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Quick Answer
DDR4-3200 and DDR5-5600 perform within 3-5% of each other in gaming with the i5-13400F. The DDR4 platform costs $80-120 AUD less overall. DDR5 only shows meaningful gains with very fast kits (6000+ MHz) that are expensive. DDR4 is the value choice.
In CPU-bound scenarios at 1080p with high frame rates, DDR5's higher bandwidth shows a larger gap (5-8%). Competitive esports players targeting 240+ fps may benefit. For typical 1440p gaming at 60-144 fps, the difference is imperceptible.
DDR5 shows larger gains in memory-intensive tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and compilation. If you do these alongside gaming, DDR5 is worth the premium. For pure gaming, DDR4 is fine.
DDR4 is end-of-life with no future generations. DDR5 speeds will continue to improve. However, the i5-13400F platform (LGA 1700) also has limited future upgrades, so future-proofing the RAM type is less relevant.
Our Verdict
DDR4 is the value winner for the i5-13400F. Save the $110 AUD platform difference and put it toward a better GPU. DDR5 only makes sense if you also do memory-intensive productivity work or play competitive esports titles.
32GB is the new standard for gaming in 2026. Several modern titles use 14-16GB of RAM, leaving 16GB systems with no headroom for background tasks. The price gap is only $30-50 AUD for DDR4 and $40-60 AUD for DDR5, making 32GB the clear choice.
The best RAM for the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 in a 2x16GB kit. DDR5-6000 hits the AM5 sweet spot where the Infinity Fabric runs at a 1:1 ratio with the memory clock, giving optimal latency and bandwidth for gaming.
The Ryzen 5 7600 edges ahead by 3-5% in gaming due to Zen 4's higher IPC and DDR5 bandwidth. However, the i5-13400F offers a significantly cheaper platform with DDR4. Choose the 7600 for AM5 future-proofing or the 13400F for lowest total cost.