Micron today releases its latest system memory modules made for gamers and savvy users, the Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400 Overclocking CL32 Gaming DRAM.

As the name suggests, this is the latest RAM technology designed for computers that support DDR5—preferably systems running an Intel 13th Gen CPU (or later) or an AMD Ryzen 9000 (or later).

In a way, these new modules are the upgrades to the Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6000 that came out last year.

Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400: Fast and stylish

Micron says the new Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400 shows its “commitment to PC gamers with new 10-nanosecond/CL32-class latency” with the design based on user feedback related to aesthetics.

Available in matte black and snow white colors with a camo-inspired pattern, each Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400 looks the part. While there’s no integrated LED light on the spreader, the Crucial logo and the bold “Crucial Pro” text running on the spine give you the bragging rights when used in an open chassis or a case with a seenthough cover.

Most importantly, the new RAM means business. According to Micron, it delivers up to 6400MT/s in performance while reducing the latency up to 37.5% compared to standard JEDEC DDR5 RAMs. It also offers stable overclocking with Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO, each requiring manual BIOS enablement.

While the new RAM can be used in any system that supports DDR, it’s best used with Intel 13th Gen and newer CPUs (including the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2) or AMD Ryzen 9000 Series processors.

The table below shows the new RAM’s hardware specifications

Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400: Hardware specifications

Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400: Excellent real-world experience

For this post, I used four sticks (two 32GB kits) of Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400 RAM for over a week on various DDR5-enabled desktop systems, and they all worked reliably—none of the machines crashed when overclocked within allowed parameters.

Most notably, these sticks didn’t become hot—the heatspreader remained relatively cool to the touch even during intense gaming sections.

In terms of performance, these RAM sticks proved to be incredibly fast. And by that I meant the system’s overall performance.

After the CPU and internal NVMe SSD, RAM plays a big part in a computer’s overall processing power, though it’s always hard to pinpoint how much performance it contributes to a specific operation. Since DDR5 is generally extremely fast, it’s generally tricky to put a finger on how much this Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400 is faster than other versions, such as the previous DDR5-6000 version. That’s partly because I haven’t tested enough variants to establish a baseline.

But it’s safe to say this new Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400 is extremely fast. Still, if your system currently uses an existing variant of DDR5 RAM, there’s no need to upgrade. However, if you build a new rig today, the Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6400 is the way to go if you want to make sure you have the best.

By the way, in my trial, I could mix this new RAM with other DDR RAM, and the system still worked without an issue. However, in this case, overclocking is no longer an option.

Availability and conclusion

Micron’s Crucial Pro OC DDR5-6000 RAM is available today, starting at $176.99 for a 32GB kit (black). You’ll be able to find a 16GB single stick option at a later time, which will likely cost slightly more than half. As mentioned, if you’re building a new high-end desktop with the latest AMD or Intel CPU, it’s an excellent RAM to match. However, there’s no need to rush to upgrade if you already have DDR5 RAM on your system, as the performance gain will not justify the cost. The longer you wait, the more affordable it is likely to become.