Chinese DDR5 memory can perform just as well as modules from more well-known brands, but don't expect them to save us all from RAMaggedon.
As VideoCardz reports, YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed tested new KingBank DDR5-6000 memory across a range of games and found that it delivers the same kind of performance you'd expect from memory made by Samsung, Micron, or SK hynix. The downside is that—like Micron and its Crucial brand—the manufacturer behind these DRAM chips, ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), is likely to pivot to fabricating mostly for AI clients.
In Hardware Unboxed's testing, the memory seems capable. When paired with a 9800X3D or 9700X, the DDR5 6000 MT/s CL36 kit delivered results comparable to the G.Skill DDR-6000 alternative kit and beat an entry-level Kingston DDR5-5200 CL40 kit. EXPO profiles were enabled, but Hardware Unboxed didn't push manual overclocking, so we don't know what these modules can do when pushed.
In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p, where the G.Skill kit managed a 209fps average and 151fps 1% lows, the KingBank kit managed 208 and 150fps, respectively. At 1440p, the G.Skill kit managed 193 and 134fps, while the KingBank kit hit 192 and 134. The results were even closer at 4K, where the graphics card is more of a bottleneck than anything else.
That's impressive stuff for a lesser-known brand. It's cheaper too, though not by much. VideoCardz notes that you can find the 32GB KingBank kit for around $422. Comparable kits from the competition are around 10% more expensive, so there are some savings to be found.
But for how long? AI companies are hogging GPUs and RAM to build out their data centers, and big suppliers are more than willing to send them the bill. For consumers, however, that means rampant shortages and price hikes for memory, storage, hard drives, and just about anything else that goes into a PC. CXMT will reportedly reserve 20% of its 2026 production for High Bandwidth Memory 3 (HBM3) to help buoy China's AI ambitions.
Apple is also reportedly thinking about using CXMT and rival YMTC for its memory needs, WCCFTech reports. It currently relies mostly on Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron. So, consumers might be short-changed once again.