What Corsair DDR5 RAM to get?
What Corsair DDR5 RAM to get?
Check the specifications for your i7-13700k and ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E. Match the RAM to the recommended frequency and speed. For your setup, 6000MHz C36 kits are common and work well with those boards. Lower latency is usually better, so stick with the standard speeds unless you have a specific reason to go higher.
Pick any 5600 kit or above. Latency isn't crucial unless you're after a particular chip, though most boards should still hit close to 7000. Exceptions are low-end 16Gb die chips from Hynix or Samsung, which are usually under 5600. Avoid falling for the cheap CL ID trap—clock speed has less impact on RAM performance than timing details like TRFC. Just grab the lowest-priced 5600 and skip the timing specs; you're likely to get near 7000 without damaging higher-tier RAM options.
You don’t need to worry about overclocking your RAM if you’re unsure. It’s not something that happens automatically, and you don’t have to choose between a budget model and a more expensive one. If you mainly play games, the performance difference won’t matter much, so you can stick with what you have or opt for a slightly better option if it feels right.
Opt for the most affordable options, even if they’re not the latest. This ensures you’ll have alternatives later, making your setup more secure. Right now, high RAM isn’t a big priority—just grab the cheapest 5600 kit and skip the timing details.
Hold on a second, I just realized the board selection—why a Z790 E? If you don’t need the additional I/O, anything under $200 like the A Pro, UD, and Steel Legend will work just fine. The Z690 AERO DDR4 also offers similar I/O with dual USB, one HDMI, seven USB ports, and even Wi-Fi. You can simply use what you have or purchase a budget 3200 CL16 DDR4 32GB kit if you need more RAM capacity, since you won’t be future-proofing for DDR5 unless you really understand the specs. The savings here are minimal at best, and newer chips could potentially disrupt your older DDR5 timings and settings. If you’re after dual Thunderbolt, consider the Z690 AERO D or ProArt—though it’s forced to support DDR5, prefer DDR4 if possible.