Even though it’s not new anymore, the Intel Core i9-10900K is one of the best gaming CPUs you can get right now. That is, of course, if you are not concerned with the better price to performance ratio provided by AMD’s Ryzen family of CPUs.
To make the best use out of any CPU, it’s important that the memory is not a bottleneck. So, which memory is the best to use with the Core i9 10900K?
If all you are after is stable RAM that wont bottleneck your CPU or GPU, then just about any decent DDR4 memory modules will do, so long as they support at least 3400mhz clock speeds.
If, on the other hand, you intend on overclocking, you are going to need some high-end memory that supports tighter timings and higher clock frequencies.
If you are looking for the best ram for the i9-10900k, it depends on your use-case. If you plan on overclocking, HyperX Predator Series is the way to go. If the best performance for your dollar is your main concern, then you may want to take a look at either the Corsair Vengeance LPX family or Patriot Viper Steel Series. G.Skill’s TridentZ RGB Series is the perfect fit for someone who likes RGB lighting, and if you are on a tight budget, the Patriot Viper Steel Series is your best bet.
In this article, we will cover the best RAM for i9 10900k. Also, we will explain what we like most about each RAM module on this list and why we think it’s the best ram for the Intel i9-10900K.
Does The Core i9 10900K Need Fast RAM?
It’s important to remember that Intel CPUs are less able to take advantage of tight memory timings and high clock speeds than their AMD counterparts. So, that means if you are on a budget, it may be better to use your money on something other than high-end RAM.
These days a nice cooling system can bring bigger performance benefits than super expensive RAM can. It sounds impossible, but I will explain. Unlike the CPUs of yesteryear, modern CPUs essentially all overclock themselves.
The degree in which they can automatically overclock themselves and for how long is a function of several factors, the most important of which is the CPU’s cooling system. When I first got into computers, a fan would not make your computer faster, but in 2022, it most certainly does.
If gaming, video editing, or 3d modeling is your thing, then getting a better graphics card will often net a far larger performance increase than any RAM options could. Also, if you are still running a hard drive, switching to an SSD will give you a massive performance increase.
If you have already done all those things, however, and you are trying to squeeze the most possible performance out of your machine, then you may want to consider buying a high-performance RAM module kit.
How Much Ram Is Needed For The i9 10900k?
My first PC had 256mb of RAM. Back then, that was more than enough, but high end machines had 512MB. These days, 8GB is typical for most systems and 16GB is usually enough RAM for gamers.
If you want to get the most performance out of your 10900K, though, you will need 32GB of RAM or more depending on your application.
Only the highest-end gaming and video editing computers would see any benefit in going from 16GB of RAM to 32GB and beyond. This is because it takes systems that powerful to be able to run games at 4K resolutions and extremely high refresh rates, and when you are running at resolutions and framerates that high, you need every megabyte of RAM you can get.
1. Kingston HyperX Predator – Best RAM For i9 10900K Overclocking
This memory works all the way up to clock speeds of 4800MHz. It is recommended to enable the XMP option in EUFI setup (before windows boots) to get the most out of this memory.
This RAM functions best when timings are set to 19-23-23, running at 1.35V.
This 32GB RAM kit is great for overclockers because it can run stably at 4133MHz with 17-17-17-37 timings. If you are looking for the fastest RAM for the i9 10900k, then Kingston HyperX is the way to go.
2.Corsair Vengeance LPX – Best Value RAM For 10900K
The Corsair Vengeance LPX fits this need perfectly. This kit is the go-to choice for computer users that simply want a relatively fast 32GB RAM kit.
There are no bells and whistles here, folks. This is a simple install, no frills memory upgrade that will get the job done.
Unless you are looking for some flashy RGB RAM or are trying to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of your 10900K, this 3200MHz CL16 kit will be a great choice for you.
3. G.Skill TridentZ RGB Series – Best RGB RAM For i9-10900K
These RAM modules run as amazing as they look. These modules are compatible with common RGB lighting software, so it won’t be hard to setup.
This 32GB RGB 3200MHz RAM kit offers 14-14-14-34 timings and runs great at 1.35V. With some overclocking effort, this G.Skill memory module kit can be easily pushed to 3800Mhz. You will, of course, have to set the RAM timings to something along the lines of 16-16-16-32 to achieve those clock speeds.
You would think that all the RGB flare would add a hefty premium to this kit’s price tag but as it turns out, this kit is not that much more expensive than other high end memory modules. G.Skill has always been known for making premium products that represent an excellent value for the money.
4.Patriot Viper Steel Series – Another Great Value Memory Kit 10900K Systems
The best thing about this Patriot 16GB memory kit is that it is affordable. Even still, it can run at blazing fast 4400MHz clock speeds while using 19-19-19-39 timings. So, if you are in need of additional RAM, but you are on a budget, this may be the kit for you.
5. Patriot Viper Steel Series – Best Budget RAM For i9-10900K
This is another great memory kit by Patriot. This 32GB kit runs with 16-18-18-36 timings @ 3200MHz. Sure, those are not the tightest timings or highest clock speeds but the price of this kit reflects that.
The reality of the fact is that in real-world usage, looser memory timings and lower clock speeds really don’t make that big of an impact on overall system performance.
While you will absolutely get more performance from your system with faster RAM, but really, is 5% more speed worth 50% more cost? The law of diminishing effects everything and PC memory is no exception.
How To Choose The RAM For i9-10900k?
The last few generations of Intel chips have had very wide memory clock and timing compatibilities. The Intel Core I9-10900K is the final iteration of Intel’s Comet Lake-S series of processors.
The i9-10900k is still a very recent CPU release, so finding the best RAM to use for the 10900k can be somewhat of a challenge. While there is a lot to learn to master the subject, finding the best RAM for i9-10900K boils down to just a few key aspects.
Capacity
Capacity is the most obvious and most straightforward aspect when it comes to RAM but it’s not the most important. 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB are common RAM module sizes these days.
Generally speaking, it will be hard to find excessively large memory modules that are also exceedingly fast. This is not a coincidence.
Market forces do have a dramatic impact on why this happens, but it really comes down to binning.
What Is Binning?
Binning is the practice of getting the most for your silicon development dollar. Yields when producing silicon items are never 100%. So, instead of throwing away an imperfect Core i7 CPU, why not disable the parts of the chip that don’t work and call it a Core i3 instead?
The same thing happens with memory. The largest memory modules typically have the most errors. Why throw away a memory module that only exhibits errors at its stock clock speed? Why not just slow it down a little bit so it runs stable so it can be sold? This is what happens.
Clock Speed
This is the second most common aspect of RAM modules. The clock speed is the speed in which a memory module is connected to the system, but it’s also the speed that the memory physically operates at.
Generally speaking, the higher memory clock speeds, the faster the performance. That is, of course, until you have to massively increase your CAS latency and other factors simply to get the RAM to be stable at those new speeds. There is a trade off here.
Latency
Ahh, latency. Latency is the big, scary, confusing aspect of RAM for most people. Latency defines how long it will take for a memory module to carry out a given command. All else being equal, higher capacity RAM typically has a higher associated latency.
Is The i9 10900k Good For Gaming?
Sure, why not. One could argue that the 10900k was not a 10th generation part. In fact, one could go as far to say that current ’12th’ gen intel hardware is *really* 11th gen.
You can take 2 guesses at how I feel about the 11th generation of chips from Intel, but only one would count.
Silicon politics aside, even a 7th or 8th gen Intel flagship CPU will run most games fine today so long as you have enough RAM and the right graphics card.
The incremental upgrades we have seen to x86 CPUs are nice, but they are just that. Incremental. This is why 10 year old Macbook Pros still run well.
What RAM Speed Does The i9 10900K Support?
The Intel Core i9 10900K officially supports 3200MHz and lower frequencies. But those are just the official numbers that Intel guarantees everything will work at.
Unofficially, however, users have been known to get certain high-end memory modules to be stable at 4800mhz using the 10900K.
What is the best CAS Latency for an i9-10900K?
The lower the CAS CAS latency the better. High-clocked, high-latency RAM can actually reduce speed and performance. The best latency timings to use for the 10900K is C16.
Conclusion
The Intel Core i9-10900K is still one of the highest performance CPUs on the market. For a CPU to be able to perform at its peak, it needs to have access to enough RAM.
Not only that, but the access speed to that RAM has to be high enough. If both of those things are not met, then the memory sub-system will become a bottleneck. So, that leaves a lot of people wondering, ‘What is the best RAM for the Core i9 10900K?’
Well, that all depends on how you plan on using your system. The HyperX Predator Series is the way to go if you are into overclocking. If you are just looking for a simple drop-in upgrade that has solid performance and a decent price tag, then look no further than the Patriot Viper Steel Series or Corsair Vengeance LPX family.
If RGP lighting is your thing then the G.Skill TridentZ RGB Series is the RAM for you. Those that are looking for the lowest cost RAM for their 10900K, then Patriot’s Viper Steel Series is the one you want.
We hope this article helped you find the best RAM for the i9 10900k, thanks for reading!
Marziano is a seasoned tech expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and multiple certifications, including CompTIA A+, Network+, and Cisco’s CCNA, he has a well-rounded and robust understanding of various aspects of technology.