Introduction
Picking out RAM for your new PC build can be complicated. Buying a kit that offers optimal performance at a reasonable price isn’t always easy. You’re faced with a myriad of different manufacturers to choose from, along with a variety of specs that can impact how well your system runs, both now and in the future. So how do you choose? If you’ve set yourself a somewhat reasonable budget, let’s say $150, what are the best DDR5 RAM kits to buy under this price point?
In this buyers guide, we’ve rounded up the best DDR5 ram kits under $150. We’ve gathered up a range of options to choose from that cater to both Intel and AMD users. All of the RAM kits we’ve picked out have also been tested in detail to ensure the memory is reliable and hitting the rated speeds during regular usage. We’ll be doing a deep dive on each kit, highlighting their various pros and cons, allowing you to forge an overview of each set of DIMMs.
Best DDR5 RAM Under $150: Kingston FURY Renegade White RGB
📸 View the FURY Renegade kit.
We’ve picked out the FURY Renegade white kit from Kingston.as the best set of DDR5 RAM DIMMs under $150. The reason why this kit beat out all of the other options that we’ve looked at in this roundup, is because of its value-proposition. This white DDR5 kit is one of the best performing options on the market, while sitting at a very competitive price. The 6000MT/s speed and CL32 latency makes this kit stand out at this particular price point, making it a worthwhile pickup if you’re restricted to a budget of $150.
Design: 4/5
Performance: 4.7/5
Value for Money: 4.8/5
Our Verdict: 4.5/5
Skip to the full testing, gallery and where to buy the Kingston FURY Renegade kit. ⬇️
The Best DDR5 RAM Under $150
1. Kingston FURY Renegade White RGB Kit
Best Overall
The Kingston FURY Renegade set of DIMMs is the kit that we’ve selected as the best option for gaming. The Kingston FURY Renegade kit sports a white and black contrast that synergises with the RGB lighting strip on top of each DIMM, offering up additional flair for your system.
You can configure the RGB lighting and sync it up using a variety of software, allowing you to pick out a particular aesthetic or theme. In terms of performance, this 32GB kit offers up a 6000MT/s speed, alongside a CL32 latency.
I’d argue this is somewhat of a sweet spot, because you’re getting the added bonus of high mega-transfer speeds with a reasonable latency.
You can improve the latency timings with trial and error, but this is likely to increase stability more than speed. Overall this is one of the best kits on the market, and is ideal for gaming at the top-end.
Pros
- Fast 6000MHz kit.
- Striking design on DIMMs.
- Supports most RGB software.
Cons
- Hard to find for MSRP.
- Design won't be for everyone.
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2. G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo EXPO Kit
Best for AMD
The Trident Z5 Neo EXPO kit from G.Skill is our best option for AMD systems within this testing roundup.
While the more bare aesthetic is somewhat lacklustre, it makes up for this by offering top-tier performance.
It is worth noting that the reason why this particular kit is so strong is due to its memory profile. EXPO kits are specifically built for AMD systems, which means when you turn on the EXPO profile, RAM speed is increased, and latency is significantly decreased, improving performance across the board.
This set of DIMMs comes in with a 32GB capacity rated at 6000MT/s, with a CL30 latency.
The speed and capacity is pretty standard for most decent DDR5 RAM kits, but latency is where the Z5 Neo thrives. The difference between a CL32 and CL30 latency can be quite significant when gaming, offering 4-5% more FPS in your favourite titles.
Pros
- Ideal for gaming
- Excellent latency
- Uses a one-click performance profile
Cons
- Lacklustre aesthetic
- Not ideal for Intel users
3. XPG Lancer RGB Kit
Best White Option
XPG’s DDR5 RAM kits are incredibly competitive options in this space, and are some of the best looking kits on the market. We’ve commended these XPG Lancer DIMMs as the best white RAM kits on the market, sporting a glorious white shrouding that covers each RAM stick.
The heatsinks are further complimented by the RGB strip sitting on the top of each DIMM. These provide some flair and additional lighting options for your system, allowing you to customise colours to your heart’s content.
Performance wise, this XPG kit comes in with a 6000MT/s speed, along with a CL30 latency. This makes it ideal for top-end gaming, while providing solid performance at a very competitive price point.
We recently included this RAM in a $1000 gaming PC build, showcasing that builds utilising this memory need not cost a fortune:
We’re pretty impressed with the speed of this kit, which opens up options for Intel users, as you’re not having to rely on a proprietary EXPO profile to enjoy improved performance.
Pros
- Affordable
- Great RGB
- Performs well
Cons
- Availability may vary
- Size may limit case choices
4. Corsair Vengeance Black EXPO Kit
Best RGB
You can’t really do a RAM buyers guide without mentioning at least one kit from Corsair. The ‘Yellow Pirates’ have been in the PC building space for as long as we can remember, with their RAM being a mainstay in many GeekaWhat builds.
This particular kit is an AMD EXPO option, providing increased mega-transfer speeds and minimal latency once the one-click profile is enabled within the BIOS.
Performance wise, this Vengeance RGB set of DIMMs sports pretty similar specs to the other kits we’ve looked at in this roundup, with a speed of 6000MT/s and a latency of CL30.
But the reason why we picked out this kit, is because it looks gorgeous. Corsair thrive when it comes to RGB, and the vast majority of their components that do offer any form of RGB lighting look excellent, while providing consistent performance. Their RAM in particular can be customised with the Corsair iCUE software, allowing you to configure any lighting effects and patterns, along with colours too.
Pros
- RGB lighting
- Excellent performance
- iCUE is easy to use
Cons
- EXPO restricted to AMD
- Expensive
How We Tested the Best DDR5 RAM
To determine which RAM kits are the best options for consumers, there are a number of factors that we take into account, alongside our experiences with the product in question. These factors include:
- Megatransfer Speed
- Latency
- Thermals
- Aesthetic
- Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is More Important – Latency or Speed?
Latency. While the speed of your RAM will affect how quickly instructions are executed, latency affects the delay in which RAM sends data, which will affect performance more if higher.
Is RGB Important?
No. Picking up components with RGB lighting is entirely preference-based. RGB will not affect anything other than the aesthetic of your PC build.
Will DDR5 Become Cheaper?
Yes, it will over time. Although DDR5 is quite pricey at the moment, we’ll start to see similar pricing compared to DDR4 as this generation of RAM ages.
