RAM

This is the RAM we choose to put into our latest Extreme Gaming build, Bore Tide. When building this computer, of course performance was a top priority. While DDR4-6000 is the de-facto "best" for Ryzen support, newer Ryzen 9000 series chips, especially with newer BIOS/Chipset updates, have seen good results on 6400 speeds. Various tests have shown slightly different results, but CL timing of 30 seems less stable while 32 seems more so. So with all that in mind, we decided to find a kit of DDR5-6400 with CL32 based timings.

The theme of this build was ocean and water, so the final choice was what RAM look encapsulated this style the best. And we found this XPower Storm kit. With the heatspreader's top RGB shaped like a gentle, subtle wave and an extra bit of RGB on the side that looks like a boat's wake or perhaps some shark gills, the choice was easy. It should also be noted that the peak of the wave is just a small bit taller (43.5mm) than a heatspreader on something like a G.Skill Trident Z Neo RGB kit (42.5mm), and the high point is oriented upwards on a standard configuration, so if your tolerances are tight that may make a small difference.

Initially we were a bit unsure, as Silicon Power is historically an overall a middling brand in the RAM space, often beaten out by the likes of G.Skill or Crucial. However, after installing this kit, it tested flawlessly. The RGBs are smooth and transition between colors without any hitching. The RAM defaults to RGB rainbow puke, which is pretty standard. It can be left rainbow if that's what's desired, or it syncs flawlessly to motherboard-based RGB controlling programs. Making it sync up with the rest of the system is a high priority for a showcase build, so we're very happy with these results. Interestingly, when the system enters a shutdown state, including some "sleep" options, the RGB all go deep red. When the PC is off the RGBs are off as well. We haven't been able to figure out why this happens or how to customize this option to a different color or simply off. Minor thing but could be annoying, especially if red isn't in your designed style.

The RAM performs not only up to spec but a little above other kits we've tested. For reference, we use PassMark's Performance Test V11 software for testing, and we always test twice to verify consistent results. This kit of RAM scored 3770.9 on the first pass and 3794.7 on the second pass. For reference, a kit of G.Skill Trident Z NEO, often recognized as the best RAM to pair with the 9800X3D that we tested with the exact same build, tested at 3597.3 on the first pass and 3590.1 on the second pass. Of course it passed an extended MemTest86 stress test as well.

These are the only 2 kits of DDR5-6400 CL32 RAM we have tested. We don't have the resources to test more scientifically than that, and at such a small scale we're subject to the whims of the silicon lottery, but it seems pretty certain that Silicon Power is upgrading their efforts in this space. Further reflected in the fact that they won a 2025 German Engineering award for design, and we're a bit more confident in those comparison results. 

As far as price is concerned, as usual Silicon Power is putting this close to, but not quite all the way at, the bottom of the price range. 64gb kits of this caliber usually sell from $160-$200 USD, and this MSRP is at $175, which is a good price. We've seen it on sale for as little as $162, but even at full MSRP it is a very good value for the performance, especially as they've leaned into a cosmetic style that stands out from the competition. Besides the exact configuration that we bought, XPower Storm kits are also available in 32gb (2x16) kits, and at speeds of 8000/7600/7200/6800/6400/6000, with timings from CL28-CL38, depending on speed, so there's multiple options for multiple needs/budgets. It's also available in both white and black, so it can fit more design options. If you're looking for RAM, and especially if the style fits what you're looking for, you can't go wrong with this Silicon Power kit! If this is something you may be interested in buying, you can read all about the more technical specs or order your own on Amazon here.