Best DDR3 RAM for Gaming in 2021: Fast RAM for Cheap
If you’re building a gaming PC on a budget, choosing an older CPU and the best DDR3 RAM is a good way to save money.
- Last Updated Jul 9, 2021
When it comes to building a gaming PC, the three components that will have the most significant impact on your gaming performance are your GPU, CPU, and RAM (Random Access Memory). You can of course throw the speed of your hard drive into this equation too these days, but these are the main three to consider.
With that being said, you ought to make sure you buy a good high performance RAM kit of sufficient size and memory speed to ensure optimal gaming performance. If your PC doesn’t have enough RAM, you’ll have trouble maintaining a steady framerate in-game.
Moreover, RAM speed has an impact on CPU performance, particularly on Ryzen CPUs. Having RAM that’s too slow – or not enough RAM in the first place – will make for a poor gaming experience, regardless of your system’s CPU or GPU.
That’s why we’ve created this guide. We’re going to be covering the best DDR3 RAM kits on the market this year.
Your memory type is obviously important so if you are still rocking a PC that takes DDR3 memory sticks rather than DDR 4 modules, then this guide is for you.
Products at a Glance
Best DDR3 RAM for Gaming in 2021: Fast RAM for Cheap
Speed: 1600MHz
CAS: 10
Timing: 9-9-9-24
Voltage: 1.5V
Fantastic latency
Great cooling solution
Lifetime warranty
Not the cheapest RAM
Latency might be overkill for some users
Heat spreader increases the physical size of the module
Speed: 1600MHz
CAS: 11
Timing: 11-15-18-30
Voltage: 1.5V
Great value
Reasonable performance
Reliable brand
High latency
No advanced cooling design
Not ideal for high-end gaming
Speed: 1600MHz
CAS: 10
Timing: 10-10-10-30
Voltage: 1.5V
Great speeds
Well designed heat spreader
Lifetime Warranty
Not the most impressive latency
There are cheaper alternatives
Erratic stock for different color variants
Speed: 1600MHz
CAS: 10
Timing: 10-10-10-30
Voltage: 1.5V
Lifetime warranty
Good speeds
Heatsinks for optimal thermal performance
A little on the pricey side
Aesthetic won’t suit all users
Only comes in red
Things To Consider
FAQs
Our Verdict
Speed: 1600MHz
CAS: 10
Timing: 9-9-9-24
Voltage: 1.5V
The Corsair Vengeance Pro Series is our top pick for the best DDR3 RAM. It’s got excellent latency, fantastic cooling, and comes with a robust lifetime warranty. Corsair is one of the leading manufacturers of RAM modules, and it’s not hard to see why.