For many years, 16GB of RAM was regarded as the gold standard for gaming PCs. However, nowadays, most systems can greatly benefit from 32GB or more, particularly if you enjoy playing graphically intense games or want to game and stream simultaneously—these activities can quickly consume available RAM. Plus, upgrading is more budget-friendly than you might think, so why not take the plunge?
Upgrading to 32GB of RAM puts your PC back on solid ground, and with current low prices, it’s an affordable enhancement.
Teamgroup
Though games like Microsoft Flight Simulator, Cyberpunk 2077, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 suggest 16GB as a minimum for acceptable performance, in reality, these titles thrive with more memory. Increased RAM allows your system to hold more game data, which translates to quicker loading times and reduced lag.
Open-world games demand a substantial amount of visual information, and having additional RAM ensures smoother gameplay since the system won’t need to constantly fetch data from slower storage options.
Furthermore, background applications such as web browsers, messaging tools, and system processes also consume RAM. With only 16GB, you might find your system struggling to keep up.
Having 32GB or more of RAM means that resource-heavy applications can run concurrently with demanding games without compromising performance. This is particularly critical for streamers, who need to run both game and streaming software at the same time.
Until recently, 16GB of RAM was sufficient for even the most complex software. However, as some games reveal, this capacity can fall short.
Viper Gaming
RAM is currently more affordable than ever, with 32GB kits available for both DDR5 and DDR4 systems at reasonable prices. You can often find 32GB RAM kits for as little as $50 online. If you’re using older components or want to build a budget-friendly gaming rig, there are plenty of competitively priced DDR4 options that can offer significant performance enhancements.
It’s essential to consider not just the quantity of RAM but also its speed. Slower RAM can lead to issues similar to insufficient RAM. Therefore, it’s worthwhile to focus on finding the right balance between price and performance when making your purchase.
Given the current competitive prices and the tangible performance benefits, now is a great time to upgrade to 32GB or more to future-proof your system for upcoming gaming titles.