Cost per GB tells you the value, but a cheap kit at the wrong speed leaves performance on the table. So this shows both. Every current kit ranked by dollars per GB, with speed and latency beside it. Hit the gaming sweet spot filter to see only the DDR5-6000 CL30 class kits, then buy the cheapest one.
Prices reviewed 11 July 2026. A 2026 DRAM shortage has spiked memory prices and stock is tight, so check the live listing before buying.
| Kit | Size | Type | Speed | Latency | Price | $/GB |
|---|
An AI-driven DRAM shortage has pushed prices up sharply. Kits that were around $100 now run well past $200 and stock is tight, so the gap between a fair price and a gouged one is large. Value comparison matters more than ever.
DDR5-6000 CL30 is the sweet spot for AMD and Intel. The gap from 6000 to 7200 is only 1 to 3 percent in games, so very high speeds rarely justify the price. Use the sweet spot filter.
16GB floor, 32GB sweet spot for gaming, 64GB or more only for heavy rendering, video or local AI. Filter by capacity to compare fairly.
Whatever your board takes, they are not interchangeable. New AM5 and LGA1851 use DDR5. Older AM4 and LGA1700 use DDR4. New build means DDR5.