Best RAM for AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and 7700X in 2024

AMD's Ryzen 7000 series of desktop processors (CPU) remains a tempting choice for any fans of Team Red, even after the launch of Ryzen 9000 chips. The Ryzen 7 options, including the 7800X3D and 7700X, are already in countless computers, and their current pricing, discounted thanks to their growing age, means that they won't stop anytime soon.

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. 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.

No matter the Ryzen 7 chip you have or plan to use in your PC, pairing it with the proper RAM is crucial to maximizing performance. The AM5 socket used by Ryzen 7000 only supports DDR5, and I've narrowed the picks further with only 6000MHz speeds, CL30 timing, and AMD EXPO overclocking compatibility.

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

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AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D is an amazing CPU for gamers, and its Ryzen 7 7700X sibling remains a top choice for creators and gamers who don't want to pay for the extra AMD 3D V-Cache. In our Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, Windows Central Editor Ben Wilson called it "the top pick for your next gaming CPU," and that remains true at least until AMD launches its Ryzen 9000 X3D chips based on Zen 5.

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 G.Skill's Trident Z5 Neo RGB RAM in a 2x16GB kit for about $113. It's the memory I use in my own AMD desktop build to blend RGB style with super performance. 

G.Skill's Flare X5 RAM costs a bit less at about $105 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 $165 and G.Skill's Trident Z5 Royal Neo at about $160 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
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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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