factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 2400 MHz;
Bandwidth: 19200MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: no/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 17;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

possibility of incremental upgrading;
affordability;
price;
overclocking potential.

Cons

No heatsinks.

Silicon Power SP008GBLFU240B02

Simple custom model for office or work PCs. Also suitable for Inexpensive gaming chipsets as well.

Can be overclocked to higher frequencies. Does not overheat, comfortable to use even without overclocking.

Also noteworthy is economical power consumption.. When working with graphics it doesn't get hot either, it works very stable.

Not a bad budget variant for non trivial use.

Technical specifications:

Form factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 2400 MHz;
Bandwidth: 19200MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: no/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 17;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros

timings;
frequency range;;
stability;
price.

Minuses

High reject rate.

Crucial CT8G4DFS8266

Model similar to Crucial CT8G4DFS824A with increased CAS Latency and clock frequency. Also Easy to overclock, widely available and affordable for the average user.

However, problems with slot insertion are noted.

Runs steadily without raising the voltage.

Of the disadvantages also noted the lack of a heat sink. Users also reported problems with slots insertion.

Technical specifications:

Form factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Throughput: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: no/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 19;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

possibility of incremental upgrading;
affordability;
price;
overclocking potential.

Cons

no cooling radiators;
Difficulties with insertion into slots;
sometimes not perceived by the system.

The best DDR4 16GB RAM modules

Crucial CT16G4SFD8266

A simple memory upgrade card for slow laptops. Model with reduced Power saving and optimized for new generation processors.

Features reliability and increased bandwidth, but performance is generally average.

Easy to install, no system requirements.

One of the best options for those who do not know much about hardware and overclocking.

Lowers power consumption and boosts your system's performance.

Technical specifications:

Form factor: 260-pin SODIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Throughput: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: no/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 19;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

Optimization for new processors;
Reduced power consumption;
easy to install.

Cons

High price.

HyperX Fury HX432C16FB3K2/32

Not a bad motherboard for those who are not used to squeezing the most out of iron. Chips The chips belong to the C-die generation, the rest of the data is kept secret by the manufacturer.

A great option for the average gamer PC or for working with graphics or video.

3200 MHz is enough to improve performance and reduce PC response time.

For those who prefer to overclock their PC to the max, the kit is clearly not suitable.

The total height of the module is 34 mm, radiators are removable, so if you need to install powerful coolers will not interfere with chips.

Technical specifications:

Form factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 3200 MHz;
Bandwidth: 25600MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: none/each;
CAS Latency (CL): 16;
Number of modules: 2.

Pros of

the presence of heat sinks;
simplicity and lack of unnecessary functionality;
adequate price.

Cons

No overclocking possibilities.

HyperX Impact HX426S15IB2/16

Not a bad option for laptop upgrade for those who are not familiar with hardware and the intricacies of overclocking.

The "put-and-go" model is easy to compile with most systems, and users note a noticeable increase in speed.

The board is one of the most affordable at the beginning of 2021-2022 in terms of quality to volume ratio, and one of the fastest and highest quality according to user reviews.

Specifications:

Form Factor: 260-pin SODIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Throughput: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: none/each;
CAS Latency (CL): 15;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

adequate price;
easy to install;
compatible with many laptop models.

Cons

no overclocking possibilities;
unreliable packaging, there is a risk of damaged contacts.

The best 32GB DDR4 RAM modules

HyperX Fury HX432C16FB3/32

Similar to the model HX432C16FB3AK2/16. Adapted for Ryzen processors. Easy to Easy to install and meets all announced specifications.

A relevant model for those who are not overclocked, and the increase in memory is just needed to improve the speed of the PC and undemanding games.

However, when assembling it should be remembered that the module is quite high, and it is worth making sure that when installing the cooler and heatsink they will not overlap the slot.

Specifications:

Form factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 3200 MHz;
Bandwidth: 25600MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: none/each;
CAS Latency (CL): 16;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

design;
adequate price;
the presence of heat sinks.

Cons

No overclocking potential.

Crucial CT32G4RFD4266.

Server model with ECC support for 2018 release. Used mainly on PCs with large amounts of data, less often as a gamer's one.

Has an average frequency and bandwidth, gives a fairly high timing.

At the same time it lends itself well to overclocking up to 3200 MHz.

It is worth remembering that the model belongs to the server model, and since the information of such a chip requires additional work cycles from the processor, involving the algorithm of ESS, the memory shows a much slower speed compared to conventional chips for desktop PCs.

Specifications:

Form Factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Throughput: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: yes/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 19;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

ECC support;
capacity;
relatively low price.

Cons

rather rare.

Samsung M393A4K40CB2-CTD

Server RAM, considered one of the best among the boards with a similar volume.

Requiring the processor, so when choosing this model, you need to look at the compatibility of iron.

Has a rather high price and not the most common.

Due to the volume and high price is mainly used in server rooms, for stationary PC preferably different slats of smaller size.

Technical Specifications:

Form-factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Bandwidth: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: yes/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 19;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

ECC support;
capacity.

Cons:

fairly rare;
high price.

The best DDR4 RAM modules for Ryzen

HyperX Fury RGB HX432C16FB3AK2/16

This bar is one of the best high-frequency models. It stands out not only for its It not only stands out with its technical features like clock frequency, low latency and high bandwidth, but also with its original backlight design.

The model is equipped with profiles to boost the performance limit. A gamer's bar whose backlighting is synchronized with the rest of the system.

Specifications:

Form Factor: 288-pin DIMM;
Frequency: 3200 MHz;
Bandwidth: 25600MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: no/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 16;
Number of modules: 2.

Pros of

high bandwidth;
backlight synchronization;
performance enhancement profiles.

Cons

Incompatible with some coolers.

Samsung M471A1K43CB1-CTD

The optimal board for speeding up notebooks. The specs are true to life. Manufacturer's claims are true to life.

It's easy to combine with other brands' boards and easy to install.

Also it is easy to compile with many laptops, which makes the board almost universal..

Fast and inexpensive memory expansion model.

Specifications:

Form Factor: 260-pin SODIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Bandwidth: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: no/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 19;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros

quality;
ease of installation;
universality;
adequate price.

Disadvantages

The packaging is unreliable, there is a risk of damaging the contacts.

Kingston ValueRAM KVR26S19S8/8

One of the best RAMs for laptops running on the new generation processors.

Good factory heat run - one of the merits of the model, as the company carries out a similar technological operation on all the boards, including low-end.

Fits and works practically without any problems.

Universal option to increase memory in modern laptops. Also compatible with Samsung company's slabs.

Specifications:

Form-factor: 260-pin SODIMM;
Frequency: 2666 MHz;
Bandwidth: 21300MB/s;
ECC/XMP support: no/no;
CAS Latency (CL): 19;
Number of modules: 1.

Pros of

factory thermal run;
prevalence and availability;
adequate price;
the versatility of the system;
compatibility with Samsung strips.

Cons

no heatsinks for cooling.

Benefits of DDR4 RAM

DDR4 format appeared in 2014 and is considered a relatively new type.

Boards operate at lower frequencies compared to the predecessor format, and its standard voltage is 1.5 volts.

This reduces power consumption, which is especially important for those who hardly ever turn off their PC or laptop.

The new format also supports increased bandwidth, hence increasing responsiveness and performance.

In the end, the choice of DDR4 depends on the processor and motherboard of the personal computer or laptop. It gives a slight performance advantage and reduces power consumption.

Top Manufacturers

The best manufacturers, judging by the statistics of defects and module failures, are Kingston and Crucial.

If you believe user reviews and various surveys, the most reliable among consumers are considered to be modules by Hynix and Samsung.

Buying cards from unknown manufacturers is undesirable, because they can have not only a low warranty period, but also fail quickly, failing due to rapid oxidation of the contact pads.

It is also recommended to buy RAM only from reliable suppliers - counterfeit brands are not yet completely a thing of the past.

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Useful video

In this video you'll learn how to choose your RAM: