Best RAM For Core i5-13600K In 2023 [Tried & Tested]

If you’re planning to build a mid-range Intel gaming rig in 2023, then you will most likely go with an i5-13600K. Even though the processor sits at the bottom of the Raptor Lake line-up, when we put it against the high-end i7-13700K, it turned out that it has enough potential to run all AAA titles at respectable framerates. So, to go along with it, you also need the best RAM.

Since the entire Raptor Lake line-up, including the Core i5-13600K, can work with DDR4 RAM, you have a ton of options to pick the best RAM from. While having a variety of options is a good thing, it can also be a downside because many people face difficulties narrowing down their list.

So, in this guide, we will walk you through the best RAM for Core i5-13600K based on different use cases. Our list is comprised of both DDR4 and DDR5 memories, where each product is selected on the basis of performance, efficiency, and compatibility (we will discuss our selection criteria later in this article). 

Let’s get started!

Best RAM For i5-13600K

Last update on 2023-12-13

These are our picks for the best RAM for i5-13600K based on different use cases:

1. Corsair Vengeance RGB 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5-6000
2. G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5-6600
3. Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5-5600
4. Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5-5600
5. Kingston Fury Renegade 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR4-3600

Corsair Vengeance RGB

Best Overall RAM for i5-13600K

Memory Type: DDR5 | Capacity: 32 GB (2×16 GB) | Frequency: 6000 MHz | Latency: CL36 | RGB Lighting: Yes | Voltage: 1.35V

Let’s start off our best RAM for Core i5-13600K with the Corsair Vengeance RGB 32 GB DDR5. Corsair has built a name in the industry for being one of the best and most reliable brands, and the Vengeance RGB is no different, either. It hits the bullseye in maintaining the perfect balance of price, performance, power consumption, and looks, and that’s why we have awarded it the winner of the Best Overall RAM category.

Beginning with the performance, the Vengeance RGB is capable of achieving 6000 MHz frequency once the XMP 3.0 profile is enabled, and on the topic of the XMP profile, you can also create your own profiles for more efficiency. 

Overall, paired with an i5-13600K, a DDR5 memory that is hitting 6000 MHz is powerful enough to fulfill all gaming needs at good framerates. On top of that, since our selected kit is 32 GB, you won’t run out of memory when playing any AAA title.

Timing latency is just as important as the transfer rate, and the Corsair Vengeance RGB nails it in that department as well. With a latency of 36-36-36-76, the memory has a CAL of 36 clocks, which is incredibly low since the RAM is already running at 6000 MHz. Additionally, it looks like the RAM is using a Samsung memory chip.

At such performance figures, one might think that the memory module needs lots of input voltage, but impressively, the input voltage is rather tame at 1.35V with the XMP 3.0 profile. To top it all off, the Corsair Vengeance RGB uses an aluminum heat spreader to ensure optimal temperatures for maximum performance.

Focusing on the looks, the RAM stick incorporates an aggressive look with a huge Vengeance logo in the middle. The dual-tone black theme looks drop dead gorgeous with a massive RGB light bar at the top. You can use the Corsair iCUE software to switch between the pre-set RGB profiles or customize your own as well.

What We Liked

There’s so much to like about the Corsair Vengeance RGB. It not only gives you high-end performance with its 6000 MHz frequency and CAS latency of 36 but also stays stable with its 1.35V input voltage.

What We Disliked

Being the best overall RAM for i5-13600K, there’s nothing to dislike about it. It even has RGB to go along with the rest of your lightened-up components.

Verdict

All things considered, the Corsair Vengeance RGB ticks all boxes in being the best RAM for i5-13600K. The only reason you would skip this and go for something else is if you are after something else in particular, like extreme performance or the best value for money. Otherwise, the RAM has got it all to become the best overall RAM for i5-13600K.

Read the full article on the related Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro Review.

G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB

Best Performance RAM for i5-13600K

Memory Type: DDR5 | Capacity: 32 GB (2×16 GB) | Frequency: 6600 MHz | Latency: CL34 | RGB Lighting: Yes | Voltage: 1.40V

If you’re more inclined towards the ultimate performance instead of getting the best overall RAM, then the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB should be your RAM of choice. It nails every performance figure out there and totally deserves the best performance RAM for the Core i5-13600K award. Whether it’s the transfer rate or the timing latency, the Trident Z5 is the best at everything.

Let’s begin with the transfer rate. The Trident Z5 RGB can run at 6600 MHz without manual overclocking. 32 GB of DDR5 RAM running at 6600 MHz is plenty of memory power to fulfill all your gaming needs. 

Transfer rate is not the only performance factor of memory; its timing latency is just as important as well. So, at CL34-40-40-105, the timing latency of the Trident Z5 RGB is also quite average for the transfer rate. Here, the CAS latency is 34, which, for a DDR5 RAM that is running at 6600MHz, is neither too bad nor impressively good. All in all, the timing latency is good enough to complement the high transfer rate.

With all these extreme performance figures, it comes as no surprise that the Trident Z5 RGB needs high power consumption. While its input voltage is rated for 1.10V out-of-the-box, which is the same for all DDR5 RAM, it climbs up to a whopping 1.40V once you have turned on the XMP 3.0 profile. For the performance it offers, a ~27% higher input voltage is not a bad deal.

As expected, the higher the voltage input, the more heat is produced. So, the Trident Z5 comes with a top-of-the-line aluminum heat spreader that works wonderfully at dissipating all the heat efficiently. The DDR5 RAM is available in two colors; metallic silver and matte black, and both options look gorgeous with the heat spreader. To top it all off, there is an RGB light bar as well that blends into the top end of the memory stick.

To control the RGB effects, you can use ASRock Polychrome Sync, MSI Mystic Light Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0, or ASUS AURA Sync, depending on your motherboard.

What We Liked

There’s so much to love about the Trident Z5 RGB; from performance to looks, it’s got it all. What we liked the most about it is its ability to maintain a high frequency of 6600 MHz while also having low timing latency of CL34-40-40-105.

What We Disliked

The only negative point surrounding the Trident Z5 RGB is its price. It will cost you more than most DDR5 memories. So, if you’re after the sheer performance that it offers, then you will have to pay more.

Verdict

All things considered, if you want extreme RAM performance to go along with your i5-13600K, then there is no other DDR5 RAM out there that is as good as the Trident Z5 RGB. You don’t even have to overclock it to get the high-performance figure, all you need to do is turn on the XMP 3.0 profile, and you’re good to go. Additionally, it is also a plus point to have a RAM stick that looks as good as it does. Overall, it is truly the best performance RAM for Core i5-13600K.

Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB

Best White RAM For i5-13600K

Memory Type: DDR5 | Capacity: 32 GB (2×16 GB) | Frequency: 5600 MHz | Latency: CAS | RGB Lighting: Yes | Voltage: 1.25V

If you’re going to build a white gaming rig with an i5-13600K at its center, then along with your white CPU cooler and PC case, you also need the best white RAM to match the beautiful theme. While looks are subjective, the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB is truly one of the best white RAM for i5-13600K you can get. On top of its gorgeous design philosophy, it also packs a powerful punch in gaming performance.

For instance, you can get the Dominator Platinum RGB to clock at 5600 MHz by just enabling the XMP 3.0 profile, which is already a good figure for AAA gaming. But, if you want more performance, then you can easily get it to achieve 6000 MHz by manually overclocking the input voltage and timing latency. For more information, check out our How to Overclock RAM guide.

Talking about the timing latency, the Dominator Platinum RGB has a latency of 36-36-36-76. From the looks of it, it seems that the memory is probably using a Samsung chip. Nevertheless, the CAL value of 36 clocks is low enough to go along with an i5-13600K.

Going over the input voltage, it becomes very clear why we said this memory can easily get up to 6000 MHz by manual overclocking. That’s because with the XMP 3.0 profile enabled and at 5600 MHz, it needs only 1.25V. This is quite a good input voltage figure, and it leaves more room for further overclocking without facing any stability issues.

You can also use the iCUE software to create your own custom XMP profiles. This way, you won’t have to manually overclock the memory each time you want higher performance. To cool down such a powerful RAM, Corsair has implemented its patented DHX cooling, which uses an anodized die-casted aluminum heat spreader to cool the memory from both the PCB itself and the ICs. Such a high-end cooling system further adds to the RAM’s overclocking potential.

Focusing on aesthetics, the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB features a beautiful white theme with a minimalistic Dominator logo at the center. As the name suggests, there are also 12 CAPELLIX RGB LEDs that can be used to display any effects you want from the Corsair iCUE software.

What We Liked

No white RAM looks as beautiful as the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB, and that’s definitely what we loved the most about it. Other than that, it is also amazing how much you can overclock the memory to achieve high-end performance figures.

What We Disliked

For a DDR5 RAM that goes up to 5600 MHz without overclocking, the Dominator Platinum RGB definitely falls on the higher end of the price spectrum. But it makes sense because it makes up for it with its beautiful looks and overclocking potential.

Verdict

Nevertheless, if you’re building a white PC with an i5-13600K, then the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB White should be your RAM of choice. The memory packs enough raw power to give you good performance figures, and if you want more, then it also comes with enough room for considerable overclocking. But, after all, the RAM’s beautiful looks are what makes it the best white RAM for i5-13600K.

Corsair Vengeance

Best Value RAM For i5-13600K

Memory Type: DDR5 | Capacity: 32 GB (2×16 GB) | Frequency: 5600 MHz | Latency: CL36 | RGB Lighting: No | Voltage: 1.25V

If you want neither extreme performance nor beautiful aesthetics, and you’re only after a DDR5 memory that offers the best value for money, then the Corsair Vengeance should be your RAM of choice. It offers adequate performance, so you won’t run into any memory issues. But, it is definitely the best value RAM for Core i5-13600K.

By adequate performance, we mean that the Corsair Vengeance will run at 5600 MHz with the XMP 3.0 profile enabled. For the money, you get a couple of DDR5 RAM sticks that will give you 32 GB memory capacity running at 5600 MHz, which is quite a good deal. Not only that, but if you want, then the memory has the overclocking potential to easily achieve 6000 MHz. All you need to do is tune the timing latency and the input voltage.

The timing latency is impressively low as well at 36-36-36-76, which also indicates that the memory is likely using a Samsung chip. Anyways, a CAS Latency of 36 clocks is low enough to ensure high performance without hiccups.

What’s surprisingly even better is the Corsair Vengeance’s input voltage. The memory needs 1.1V to run at 4800 MHz out of the box. But, once you have enabled the XMP 3.0 profile that it comes with, the frequency will bump up to 5600 MHz, yet the input voltage will only get to 1.25V. Overall, 1.25V is a good input voltage, and it also means that there is still plenty of room to increase the voltage and get even higher performance.

You also have the option to set custom XMP profiles if you don’t like the headache of manual configuration every time you want higher performance. The memory does not generate too much heat in the first place, but still, to eliminate any possibility of thermal throttling, Corsair has used an aluminum heat spreader for effective heat dissipation.

Another good thing about the Corsair Vengeance is that it comes in a small, low-profile form factor with a height of just 35mm. This way, you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues with huge CPU coolers or compact cases.

Related Read: Best Low-Profile CPU Coolers

The Corsair Vengeance does not look flashy at all. In fact, its looks truly depict how much Corsair has focused on the essentials and the essentials alone. You can get the RAM in two colors, black and white, and both of them have a matte finish with glossy triangles. However, to cut costs, there is no RGB lightning.

What We Liked

Price is undoubtedly the best thing about the Corsair Vengeance. It is quite affordable, and yet it gives you high-end performance figures to ensure you face no memory-related issues. The memory also comes in a compact form factor to increase compatibility.

What We Disliked

There is nothing to dislike about the Corsair Vengeance. Even though it has a frequency of 5600 MHz, which is already quite a lot, you can still overclock it to reach 6000 MHz. Yes, the memory does not come with RGB, but it makes sense because adding RGB would only increase the cost.

Verdict

Overall, there is no RAM as good as the Corsair Vengeance for the best bang for the buck. Just by enabling the XMP 3.0 profile, you get enough memory frequency to run all AAA titles at solid framerates. On top of that, its input voltage of 1.25V also means that there is considerable space for more overclocking. All things considered, the Corsair Vengeance is the best value RAM for Core i5-13600K.

For more pocket-friendly components, check our guide on the BEST Budget PC Cases.

Kingston Fury Renegade

Best DDR4 RAM For i5-13600K

Memory Type: DDR4 | Capacity: 32 GB (2×16 GB) | Frequency: 3600 MHz | Latency: CL16 | RGB Lighting: No | Voltage: 1.35V

If you already have a DDR4 motherboard or if you’re not looking to upgrade to DDR5 just yet, then the best DDR4 RAM for Core i5-13600K is Kingston Fury Renegade. Even though it’s a generation older, it still offers adequate performance to go along with your i5-13600K.

Starting with the transfer rate, the Kingston Fury Renegade is already fine-tuned for high performance with Intel XMP. So, all you need to do is enable the profile from the BIOS setting, and the memory will be running at 3600 MHz. By DDR4 standards, a transfer rate of 3600 MT/s is actually quite good.

Similarly, the timing latency is also respectably low at CL16-20-20. Overall, 32 gigs of dual-channel memory running at 3600 MHz with a CAS latency of 16 clocks is one of the best performance configurations you can get from DDR4 memory.

One of the downsides of siding with DDR4 over DDR5 is that these memories consume more input voltage, so, as expected, the Kingston Fury Renegade will be consuming 1.35V to give you the above-mentioned performance figures. While 1.35V for a RAM running at 3600 MHz might seem like a bad deal after going through a bunch of DDR5 variants, it is actually respectably good as far as DDR4 RAM goes.

Kingston has used a black aluminum heat spreader that goes superbly with the black PCB to cool down the memory. Since the RAM comes with no RGB, it’s good to have an all-black theme for a gamer-ish, aggressive vibe.

What We Liked

Since the Kingston Fury Renegade is a DDR4 memory, we shouldn’t expect DDR5-tier performance from it. So, for the price, the memory’s ability to reach 3600 MHz is good for an i5-13600K. Similarly, it also has a relatively good timing latency of CL16-20-20.

What We Disliked

While there isn’t anything particularly bad about the Kingston Fury Renegade, it would have been good to have some RGB to go along with the rest of the rig. Yes, the all-black theme looks beautiful, but still, many gamers prefer to have some RGB.

Verdict

With that said, even though DDR5 memory is superior in all aspects, if you’re planning to pair your i5-13600K with a DDR4 motherboard, then the Kingston Fury Renegade is the best RAM for it. It offers adequate performance coupled with relatively good input voltage without costing too much. Additionally, while it does not have RGB, it still has quite an attractive, aggressive look.

Which RAM Should You Go For With i5-13600K: DDR4 or DDR5?

To begin with, you should go through our guide on the Best Motherboards For i5-13600K and pick the motherboard which you think is right for you. That’s because once you have selected a motherboard, your choice for RAM will narrow down to either DDR4 or DDR5, and you won’t have to go back and forth between the two.

But, you might be wondering, should I go for a DDR5 RAM with an i5-13600K, or the previous-gen DDR4 should be enough? Well, worry not because we will also walk you through the integral differences between the two generations, so you know which RAM is the best for your rig.

So, let’s go over how much of an upgrade the DDR5 RAM is over the DDR4, and for the complete in-depth comparison, be sure to check our DDR5 Vs. DDR4 guide.

Frequency

First of all, DDR5 memory comes with significantly better transfer rates to the point where an out-of-the-box DDR5 RAM has a higher frequency than an overclocked DDR4 RAM. For perspective, DDR5 RAM begins at 4800 MHz without an XMP 3.0 profile, which is already more than what most DDR4 RAM can achieve with overclocking.

Depending on the brand, DDR5 RAM with XMP 3.0 enabled can easily achieve 6600 MHz, which is insane, and if you’re after even more power, you can start manually overclocking it and go as high as 8000 MHz.

Capacity

Additionally, the maximum capacity that a single DDR5 stick can hold is 64 GB, which is 3x than what DDR4 memory supports (16 GB). Even though you will probably not buy 64 GB of RAM for an i5-13600K, the difference still helps us understand how much better DDR5 RAM is.

Input Voltage

You might be thinking that the performance upgrades mean that the DDR5 memory will need more input voltage. But, impressively, DDR5 RAM draws 1.1V out of the box, whereas DDR4 draws 1.2V. While basically, every manufacturer is going to configure their XMP profile to consume more than 1.1V for better performance, it is still good to see that DDR5 memory is also more power efficient.

Which One Should You Go For?

Overall, there is no doubt that DDR5 RAM is better than DDR4, but with an i5-13600K, you can get away with using DDR4 memory as well. That’s because while DDR5 memory provides the ultimate performance, DDR4 is not too bad that it should completely be ignored when considering the best RAM for Core i5-13600K.

Nevertheless, whether it is DDR4 or DDR5, there are still lots of options to choose from, and each RAM is best for a specific use case. For instance, you might want the ultimate gaming RAM that focuses only on performance, or you might be on a budget and want the RAM that gives the best bang for the back. So, you should go with the RAM that best suits your needs.

How We Selected These RAM

In this section, we will walk you through the criteria we followed when selecting the best RAM for Core i5-13600K. You should also follow these guidelines when purchasing any RAM, regardless of the CPU.

Budget and Affordability

First off, we considered the prices of the selected RAM to make sure that they offer good value for money. Yes, it’s true that when you’re going for the best-performing RAM for Core i5-13600K, you will have to spend extra, but that doesn’t mean that it should be overpriced.

The entire budget and affordability factor is more important for a mid-range CPU like the i5-13600K. Because you most likely have a limited amount of money to build your PC, that’s why you’re going for a mid-range processor and not anything high-end like the i7-13700K or the i9-13900K.

Not only that, but you also have to consider that you’ll have to buy other components as well, so budget management is important, and you shouldn’t overkill your rig with the most extreme RAM.

Transfer Rate and Timing Latency

Whether the RAM is DDR4 or DDR5, its performance is the most crucial factor to consider. Now when it comes to performance, there are two things to go over; the transfer rate and timing latency.

You might already know about the transfer rate; it tells us how many million transfers the RAM can perform in one second. So, if your i5-13600K is paired with a DDR5 RAM that has a 5600 MHz frequency, it means it can transfer 5600 million transfers per second. Consequently, the higher the transfer rate, the faster and better the RAM is. So, we selected the memories which offered the highest transfer rate while also maintaining a balance of other factors.

Timing latency is another measure that determines how well a RAM can perform. It is equally as important as the transfer rate. In fact, if your RAM has a higher transfer rate and higher timing latency, then it will probably perform slower than RAM with a lower transfer rate and lower timing latency.

So, what exactly is timing latency? Simply put, it is the amount of time the RAM will wait during different operations, and it is measured in clocks. This means that the higher the waiting time, the worse the RAM will perform. That’s why we talked about the timing latency of every RAM we selected in detail.

Timing latency is described with four numbers with dashes to separate them, like CL34-40-40-105, which is the timing latency of the G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB. These four numbers describe the latency of different things, with the first one being the CAS or Column Address Strobe Latency.

The CAS latency describes the number of clocks the RAM will wait for before delivering the requested data. In our example, the Trident Z5 will wait for 34 clocks, which is actually quite good.

In the same way, the remaining three numbers also tell us the waiting time for other operations, and each one of them directly affects the RAM’s performance. That’s why when selecting the best RAM for Core i5-13600K, we picked the ones that offered the lowest timing latency for the money.

Power Consumption and Thermal Efficiency

As mentioned earlier, DDR5 memory needs 1.1V, and on the other hand, DDR4 memory needs 1.2V. However, most manufacturers will configure their XMP 3.0 profile to consume more than 1.1V in order to output better performance.

While higher power consumption is necessary for higher performance figures, it also means that the memory will generate more heat. So, our selected RAM needs to strike a balance between power consumption, performance, and thermal efficiency.

That’s because if a RAM consumes more than the necessary power, it will run into stability issues, which no one wants. On top of that, RAM with higher power consumption also means that it has less room for further overclocking, which is always good to have, especially in DDR5 RAM.

Similarly, our selected RAM must be equipped with a well-built heat spreader to dissipate heat quickly. Having a solid heat spreader is really important because otherwise, the memory will begin to thermal throttle, and its performance will plummet.

Build Quality and Aesthetics

Another essential feature to factor in when selecting the best RAM for Core i5-13600K is the build quality. It determines how well the RAM will perform in the long run. Will it accumulate dust and humidity and slow down? Or will it hold up to the test of time?

Well, most renowned memory manufacturers keep longevity in mind when building RAM. That’s why most RAM sticks are not highly vulnerable to dust and humidity nowadays. Nevertheless, it is still important to check that the selected RAM has the right build quality and a heat spreader to be on the safe side.

Even though looks aren’t as important as other factors that we have talked about, they can still be the reason why you would skip a particular RAM. So, it’s always nice to have a memory that comes with beautiful RGB bars to go along with the rest of your lightened-up rig.

Compatibility

Last but not least, compatibility should be considered a lot as well. You would want the absolute best RAM to go along with the Core i5-13600K. It needs to fit in well with the rest of the rig, so each component complements the other, and combined, they output the highest possible framerates.

That’s why every RAM we picked was considered while keeping the i5-13600K and its performance in mind. These RAM will perform the best with the i5-13600K once they have the XMP profile enabled. In addition to that, another important compatibility feature to consider is the RAM height. 

Not every case has enough room to cater to massive RAM sticks, especially if you’ve used a huge CPU cooler (Read CPU Coolers For i5-13600k) for your processor. For that, you need a low-profile RAM that can go along with your compact rig.

Related Read: Can You Mix RAM Brands, Sticks, & Types?

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