Table of Contents
We have noticed many people on sites such as Reddit and Google searching for the best RAM for their 2nd gen CPUs Ryzen CPUs. Therefore, in this article, we have reviewed the top RAM for Ryzen 2000 CPUs across all budgets. It is also important to note that AMD’s 2nd gen CPUs do require fast ram in order to work well and they don’t work with just about any kit. However, the RAM below have been proven to perform well with CPUs such as the Ryzen 2700X, 2600X, 2600, and other Ryzen 2000 series CPUs.
Read Related Article: X570 Motherboards for Ryzen 3000 CPUs: 3900X, 3700X, 3600X, 3600, and More
We’ll take a look at a few value options, as well as some very fast high performance and high capacity options. We’ve also added a few budget picks, but those are not recommended unless you are on a strict budget.
Contents
- Best Value: 3000MHz and 3200MHz
- Highest Performance: 3600MHz
- Highest capacity: 32GB and 16GB Sticks
- Budget: Under 3000MHz
Best Value: 3000MHz and 3200MHz
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Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB, 3200MHz)
When you’re looking to get a kit that’s high performance, but also doesn’t break the bank, look to no other than Corsair. Their Vengeance LPX kit is the one you should get, especially if you aren’t a fan of the RGB craze that’s been going on for the past couple of years.
The kit comes with two 8GB sticks, and they’re both pretty conservative in terms of looks. They’re all black, have no lights, and are pretty low profile. They still do have a great heat spreader to deal with heat, but it’s one that doesn’t get in the way of a massive CPU cooler, which is excellent. All of this makes the Vengeance LPX kit one that fits in just about any build and case.
To add to this, the performance is stellar. Ryzen 2000 CPUs are nitpicky when it comes to memory, but this 16GB kit comes with a 3200MHz frequency and C16 timings, and we have no complaints performance-wise. It’s a great pick for any build if you don’t need RGB.
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Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16GB (2x8GB, 3000MHz)
There’s no denying that people love RGB lights in their builds. And Corsair understands that, which is why their Vengeance RGB Pro kit is one of the best selling RAM kits out there. Considering it works really well with a Ryzen 2000 series CPU, we aren’t too surprised.
The kit comes with two 8GB sticks, both of which are black on the sides but have a dynamic multi-zone RGB light at the top. You can customize it to set it up just how you like it and make it fit well with the rest of your build, and they do look pretty nice. It’s not the lowest profile in the world, but it should work well with a variety of CPU coolers.
Performance with the Vengeance RGB Pro is impeccable. You get a 3000MHz frequency, which some might think isn’t too much, but you get 15-15-15-36 timings, which is impressive. Pair this with the tight screening the RAM goes through to ensure compatibility, and you’ve got yourself some great RAM.
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XPG Z1 16GB (2x8GB, 3000MHz)
If you’re not a fan of RGB on your RAM sticks, but still want a kit that looks nice, XPG’s Z1 kit is an option you should definitely consider. It’s got capacity, it’s got speed, and it’s got great timings, all at a more than reasonable price. You might think they’re not the most popular manufacturer out there, but that’s not really an issue here.
As far as looks go, the Z1 isn’t bad. You get a silver kit that does look pretty nice, and there’s an aluminum heat spreader that has a “peek” at the middle of the RAM stick. It’s not too high, so it shouldn’t be a problem in terms of CPU cooler compatibility, but it does do a good job of cooling the RAM sticks.
You’ll also love the performance– you’re looking at CL16 timings and a maximum frequency of 3000MHz. Pair this with low power consumption and a reasonable price, and you’re looking at an excellent pick for a Ryzen 2000 build, especially if you don’t like RGB.
Read Related Article: RAM for the Ryzen 5 1600
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Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine 16GB (2x8GB, 3200MHz)
If you look at some of the most popular memory products brands, you’ll find Silicon Power pretty high up the list. They’ve got memory cards, they’ve got flash drives, SSDs, and even some pretty good value RAM. The XPOWER Turbine 16GB kit is an excellent option for a Ryzen 2000 build, with no critical compromises and good performance.
You’re looking at two 8GB sticks that come with a blue heat spreader. Depending on your build’s color coordination, this may or may not work, but if it does, it’s going to look pretty good. There are no flashy RGB lights here, which keeps things low profile. Oh, and the heat spreader does do its job fairly well.
In terms of performance, you’re looking at speeds of up to 3200MHz, which is quite good and works well with Ryzen 2000 CPUs. The timings are 16-18-18-36, and that’s something that only adds to the performance. Overall, you won’t find anything lacking on this kit – the only question is whether or not you can make the color work.
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Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 16GB (2x8GB, 3200MHz)
Crucial’s Ballistix Sport series of RAM kits are some of the most popular options for users looking to build a Ryzen 2000 series system. They work very well, they’ve got great timings, and the price is far from unreasonable for what you’re getting. The Ballistix Sport LT kit we’re looking at today is a great pick, so let’s take a closer look at it.
First things first, you’ve got dual channel thanks to the two 8GB sticks. They’re pretty low, which means you won’t have issues with compatibility if you’ve got a massive CPU cooler in mind. There is no RGB here, but you do have a nice heat spreader to keep things cool and a “digital camo” paint job on the sticks. They actually look quite nice.
Performance is a non-issue here. You’re looking at a maximum frequency of 3200MHz, as well as CL16 timings, which is pretty fast and should work well with an AMD CPU. If you don’t really need RGB, and would rather spend the money on good performance, this is a great choice.
Highest Performance: 3600MHz
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G.SKILL Trident Z Neo 16GB (2x8GB, 3600MHz)
Even though fairly new as a model, G.SKILL’s Trident Z Neo RAM is definitely one of the most popular options for people looking to build a new AMD rig. It works with Ryzen 2000series processors, and it’s got just about everything you’d need, both performance-wise, and looks-wise.
The two sticks come with a combination of black and white, with an RGB light across the top section, the one that’s actually visible when you’re looking at your system’s insides. The lights can be set up just how you like them, and you can make them work well with the rest of your build. Oh, and compatibility with larger CPU coolers is pretty good, too.
We’ve got absolutely no complaints when it comes to performance either – you’re looking at a 3600MHz frequency and 16-19-19-39 timings, which is quite frankly, excellent. Add to this a 1.35V voltage, and you’ve got an excellent RAM kit if you’re after good performance.
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Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB, 3600MHz)
Not everyone who wants high-performance RAM is prepared to pay hundreds of dollars for it, which is why Corsair’s Vengeance LPX kit is one of the best selling models out there. If you’re building a Ryzen 2000 system and you don’t really need RGB, or you’ve got a large CPU cooler in mind, the Vengeance LPX kit is a great pick for you.
You get two sticks of 8GB each, and they’re both pretty minimalistic in terms of design – aluminum heat spreader that’s completely black, and a simple sticker on the middle to tell you what you’re looking at. The heat spreader does keep them pretty cool, but being low, it also allows for a large CPU cooler without it hitting the memory modules.
Performance is where the Vengeance LPX kit excels, because you’ve got C18 timings at 3600MHz, and that’s dual-channel memory. It checks all the boxes that a Ryzen 2000 CPU requires, and the memory performs really well. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money and still want good RAM, by all means, go for it.
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G.SKILL Trident Z Royal 16GB (2x8GB, 3600MHz)
There’s no denying that while atone point, memory was just a simple chip you plugged in and forgot about, today a lot of companies pay attention to the aesthetics of said memory. And nowhere is that more apparent than it is with G.SKILL’s Trident Z Royal memory kit. It’s a kit that pays attention to looks just as much as it does to performance, and it’s a pricy one at that.
Kicking things off with the looks, this is a gold memory kit that looks really nice. The sides are polished aluminum, while the top has a diamond-like textured RGB light. When you light it up, it’s the most beautiful memory module you’ve ever seen.
However, that’s not to say that performance has been compromised. The polished aluminum sides act as a heat spreader to the 3600MHz modules, which have a 16-16-16-36 timing. The RAM is fast and stable, and even when you push it to it’s maximum, it performs admirably. And at this price, it better.
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Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2x8GB, 3600MHz)
Finding a memory kit with a decent capacity, a high frequency, and reasonable timings are somewhat of a challenge. You’ve got a lot of manufacturers that will gladly compromise performance just to put a few RGB lights and still keep the price reasonable, which is not where you want to be with a Ryzen 2000 build. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Crucial’s Ballistix kit.
You’re looking at two sticks of8GB each, and they’re made to be as “no-fuss” as possible. A black aluminum heat spreader is all there is on top of the chip itself – no lights, no massive cooling, nothing. But the heat spreader does its job very, very well. And it stays low enough for you to be able to fit a massive CPU cooler next to it, too.
Performance is as you’d expect. The modules can go up to 3600MHz, and with CL16 timings, they’re impeccable. If you don’t really need RGB lights on your RAM kit, by all means, go for it.
Highest capacity: 32GB and 16GBsticks
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Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB (2x16GB, 3200MHz)
Whether you’re working with demanding applications, or you’re a heavy multitasker, a high capacity RAM stick is definitely something you should consider. And when you want to have all the nice things that could come with a RAM kit, but don’t want to overpay things, Corsair’s Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB kit is the one you should go for.
You’re looking at two 16GB sticks that are all black, save for the RGB lights at the top. This is a dynamic multi-zone light, so you have plenty of versatility in terms of how you’ll be setting it up. They do look really nice, but they’re pretty high, so keep that in mind if you’ve got a larger CPU cooler.
The Vengeance RGB Pro kit performs really, really well. You’ve got a maximum frequency of 3600MHz, andC16 timings, so this is some really fast RAM. And it’s been screened to ensure you don’t get any issues with performance – what more could you ask for?
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G.SKILL Trident Z Neo 32GB (2x16GB, 3600MHz)
G.SKILL advertises the Trident Z Neo as a memory kit that’s made for AMD’s Ryzen series of CPUs, and we agree –it’s an excellent kit if you’re building a Ryzen 2000-based system. It comes at a pretty reasonable price, and the performance is pretty much excellent in anyway.
The two sticks you’ll get are a nice black and white color way, with an RGB light at the top. The heat spreader does work really well, and it’s actually not that high in terms of physical size. You could fit a larger CPU cooler here without many problems. The RGB light can be customized, so you can have it light up the inside of your system, or turn it off for a more subdued look. It’s completely up to you.
You won’t find any issues with performance here – the 3600MHz frequency, paired with the 18-22-22-42 timings means that you’re looking at some pretty fast RAM. And with a 1.35V voltage, it’s going to be pretty stable, too – perfect for that build!
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G.SKILL Ripjaws V 32GB (2x16GB, 3200MHz)
If you look at G.SKILL’s memory models, you’ll find that most of them are made to have plenty of RGB and be areal attraction when you put them in a case. Not everyone wants that, however, which is where their Ripjaws V kit comes in. It’s a very subdued kit that’s also a pretty good value when you consider everything you’re getting.
You have two sticks of 16GB each, and they’re completely black. The heat spreader is somewhat high profile, so keep this in mind when choosing a CPU cooler, but it does a great job with the memory. It’s a nice thing that G.SKILL makes sure to match the modules, so you get good high-performance dual channel.
Add to this the 3600MHz frequency, as well as the excellent 16-18-18-38 timings, and you’re looking at a very fast memory kit. While originally designed for Intel, the Ripjaws V is one of the best high capacity RAM kits you can get for an AMD Ryzen 2000 series CPU, and it does work admirably.
Budget: Under 3000MHz
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Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB, 2666MHz)
Getting good RAM for a Ryzen CPU doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg – you can get some pretty nice kits for a reasonable price. The Vengeance LPX kit by Corsair is one of those options, especially if you opt for their 2666MHz model.
If you take a look at the two 8GB sticks you’ll get, you realize that this is a pretty subdued model when it comes to aesthetics. Black heat spreader, low profile, and an all-black design make it disappear in your case. If you don’t want your RAM to stand out, this is the one to go for.
As far as performance goes, it’s respectable, to say the least. 2666MHz isn’t too high, but the 16-18-18-35timings keep it running pretty well. The modules are overclockable, which is pretty nice, and the heat spreader will keep them cool when you’re doing it. Make no mistake, this is far from the highest performing RAM out there. But if you’re on a budget, it’s an excellent pick.
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Silicon Power 16GB (2x8GB, 2666MHz)
Silicon Power has been making some excellent budget memory in the past couple of years, and it’s no surprise they’ve got some great budget RAM modules for a Ryzen 2000 system. The16GB kit costs very little, yet it is a decent performer that doesn’t cut any corners where you don’t want it to.
In terms of aesthetics, it’s going to be a hit or a miss, depending on what you like. There are no RGB lights, and instead, you’ve got two 8GB modules with a black, white and red design. They do look nice, but nothing to write home about. There’s a nice heat spreader that keeps temperatures at bay, and we’ve found it works pretty well.
When it comes to performance, you pretty much get what you pay for. This is a budget kit, so don’t expect too much, but if you set your expectations right, you’re looking at an excellent option that saves you a bit of money. The CL19 timings are decent, and so is the 2666MHz,and there’s not much more to it honestly.
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