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DDR4 in 2026? These kits can help you beat the RAM crisis

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You don't need DDR5 RAM to have a great gaming experience

A pair of RAM sticks
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If you’ve tried to price out a PC build lately, you’ve probably noticed that your budget isn’t going nearly as far as it used to. As I’m sure you’re aware, we’re currently living through "RAMageddon." In short, AI data centers are gobbling up global memory supply, which is causing DDR5 prices to skyrocket.

When a single 32GB kit of RAM starts costing as much as a mid-range GPU, it’s time to stop looking at the latest and greatest and consider something that meets your needs without destroying your bank account.

Enter DDR4. While this is an older memory standard, it’s quickly becoming a viable option for anyone trying to build a decently powerful gaming PC without taking out a second mortgage.

So whether you’re building a brand-new system from scratch or looking for a way to squeeze more life out of your current rig, DDR4 offers a value proposition that’s hard to ignore in today’s inflated market.

DDR4 RAM basics

In 2026, the "sweet spot" for DDR4 is 3600MHz CL16 or CL18. While 3200MHz is technically the baseline, the price difference is usually so small that it’s worth paying the extra few bucks for the added snappiness.

If you’re building a gaming rig today, I strongly recommend aiming for 32GB (2x16GB). While 16GB used to be the gold standard, modern titles and even Chrome tabs are getting hungrier by the day.

A word of warning before moving on. In this market, “cheap” is a relative term. Most of the kits I listed below have seen a 50%–100% markup over last year. However, compared to the $400+ DDR5 kits, they remain your best bet for a budget build. If you find a kit at a reasonable price, it’s best not to wait.

Here are five DDR4 kits that offer the best bang for your buck right now.

Quick list

Timetec Pinnacle Konduit 16GB KIT (2x8GB) DDR4
Timetec Pinnacle Konduit 16GB KIT (2x8GB) DDR4: $123 at Walmart

Walmart is currently the best major retail source for Timetec. It beats out the big-brand 16GB kits by about $30 while staying on a platform with a reliable return policy.

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Silicon Power 32GB
Silicon Power 32GB: was $273 now $227 at Newegg

While some no-name brands on Amazon are cheaper, Silicon Power at Newegg is the most affordable 32GB kit from a top-tier retailer. It’s a reliable kit for 1440p gaming.

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Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine RGB DDR4
Silicon Power XPOWER Turbine RGB DDR4: was $291 now $242 at Newegg

If you want your budget build to actually look premium, this is the best price at a major retailer for a light-up 32GB kit. It undercuts Corsair’s RGB kits by nearly $70.

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Crucial Pro 64GB
Crucial Pro 64GB: $396 at BHPhoto

You won't find a better deal than going straight to the source. Most other retailers have marked this 64GB kit up to $450+, so buying direct from Crucial/Micron is the smartest move for content creators right now. Unfortunately, this is still a pricey kit.

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Crucial 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4
Crucial 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4: $187 at Newegg

The Crucial 32GB stick is the most reliable laptop saver on the market. It’s a simple plug-and-play upgrade for older gaming laptops.

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DDR4 compatible motherboards

Now, you can’t just buy sticks of DDR4 RAM and call it a day. You need to make sure you have the right motherboard. The motherboard is the foundation of your build, and when you’re going the DDR4 route, you need to be extra careful about compatibility. Remember: DDR4 RAM will not fit in a DDR5 motherboard.

You’re looking for boards that explicitly mention "D4" or "DDR4" in the name. For AMD, you’ll be sticking with the AM4 socket (B550 or X570), and for Intel, you’re looking for LGA 1700 boards (B760 or Z790) that support the older memory standard.

Like with DDR4 RAM, keep an eye on prices, as they might have changed by the time this post is live. Also, note that AM4 boards are seeing renewed demand/production. Gigabyte released new ones last month. This could be a potential saving grace when seeking motherboards compatible with DDR4.

Here are some DDR4-compatible motherboards worth considering.

Quick list

The best DDR4 motherboards right now

MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi
MSI B550M PRO-VDH WiFi: $102 at Amazon

This is one of the best value boards for a Ryzen 5000 build. It has built-in Wi-Fi, solid power delivery for a Ryzen 5 5600, and enough slots for two M.2 SSDs.

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Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II
Asus ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II: was $179 now $139 at ASUS

If you’re building around a heavy hitter like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, you want this. It has premium audio, great cooling for the VRMs, and looks fantastic through a glass side panel.

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ASRock B760M-HDV/M.2 D4
ASRock B760M-HDV/M.2 D4: $130 at Amazon

If you just want a functional board for a Core i5-13400, this is the winner. It’s bare-bones, but it gets the job done and leaves more money in your pocket for a better GPU.

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Gigabyte B760M Gaming Plus WiFi DDR4
Gigabyte B760M Gaming Plus WiFi DDR4: $138 at Amazon

This is a great middle ground for Intel users. It’s modern enough to have Wi-Fi 6 and PCIe 4.0 support, but it uses DDR4 to keep the total build cost manageable.

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MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4
MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4: $209 at Amazon

Yes, you can still get a beastly motherboard that uses DDR4. This Z790 board allows for serious overclocking and has a ton of USB ports, proving you don't need DDR5 to have a premium experience.

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DDR4: Pros and Cons

Deciding to stick with DDR4 in 2026 is about weighing your immediate needs against your future goals. Here’s a quick breakdown of the trade-offs you’re making when you opt for the older memory standard.

Pros:

  • Savings: This is the big one. Going with DDR4 can save you anywhere from $200 to $400 on a total build cost.
  • Reliability: DDR4 is a mature technology. You won't deal with the stability headaches or long boot times that sometimes plagued early-adopter DDR5 platforms.
  • Low latency: High-quality DDR4 kits often have much lower latency than budget DDR5, making them incredibly snappy for day-to-day tasks.
  • Platform variety: There’s a considerable secondary market for DDR4 parts, making it easy to find great deals on used motherboards and CPUs.

Cons:

  • A dead-end path: This is the biggest downside. Once you commit to a DDR4 motherboard, you’ve reached the end of the line for that platform. You won't be able to upgrade to the latest chips from AMD or Intel without a full swap.
  • Lower bandwidth: While the gaming impact is minimal at 4K, professional creators will notice that DDR5 is much faster for things like heavy video rendering or complex 3D work.
  • Slightly higher power draw: DDR4 runs at a slightly higher voltage (1.2V vs. 1.1V) compared to DDR5, though the impact on your power bill will be negligible.

Bottom line

Building a PC in 2026 feels like a high-stakes game of budget Tetris, but DDR4 remains one of the best tools in your arsenal. Is it the fastest technology on the market? Nope. But is it more than enough for the vast majority of gamers and home office users? Absolutely.

If you’re a hardcore gamer who needs the absolute best performance and a clear path to future CPU upgrades, you’ll just have to bite the bullet on DDR5. But for everyone else—especially those trying to put a decent gaming rig together in a tough economy—DDR4 is a sensible way to beat the price crunch.

You get a stable, high-performing system today, and you save enough money to buy games and peripherals. That’s a win in my book!

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Tony Polanco
Tony Polanco
Senior Computing Writer

Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.

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