This is our roundup review of the best RAM For Ryzen 5 3600 / 3600X processors in 2021.
From the moment AMD launched their Ryzen processors to high praise, there was always one singular problem with the platform.
Their processors were very picky about what memory they were paired with, and in some cases simply wouldn’t even boot if used with certain RAM.
Best RAM For Ryzen 3600 And 3600X Review Guide
Luckily, we are now into the third generation of these processors, and their compatibility with different memory is far greater.
You can pick up pretty much any brand and plug it into your motherboard and it will work right out of the box.
But are there certain brands and speeds that will work better with your shiny new Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600x processor?
We have scoured the internet, looking for the greatest memory for these processors we could find.
We researched them all as deeply as possible so you don’t have to. We have narrowed it down to four memory kits we believe are the greatest available for the 3rd generation Ryzen 5s.
Let’s dive right in and check out the four we have chosen, and why we think they are the best for your computer build.
They are mainly all 16GB kits, as we believe that is the best option today for memory capacity if you are running the Windows operating system.
1. Corsair Vengeance CMK16GX4M2B3200C16
- Hand-sorted memory chips ensure high performance with generous Overclocking headroom. SPD Speed-2133MHz
- Vengeance LPX is optimized for wide compatibility with the latest Intel and AMD DDR4 motherboards.
- A low-profile height of just 34mm ensures that vengeance LPX even fits in most small-form-factor builds.
Corsair has long been making high end memory for personal computers, and that hasn’t changed even today.
Their Vengeance line is one of the more affordable series of memory they provide, which we think is perfect for the midrange Ryzen 5 processors.
Performance
With 3200 MHz of speed, you will be getting what we believe is the sweet spot between price and performance for the Ryzen processors.
If you drop below this, you will see a measurable drop in performance, but if you go much higher the price will be incredibly steep.
With a latency of 15-15-15-36, you aren’t going to get the most tight timings out there.
For most consumers though, it will not make a big difference.
Design
The overall design of the heat spreaders on this RAM is quite minimal compared to many other brands out there.
They are on the smaller side, with no real shape or quirky design on them.
That comes with more good news: these memory modules have a very low profile to fit in any motherboard configuration.
They do come in a variety of colors: black, white, blue, and red. This will help you match the colors of your motherboard and overall build to make them blend in naturally and beautifully.
There are no RGB or LED lights anywhere on these. They harken back to a time before bright lights and colorful design was the preferred look.
They are very understated, which will be a draw for some, but a turn off for others.
Pros:
- Low profile design
- 3200MHz speed will be good most users
Cons:
- Timings aren’t best in class
- Limited overclockability at 1.35V
2. Patriot PVS416G373C7K: Best RAM For Ryzen 5 3600 And 3600X Overall
- Capacity: 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 Kit; Gunmetal grey sides with diamond-cutting Viper logo / Black top
- Base Frequency: PC4-17000 (2133MHz), Tested Frequency Profile 1: PC4-29800 (3733MHz)
- Base Timings: 15-15-15-36; Tested Timings: 17-21-21-41
Another giant in the memory field, Patriot has always been one of the lesser talked about brands, but with high performance being their focus.
This set of Viper Steel memory is no different, and lives up to the brand expectations you have when hearing the name “Patriot.”
Performance
This is where Patriot shines as a brand, providing outstanding performance compared to other comparably priced memory.
This Viper Steel RAM is extremely fast, and stable, making it one of the best performing kits on this list.
The 3733 MHz speed is blazing fast, giving you a nice boost in system performance right out of the gate.
While most people aren’t stepping over that 3200 MHz threshold, for the more extreme people out there, this kit is going to rev up the engines!
The timings at base clock (2133 MHz) are average, and the same can be said of the timings at the 3733 MHz rating. Nothing that will blow your socks off, but extremely stable.
Design
The metallic, industrial design of the heat spreader on these memory modules are great, as they will match almost any build.
The gunmetal color, with the robotic viper snake emblem has a clean look, while still feeling a bit gamer centric.
This kit of RAM does not feature any lighting effects, so if you are looking for bright and shiny RGB colors, pick another kit.
While it may not be ideal if you are building a RGB heavy computer, the overall unassuming look will allow the rest of our build to shine.
These sticks of memory are not extremely tall, though are definitely not low profile either.
They should fit fine under any regular CPU cooler for Ryzen 3600 that doesn’t have a massive hangover onto the RAM slots.
Pros:
- Fast clocking speeds
- Great gunmetal color
- Good timings
Cons:
- No RGB lighting
- Heat spreaders feel cheap
3. G.SKILL Trident Z RGB F4-3600C16D-16GTZR
- The exposed light bar is designed for visual satisfaction in full RGB.
- Trident Z RGB incorporates the iconic design element of the traditional Trident Z setup
- Each memory kit contains specially shielded ICs through G.SKILL's unparalleled selection process
Skill is the most popular brand of RAM on the market, and their Trident Z line is the shining light of their entire lineup.
It is not the cheapest, but it is finely crafted and has a gorgeous design.
Performance
G.Skill has blessed us with this kit of fast, 3600 MHz memory that is fully compatible with the AMD platform.
This means you get extremely fast RAM, well above what is needed for basic computing.
We are here in the high performance zone, and this kit can hang with any on the market.
With latency of 16-16-16-36, you get nice tight timings for such a high speed.
This will make sure you get the most performance out of this RAM as possible. Snappy, quick, and reliable…what more can you ask for?
While a lot of RAM does not play nice with Ryzen processors, the Trident Z series now works very well.
G.Skill did a great job of ensuring compatibility with AMD’s new high end processors, giving the consumer even more options for components.
Design
This is where the Trident Z RAM shines the brightest, quite literally. The gorgeous, award winning heat spreaders are marvelous to look at.
They also do a really good job of keeping the RAM nice and cool.
This memory brings out the goods on the top spine as well, giving you some great looking RGB lights to help your build pop.
The bright, colorful lights shine through the notched metal on top, giving it a beautiful overall design.
The dark polished metal look of the heat spreaders is lovely and minimalistic.
It gives a great backdrop for those RGB lights, making it fit seamlessly into any motherboard and case combination.
Pros:
- Programmable LEDs with no extra wire
- Great looking design
- Thick Heatsinks
Cons:
- Plastic cover over the LEDs look fragile
- Expensive
4. HyperX HX426C16FB3/8: Best Budget RAM For Ryzen 5 3600 And 3600X
- Updated low-profile heat spreader design
- Cost-efficient, high-performance DDR4 upgrade
- Intel XMP-ready profiles optimized for Intel’s latest chipsets
Kingston, the brand behind HyperX, has been one of the innovators in the memory space seemingly forever.
They have been pushing the envelope and trend setting in this space, and this line of HyperX Fury RAM continues that tradition.
Performance
This 8GB kit is not only the smallest capacity on this list, but has the slowest speeds of all its competitors as well. Does that mean it is bad? No way!
Coming in at only 2666 MHz, this does fall below what we call the “sweet spot” of 3200 MHz, but it is still fast enough that you aren’t looking at a crazy loss of performance.
It is going to be a measurable loss, given that AMD Ryzen loves RAM speed, but nothing that the average user is going to notice.
Only having 8GB of RAM is the biggest hit here, and is something that will make your computer noticeably slower, especially in multitasking.
If you don’t have the budget for 16GB, start here with 8GB, and then upgrade in the future.
Design
The best thing about the design of this HyperX RAM is low profile in nature which makes it compatible with even the smallest or tightest builds.
The heat spreaders are very close and short, giving your CPU cooler plenty of clearance without hindering the cooling.
The super minimalist design comes in three different colors: black, red, and white.
None of the options has RGB lighting, or any flashy design elements. All you see is the simple HyperX logo and the Fury name on the side.
Pros:
- Low profile design
- Affordable
Cons:
- Only 8GB
- Slower speed than competitors
Conclusion
There you have it, four of the best options for memory if you have a Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600x.
From the affordable to the high end RGB monsters, there is a kit of memory above that is sure to fit your budget and build perfectly.
Choose the one that you can afford and gives you the best performance for your money.
While there are plenty more options out there, these are tried and true kits that are compatible with AMD’s platform that will not cause you any problems in your system.
As we mentioned earlier, AMD Ryzen processors and motherboards are picky, so choosing one of these kits is your best bet for the best experience possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3200MHz RAM good for Ryzen 3600?
In terms of performance and budget, 3200MHz is the ideal RAM speed for Ryzen 3000 processors, including the 3600.
Can the Ryzen 5 3600 handle 3600MHz RAM?
Yes, while Ryzen 3600 can support only 3200MHz out of the box, you can make it handle faster modules by overclocking.
How much RAM can a Ryzen 5 3600 handle?
The Ryzen 5 3600 supports up to 128GB of dual-channel memory.
