Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5: Two-minute review
The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 RAM kit has been an integral part of my component testing process for more than a year, so I cannot think of any better endorsement than that.
It is simply the best RAM for the job, whether it's for testing the best processors or best graphics cards. And while I've been lucky enough for Corsair to give TechRadar a number of RAM kits to use over the years, even if it didn't, I would still have us go out and buy this RAM ourselves for use on our testing bench.
Whether it's about compatibility or performance, Corsair's Dominator series of RAM kits have always been ideal for just about any midrange to premium build, and that is still very much the case. Starting at $144.99 / £134.99 (about AU$220) for a 32GB kit (2 x 16GB) running at 5,200MHz, you are paying something of a premium for this RAM, even more than you normally would for a DDR5 kit.
There are cheaper kits out there if you're willing to skip some of the extras you find here like RGB lighting and heat dissipation. That includes the Corsair Vengence DDR5 kits, which you can get for as low as $109.99 (about for a 32GB kit running at 4,800MHz.
Some motherboards aren't compatible with some modules under dual-channel configurations, while others will limit the speed of the DDR5 RAM when run in pairs, so needless to say it's hard to give quantifiable data to demonstrate the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5's performance in a way that makes it comparable across different systems.
For this reason, we only benchmark a single DDR5 module to get comparable performance figures. This does mean that adding a second module will offer substantially better performance in real-world usage. We also only compare modules to other modules running at the same speed and memory profile (XMP/EXPO).
Now, one thing to note about double data rate (DDR) memory is that it works best in pairs (which is why this RAM is almost always sold in kits of two or four), but every motherboard, processor, and system configuration is going to have a huge impact on what kind of performance you are going to get from your RAM kit, even beyond the speed of the RAM itself.
In this regard, Corsair's Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 kits are about as widely supported as you're going to get, and they have always run at their top speed no matter which motherboard I've used in testing.
In terms of performance, the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 runs neck-and-neck with the best DDR5 RAM kits out there, like the Kingston Fury Beast kit, often beating it out all while using lower total power in the process.
As you increase the speed of the module you pick up, the performance will only improve from there. But as you can see, the performance of the Dominator Platinum RGB is a noticeable step up from the lower-tier Vengence DDR5 and is more or less even with the Kingston Fury Beast DDR5, which has a slightly higher MSRP.
In all, the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 kit offers a phenomenal balance of price, performance, and aesthetics to make it the baseline standard for what a DDR5 module should offer. It continues Corsair's legacy of high-quality PC components.
Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5: Price & availability
- How much does it cost? Starting at $144.99 / £134.99 / about AU$220
- When is it available? Available now
- Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Dominator Platinum RGB kit we're looking at here is the 5,200MHz Intel XMP model, though you can get 32GB kits as fast as 7,800 mega transfers a second (MT/s) with Intel XMP 3.0 for $224.99 (about £180/AU$340).
The fastest AMD EXPO kit you can get is somewhat slower at 6,000 MT/s, with a 64GB (2 x 32GB) kit costing you $269.99 (about £220/AU$400) and a 32GB kit (2 x 16GB) costing you $174.99 (about £140/AU$265).
This puts it about 36% more expensive to start than the slightly lower-tier Corsair Vengence DDR5 modules at the same capacity and speed. However, it is marginally cheaper than Kingston's competing Fury Beast DDR5 modules, which have an MSRP of $159.99 (about £130/AU$240) for a 32GB (2 x 16GB) kit of 5,200 MT/s DDR5 with Intel XMP.
Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5: Specs
Should you buy the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5?
Buy it if...
You want high performance DDR5
The Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 is about as fast and high-performance as you're going to find on the consumer market.
You want great looking RGB modules
The clean lines, color options, and RGB customization options for the Dominator Platiunum RGB make it the best looking RAM you can get.
Don't buy it if...
You're on a budget
This is one of Corsair's most expensive RAM kits, so you can get almost the same phenomenal performance with the Vengence DDR5 kits as you could here for much less.
You want just a single stick of RAM
Sometimes, you don't need a full 2-stick kit, but in the case of the Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5, you can only get it in pairs.
Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5: Also consider
If my Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR5 RGB review has you considering other options, here are two more DDR5 RAM models to consider...
How I tested the Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5
- I've spent several days dedicated to testing
- I also used it as my standard configuration for component testing
- I used benchmarking tools like AIDA64 and Passmark for precise performance data
In addition to using this RAM in all of my other component testing, I spend a few days testing the performance of the RAM module itself using third-party tools like AIDA64 and PassMark.
While this is high-performance RAM, I paid special attention to the aesthetic appeal of this RAM specifically since it is really meant to be a showpiece in a build on top of performing at the highest level.
I've been building PCs for many years now, so I'm very familiar with Corsair's lineup of PC components. In addition, my computer science background and years of hardware coverage have given me particular insight into how well computer components should perform.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
First reviewed May 2023
