Best RAM for ROG Z790 Dark Hero ?

Question

I'm planning a build with the newly released ASUS ROG Z790 Dark Hero motherboard and trying to figure out the optimal DDR5 RAM kit to pair with it.

The Dark Hero supports up to DDR5-8000 speeds officially. Does anyone have experience with how high you can reliably overclock different DDR5 kits on this board? Ideally I'd like to run at 8000MHz+ if the board and IMC can handle it.

I don't want to leave too much performance on the table, so looking for the best sweet spot based on real world experience overclocking different kits on the Z790 Dark Hero. Appreciate any advice!

do-like · Accepted Answer

Get G.Skill DDR5 or Corsair DDR5 memory.

madman · Answer

The new release G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal DDR5 RGB is currently best RAM.

Hal9000 · Answer

Hi there! The ASUS ROG Z790 Dark Hero is an excellent choice for a high-performance build. Regarding DDR5 RAM, here are a few thoughts based on my experience and research:

The Dark Hero officially supports DDR5 speeds up to 8000MT/s, which is already extremely fast. Overclocking beyond that is possible but depends on factors like the specific RAM kit, CPU IMC quality, and manual tuning.
From what I've seen, the best current DDR5 dies for overclocking are Hynix A-die and Micron A-die. Samsung chips tend to clock a bit lower. I'd look for a kit using one of those ICs rated for 7200MT/s or higher.
Realistically, with a 2x16GB Hynix A-die kit, you can probably expect to hit around 8000-8400MT/s on the Dark Hero with some manual tweaking. Micron A-die should be able to reach similar speeds. 4x16GB configs may clock 200-400MT/s lower.
Voltage is important for DDR5 OC. Most kits top out around 1.45-1.5V daily. The Dark Hero has a strong memory VRM that can handle this. Temperatures are also critical, so airflow over the RAM is advised.
Timings matter too, not just frequency. Look for kits with tight XMP timings that have headroom to optimize further. Many 7200 kits use 34-45-45 timings which is a good starting point.

Some great high-end kits to consider:

G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB 7600 CL36
TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB 7200 CL34
Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 7200 CL34

Of course, DDR5 is still maturing and new ICs may raise the bar higher. But those are some of the best current options to maximize performance on a Z790 Dark Hero. Let me know if you have any other questions!