If you are currently exploring the market for good Intel CPUs, then the Core i9 12900K is Intel’s current magnum opus in terms of performance. Not only is it one of the fastest processors out there but if you genuinely are looking for gaming or productivity performance, this is the way to go because you certainly will not be disappointed.
Now, with the Intel 12th generation, you get access to Intel’s latest and greatest technologies that they have built into this CPU, and on top of that, you also get support for both DDR4 and DDR5 RAM. Of course, a good CPU does need good RAM, too but at the moment, the RAM market is something that a lot of people are confused about.
On one end, you have affordable DDR4 offerings, and on the other hand, you have fast but expensive DDR5 offerings, too. While this choice is always good, it can end up creating a lot of confusion for people that they don’t want.
Therefore, we are here to help you find the best RAM for i9 12900K, so your overall buying experience is as smooth as possible and that too, without any hiccups.
Reviewing the Best RAM for i9 12900K
Awards | Model | Price |
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Editor’s Choice | Buy on Amazon |
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Runner Up | Buy on Amazon |
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Best RGB RAM for i9 12900k | Buy on Amazon |
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Best Budget DDR5 RAM for i9 12900k | Buy on Amazon |
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Best DDR4 White RAM for i9 12900k | Buy on Amazon |
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Best Looking DDR4 RAM for i9 12900k | Buy on Amazon |
Now, there is no shortage of good RAMs that you can check out. However, we want our readers to have the best of the best available so they do not run into any issues, either. Therefore, without any further ado, let’s have a look at some of the best RAM kits available in the market.
G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB
Specifications:
- Speed: DDR5 6400 MHz
- Capacity: 32GB.
- Voltage: 1.40V.
- Timings: 32-39-39-102
I have long been a fan of G.Skill RAM kits for the simplest reason that if you are searching for something that is both performance-oriented and looks excellent, too. Then G.Skill is something that you should be going with because you will not be disappointed. Sure, they make some valuable RAM kits, too. So, if you do want to get those, you can go ahead and easily get something more affordable, too.
The RAM that I am looking at right now is the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB, and well, this is something that you should be looking into if you want the absolute best performance in every case, and yes, that too without any hiccups coming in the way. The RAM does come at a premium but what you are getting is excellent performance all around.
Now, the great thing is that the moment you take the RAM kit out of the box, you realize just how premium it is. Not that I am saying that the market has a shortage of good quality RAM kits but this one truly gets the job done and the feel in hand is just excellent, to say the least. It feels hefty, polished, well-built, and very elegant.
Plugging the RAM in is an entirely different story altogether as aside from just looking good, this RAM knows how to perform and perform with great overall performance, too. This is to a point that you will not be disappointed and that is saying something about it. Regardless of the tasks you are throwing at it, the RAM is going to handle everything like an absolute champion and that is what I always love about such products.
Moving further, the RAM has excellent overclocking potential and for those who are really interested in pushing it towards the limit, they will easily be able to do so and that too, without any complications that might otherwise come in the way.
Another excellent thing about the RAM is that it comes with a limited lifetime warranty, which is always a great thing, to be honest. However, for those who are worried that the RAM kit might give up or something, I have been using the G.Skill Trident Z RGB in DDR4 variant for over 5 years and the RAM is still crushing it in terms of the overall performance.
Last but not the least, G.Skill has done an amazing job with the overall aesthetics and has created easily one of the best-looking RAM modules in the market; everything ranging from the aesthetics to RGB lighting is tastefully done.
As far as the downsides are concerned, I did realize that the RAM does not come with any thermal pad on the PMIC, which is concerning since DDR5 RAM kits tend to run hotter.
Overall, the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB is an excellent RAM kit that you can get in the market. If you have been searching for the best RAM for intel i9 12900K, then this is definitely the RAM to go with as you would be getting top-of-the-line performance with ease.
- Excellent overall performance.
- Great overclocking potential.
- Looks amazing with beautiful RGB lighting.
- Brilliant warranty support.
- Could run hot in certain conditions.
Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5
Specifications:
- Speed: DDR5 5400 MHz
- Capacity: 32GB.
- Voltage: 1.25V.
- Timings: 36-38-38-74
We are all aware of the fact that when you are talking about good-quality memory kits, Corsair is one of the brands that is never really going to not perform well across all boards. The company has been around for as long as one can remember and has graced us with some excellent products over the years. Everything ranging from excellent looking coolers, to peripherals, cases, fans, and top of the line power supplies, so it is only fair that we are including the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 into our list, as well.
The good thing about the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB is that it does not shy away from being what it truly is. This is a beast of a RAM and it is fully aware of that and if you are looking for the best performance possible, you might as well want to look here.
However, the RAM is more than just performance, it has to be one of the most well-built RAM kits available in the market, but there is more, to be honest. The overall looks on this RAM are among the finest and I do not remember the last time I had something that looked this good. The RAM truly looks amazing across the board and for added beauty, you are getting the Capellix LED lighting as well, which is implemented brilliantly; these LED lights are not only brighter than the standard offering in the market but they are also more vibrant and they look excellent across all colors.
Moving further, if you have been using other Corsair devices too, then the Corsair ecosystem remains excellent, to say the least. You can easily just go ahead and synchronize everything together without having to deal with any regrets that might come in your way, which is something that can become an issue for a lot of people and we certainly don’t want that.
The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB also comes equipped with thermal sensors which are only going to make things easier for you to a point that you really will not have any problems monitoring the temperature of the RAM in real time and considering how DDR5 has the tendency to run hotter, having this feature is good.
Last but not the least, I do admire Corsair’s work towards optimizing this RAM because of some really excellent timings, and of course, great speed, too.
As far as the downsides are concerned, I cannot really think of many issues with the otherwise excellent RAM kit. However, the RAM is tall, so if you are someone who is using an air cooler, I would highly advise you to check for clearance before anything else.
Overall, the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB serves to be one of the best memory kits out in the market and if you are looking for a good RAM for i9 12900K, I wholeheartedly recommend this one because the performance alone is worth it.
- One of the best looking RAM kits.
- Premium build quality all around.
- The Capellix LED lights are on a whole different level.
- Excellent iCUE integration.
- Thermal sensors for proper monitoring.
- Excellent timings.
- Can be tall for most air coolers.
XPG Lancer RGB DDR5
Specifications:
- Speed: DDR5 6000 MHz
- Capacity: 32GB.
- Voltage: 1.35V
- Timings: 40-40-40-76
I will be honest here, when I first heard about XPG, I was not as blown away, to be honest. The brand felt like it was built by the remains of some of the other, more premium brands but over the past couple of years, I have grown to love XPG as a brand. I have been using their NVMe SSD in my computer for over 2 years now and the performance here is exceptional. So, when I got the chance to review the XPG Lancer RGB DDR5, I was genuinely excited to see what the company has done this time around.
Honestly, when you take the RAM out of the box for the first time, you are greeted with something that looks simple and honestly, very sleek. However, the moment you plug it in, you realize that the RAM has really nicely built LED lights that can of course, be controlled, as well. Needless to say, XPG has clearly hit a home run with how good the RAM looks and how premium it feels to a point that you really are not going to be running into any issues.
There is a lot to love about the XPG Lancer RGB DDR5, to be honest. The RAM offers a solid potential for overclocking, so if you have been willing to go that route, you can easily push the RAM to give you a better speed and that is definitely not something that is going to let you down. What else is there? Well, I am happy to let you know that even when not overclocked, the RAM is going to deliver fast performance to a point that you will not regret it.
The limited lifetime warranty is another thing that inspires confidence in using this RAM and given how well-built everything is, you definitely are getting an excellent memory that you can buy right away. Another thing that I really love is how good the RGB implementation is as everything on this RAM looks excellent.
My only issue is that there are times when the RAM can run hot, so that is one thing that you will have to look into.
Overall, XPG has done a great job with the XPG Lancer RGB DDR5, not only is it one of the best looking RAM kits in the market but for those who have been searching for a good performing RAM that is not going to cost a lot of money, this definitely is it.
- Class-leading performance.
- Solid potential for overclocking.
- Limited lifetime warranty is great.
- The RGB looks amazing and the build quality is exceptional.
- The RAM can be a bit hot.
Corsair Vengeance DDR5
Specifications:
- Speed: DDR5 5200 MHz
- Capacity: 32GB.
- Voltage: 1.25V
- Timings: 38-38-38-84
Corsair is one of the leading memory brands and we are all aware of that. The company is known for providing some excellent RAM kits and the best part is that if you are not looking to spend all your savings on one, you can always go for something that is on the more affordable side and that too, without any worries. This is what makes Corsair a great offering and you can always choose what you want to get without any issues.
With that said, the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 is what I am looking at today as it is one of the best budget DDR5 RAM kits available in the market and for those who are only concerned with good performance, this definitely is going to get things in order. The RAM does not look flashy at all, and is clearly meant for those who mean business. However, it is still fast RAM.
If you have been looking for something that is lower in terms of the profile, you would be more than happy to know that you are getting a 35mm height, which means that most of the air coolers will fit just right with this RAM. However, being low profile is not the only thing that this RAM is good at because it definitely delivers more than just that. For starters, you are getting light overclocking potential on this RAM too and while it might not seem enough, it is just the right amount and manages to deliver a good overall experience.
The iCUE software support is also good and while you might be wondering what you are going to use it for when there is no lighting, you can still monitor your RAM through the software and that is always convenient because first-party support is something that we would always prefer and stand with.
Furthermore, for the concerned ones, the RAM does come with a revision number included, and Corsair’s legendary limited lifetime warranty is also there so you can have the best experience there is without having any issues that might otherwise become a problem.
As far as the downsides are concerned, after spending a significant time with the RAM, the only issue that I did run into was the fact that the heat spreader on the RAM is on the cheaper side but it is nothing that is not going to get the job done.
Overall, the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 serves as an excellent budget RAM for those who are looking to shift to DDR5. If you are not in the mood to spend a premium on higher end RAM kits, this will do the job just fine and more.
- Excellent value for money.
- Great performance.
- Corsair’s brilliant warranty.
- Some overclocking potential.
- The heat spreader could have been better.
Corsair Dominator Platinum White
Specifications:
- Speed: DDR4 4000 MHz
- Capacity: 32GB.
- Voltage: 1.35V
- Timings: 19-23-23-45
Over the past couple of years, we have seen a rise in the demand for white computer components. At first, it all started with requirements for white peripherals but this soon transitioned into other components in white, as well. While I am not saying that this should have never happened but this brought in a change where component manufacturers are gunning towards making some white components too, and well, trust me when I say this, these do look amazing.
Now, the Corsair Dominator Platinum White is on the table and the reason why this is different this time around is because this is a DDR4 variant. Considering how the Core i9 12900K and the rest of the 12th generation Intel processors support DDR4 RAM kits and since they are on the cheaper end, a lot of people don’t mind going there either. With that said, the Corsair Dominator Platinum serves as an excellent RAM for those who are looking for performance and some looks.
Thankfully, the older generation of the Dominator is also using the Capellix LED lights and they are insanely bright and vibrant. The lighting is undoubtedly one of the highlights here so for anyone who has been in the search for something that is good and powerful, this is good.
Speaking of powerful, I also love the fact that the Corsair Dominator Platinum comes with Dominator DHX heat-spreaders, which are excellent in terms of the overall experience. So, for those who have been looking for good performance, this is a great way to get started. You are not going to regret the performance that you will enjoy with this RAM.
The advanced iCUE software is one of the best pieces of companion software you can find that has evolved a lot ever since it first came out. Sure, the learning curve is still there but the overall experience is great through and through.
In terms of performance, the Corsair Dominator Platinum is also an absolute beast, both on stock settings and when overclocked.
My only concern here is that the RAM is on the taller side and might interfere with some of the air coolers, so I would suggest that you check for clearance beforehand.
In conclusion, the Corsair Dominator Platinum is definitely one of my favorite RAM kits available in the market, and the best part is that it looks even better in white. For those who have been wondering why a white RAM or any other component or peripheral looks better when combined with lighting, it is because as a color, white reflects a lot more light, so everything looks more vibrant.
- Excellent performance on stock and overclocked states.
- Great build quality.
- Top of the line heat spreaders.
- The LED lights look excellent.
- The heat spreaders are tall.
G.Skill Trident Z Royal Elite
Specifications:
- Speed: DDR4 3600 MHz
- Capacity: 32GB.
- Voltage: 1.45V
- Timings: 14-14-14-34
The last RAM kit that we are going to review is again from G.Skill but this time around, there is something special. You see, I used to think that the Trident Z lineup from G.Skill is perhaps the best and highest end offering that the company has but you would be surprised to know that the company also has Trident Z Royal, and even higher end and flashier model and if that is not enough, then the G.Skill Trident Z Royal Elite is something that should get your attention because this right here is the magnum opus when you are talking about good looking RAM kits.
However, more often than not, products that inherently look good are not as good in terms of performance but I’ll be damned if I tell you that the performance here is not excellent as this right here is one of the best-performing RAM kits available in the market, as well.
Sure, you are still looking at a DDR4 RAM but this is a 3,600MHz module, which might seem slow but the moment you plug it in, you realize just how fast the RAM actually is. If you have been searching for something that offers great performance through and through then this is the RAM that you need to go for and you will be more than happy with it.
However, performance is not the only thing this RAM has going for itself as there is more and well, we do enjoy a good performing RAM, after all. So, let’s get started with what’s good. The RAM has excellent timings at CL14, and the frequency range is pretty wide, too. So, if you have been looking for something good, this is the way to go.
What else is there? Well, in case you have been looking for a RAM that looks excellent as it does classy and means in terms of performance, this is the kit that one should be investing in. Furthermore, the RGB implementation is one of the best and goes to show just how good G.Skill is when creating something powerful and good-looking.
As far as the downsides are concerned, I really don’t think that the G.Skill Trident Z Royal Elite is a downer. Sure, the RAM does pick up fingerprints but aside from that, there is nothing more than that, and you would be happy to experience the performance you are getting.
Overall, I would say that the G.Skill Trident Z Royal Elite is an acquired taste regardless of how good it looks and how good it performs. If you genuinely have been looking for RAM that can turn heads, then honestly, getting this RAM is the way to go as you will not be let down.
- One of the best RGB implementations.
- Excellent timings.
- One of the best looking RAM.
- Frequency range is wide.
- The glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet.
Conclusion
The Core i9 12900K is the fastest processor in the market for those who are looking for something that is good at gaming and everything else in between, as well. The great thing about the Core i9 12900K is that it supports a wide variety of hardware, and even if you are not looking for something affordable, you can always go for something higher-end.
The purpose of this roundup is to give everyone a chance to get their hands on the best RAM for i9 12900K so you can have the performance you have been after.
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I have been gaming for almost 24 years with extensive knowledge of all platforms and the gaming industry, in general. With interests in literature, art, gaming, and PC hardware.