What is the best RAM for 8700k, you may ask? Well, that becomes a little complicated when you look at the different options available on the market today.
It is difficult because manufacturers have long struggled to adapt their hardware to the somewhat difficult specifications of 8700k.
Thankfully, there are some truly fantastic options out there, and our experts have been able to get their hands on them to try them out and make their choices.
Keep reading to see which options we love the most.
Contents
Table: Overview of The Best RAM For 8700k
RAM For 8700k | Key Specifications |
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB |
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TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB |
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Crucial Ballistix |
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HyperX Fury 16GB |
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Full-Length Reviews: Best RAM For 8700k
1. Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB)
- Beautiful aluminum heat spreading
- Low-profile design
- Extremely sturdy
- Has a more old-fashioned look
- No RGB
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Overall Review
Great for heat dissipation and cooling, this is a serious RAM kit for 8700k. It has a beautiful PCB layout with a complex structure and built-in heat spreaders. It has just about everything that you need from RAM.
Almost the entire kit is made out of aluminum, which means you can get some long-term use out of this as long as you cool it correctly. The external design is one of the most durable on the market.
The memory on this kit is DDR4, which is the fastest available. This type of memory also helps to future proof your build and ensure that everything stays good for years to come.
This RAM has a low-profile design, which means that you don’t have to worry about obstructing the external fans or not having room for some additional components. It also fits into most case sizes, so you will be able to build as you wish.
The looks aren’t all that stylish, but it is extremely sturdy. A good feature of the design is that the teeth are positioned facing upwards, which helps with both installation and replacement if you ever need to do that.
Finally, the speed on this thing is surprising. It has 2x 8GB RAM, which pushes you along quite nicely. As long as you know what you are doing, the maximum speed it can attain is 3600 MHz at overclocking modes. You will need to add some additional cooling if you want to reach those speeds.
It has a C18 latency level, and the operating voltage is 1.35 volts. The PCB is completely customized and design to be overclocked for hours at a time. Gamers will be able to push this RAM further than they’ve pushed many other options on the market. It has individual heat spreaders to help keep operation quiet and consistent.
Many streamers and gamers suggest this because it gives premium performance but doesn’t necessarily come in at a premium price point. It is also a well-known name that you know you can trust. The warranty is pretty comprehensive as well, helping people to pull the trigger.
Overall, this is a strong contender for the best on the list in almost every category. Truly, a scene-stealer.
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Who Is This For?
This is going to be the best option on the list for overclocking. It has some great features that also making it good for content creation, so if you plan to stream, it is going to be premium. This is a durable kit as well.
2. TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB DDR4 16GB (2x8GB) Black
- Reasonably priced option
- Configurable via Asus Aura software
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Overall Review:
As far as mid-range RAM for 8700k goes, this one is pretty good. You are going to make some concessions here and there, but for the casual gamer, this is a great option.
It performs fairly quickly, though in most tests it doesn’t live up to the 3200 Mhz name. Overclocking, however, makes this possible (and more). Just be careful about cooling your system appropriately, or you will shorten the life of this RAM.
Design wise, this is a fairly standard RAM, but it looks good and doesn’t scratch or fade like some other RAMs have reported doing. If you work in a dusty or humid environment, anecdotal this has stood up better than many other pieces of hardware.
You should note that parts of this are plastic, but that doesn’t seem to impact the lifespan of it, at least according to reports. Still, if you plan to overclock on a regular basis, that could impact lifespan.
Of all the options on this list, it is extremely easy to install this one thanks to some great instructions and support. Even so, this is a name that many people don’t know, so there aren’t may “extra” guides out there to help new builders. Experienced builders will find this one easy to install, however.
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Who Is This For?
If you are looking to have some RGB modules on your RAM, then this is going to be your first choice on this list. It is also great for those who need something that comes in at a reasonable price.
3. Crucial Ballistix 16GB (8GBx2) (BLACK)
- A good balance between value and performance
- The optimal choice for gamers
- Good lifetime warranty (for the most part)
- Compatible with different components, great for hod-podge builders
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Overall Review:
If you are looking to make a smart choice in a RAM kit for 8700k, then you will want to take a second look at the Crucial Ballistix 3200. It is extremely powerful and, with some tweaking, it is even great for gaming.
The clock speed it notable and it actually lives up to its promises, which isn’t something you always find. Even at the highest speeds, it performs extremely cleanly and smoothly. You don’t have to worry too much about temperature, but you may want to add in some additional cooling systems if you overclock frequently just to help increase the lifespan.
This RAM has a unique heat spreader that is good for people who have a display case. There are some conversations within the building community as to whether or not this unique design actually does anything, but it is still pretty cool to look at and it works just as well as other spreaders.
With proper cooling and handling, this RAM kit will last for a good long time and give you what you need. Read the fine print, but the lifetime warranty is pretty comprehensive. All of this information can be found within the user manual, which is a treasure trove for new builders who are looking to install RAM for the first time.
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Who Is This For?
This is RAM for 8700k for gamers and those who have an eye on performance. The extremely high clock memory helps to keep everything running smoothly and properly. It is one of the suggested choices across the board, even for streamers and those who play seriously. New builders will be able to use it, and experienced builders will love it as well.
4. HyperX Fury 16GB
- Excellent upgrade to a line most people know and love
- Perfect for PC builders who need performance, but not looks
- Excellent quality piece (but you’ll pay for it)
- Heat is able to dissipate very, very quickly
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Overall Review:
The HyperX Fury line has a lot of hype around it, and with good reason. This is one of the first lines to really have a comprehensive approach to building RAM kits, and it continually impresses people from all walks of life. This RAM kit is an update to their initial line, and it makes some of the needed improvements.
From an appearance perspective, this is a beautiful kit that is similar to what you may expect. It has a heat spreader that can add a pop of color or remain pretty standard, it just depends on the type of look that you want. If it doesn’t matter, the black is a classic.
For gamers, there is some serious overclocking potential here. The HyperX Fury 16GB has an uncanny ability to dissipate heat quickly, making it ideal for those who are serious about cooling. It runs extremely quickly for this price range, coming in at 2666MHz with XMP Profile. If you like to overclock and really push your rig, this is going to be awesome.
If you are a new builder or you don’t like to mess around with the settings, this one is ready to go right out of the box, which will help you to get going much more quickly than other kits. However, there are plenty of personalization options as well.
This RAM for 8700k has somewhat of a cult following, so you should look around online for the communities that have been built around it. You will be able to get tips and tricks fairly easily to get the most out of it. Even if you aren’t willing to do that, this is good to go from the start.
Overall, this will be one of the best values on the list, you just need to strike when you can to purchase it, as they tend to go quickly.
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Who Is This For?
This is a perfect option for those builders who need a good looking RAM kit and maybe have a display window on their cases. It is also good for those who need something with good heat dissipation (meaning those who intend to overclock).
Conclusion
For gaming and content creation, you need to have RAM that you can trust to overclock. For 8700k, there are plenty of options that our experts were able to consider.
However, they found that unequivocally, the best choice is the Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz C16 Desktop Memory Kit – Black. It simply cannot be beaten.
If you aren’t interested in Corsair for some reason, the HyperX Fury 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 CL15 DIMM (Kit of 2) 1Rx8 Black XMP Desktop Memory HX432C16FB3K2/16 is another great option.