AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 7700X only get better when you add the right RAM

Have an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D or 7700X CPU in your PC? Pairing it with the proper RAM is crucial to maximizing performance. The AM5 socket used by Ryzen 7000 only supports DDR5 memory, and I've narrowed the picks further with 6000MHz speeds, CL30 timing, and AMD EXPO overclocking compatibility for optimal performance.

My top pick is the outstanding Corsair Vengeance RGB thanks to its competitive pricing — a 2x16GB kit costs about $92 — and stellar performance, and I've included five worthwhile alternatives.

Recent updates

February 12, 2025: My picks for the best Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 7700X RAM haven't changed since my last update a couple of months ago, but I have refreshed the buy links and prices to better point you to the best deals. — Cale Hunt

Cale Hunt, Windows Central
Cale Hunt

AMD is the hardware of choice for my personal gaming PC, and I have decades of experience building gaming systems. I can offer some useful buying advice regarding the best memory for your Ryzen 7 CPU.

My favorite RAM for AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 7700X

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The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the best CPUs on the market for gaming, all thanks to AMD's 3D V-Cache that enables a significant jump in performance in your favorite titles. Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson reviewed the 7800X3D, remarking:

"The improvements brought over from AMD's 3D V-Cache make the 7800X3D more of an appealing choice than the cost-saving alone. Though it sits as the cheapest -X3D variant, it's arguably the best option for gamers looking to adopt the AM5 socket with a chipset of their choice."

The Ryzen 7 7700X we reviewed is a more affordable chip that will do a great job of gaming as well, but it's also often purchased for creative and design work where the extra 3D V-Cache doesn't make as much of a difference. Both of the Ryzen 7 7000 chips will benefit greatly from DDR5-6000MHz RAM with low latency, which is what I've exclusively included in this roundup.

My top pick is Corsair's Vengeance RGB DDR5-6000 in a 2x16GB for about $92. It's the same memory I've used in the past for my AMD build, and it's extremely popular thanks to its competitive pricing.

G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB RAM in a 2x16GB kit is a great runner-up for about $110. I've also used this RAM in AMD builds to great success, and its ability to blend RGB style with super performance doesn't go unnoticed.

G.Skill's Flare X5 RAM costs a bit less at about $100 for a 2x16GB kit, but it can often be found at a discount. It's great for more compact builds where there isn't much clearance above the RAM slots, and it retains relatively speedy CL30-38-38-96 timings.

Pricing climbs from here, but Corsair's Dominator Platinum at about $160 and G.Skill's Trident Z5 Royal Neo at about $147 represent the peak of style and performance.

Don't forget to look through our list of the best motherboards if you need a new one with an AM5 socket to go along with your Ryzen 7 7700X or Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

What is AMD EXPO and do I need it?

AMD's Extended Profiles for Overclocking (EXPO) feature is a tool that allows for quick and easy overclocking of your PC's memory. It comes baked into the best AM5 motherboards, and it's a feature I recommend watching out for when buying hardware.

Because processors have a limit to the RAM they support — in the case of the Ryzen 7000 chips featured here it's DDR5-5200MHz — overclocking is required to reach the advertised RAM speeds (like 6000MHz for the RAM I've selected in this roundup).

AMD has made the overclocking process as easy as possible with EXPO, usually only requiring a few clicks to activate the desired speed profile on your motherboard. Intel's XMP 3.0 is the same idea, except it's for Intel chips.

All of the DDR5-6000MHz RAM I've included here is compatible with AMD EXPO to make your shopping that much easier.

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Cale Hunt
Contributor

Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it. 

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