is 32gb of ram still considered overkill?

[strawberrygirl]

I have been wondering if 32gb of ddr4 ram (at least in my use case) would be considered overkill?

I like to play with virtual machines (running windows server on them to learn server administration at the moment ^^;) and I do code from time to time (c/c++), but outside of that I just game at 1080p with medium/high settings (I currently use 16gb of ddr4 3000mhz ram)

what do you think? I am happy to hear your thoughts on this ^^

 

[porina]

For gaming I wouldn't rate it as essential on DDR4 but some newer games at higher settings have been recommending above 16GB, so it is probably time to consider it on a new build. I'd say it was essential on DDR5 as 8GB modules are probably 1Rx16 configuration which basically sucks. 2x16GB is the first to not suck.

 

For non-gaming uses, if you need it, you need it. If you don't, you don't.

[strawberrygirl]

2 minutes ago, porina said:

For gaming I wouldn't rate it as essential on DDR4 but some newer games at higher settings have been recommending above 16GB, so it is probably time to consider it on a new build. I'd say it was essential on DDR5 as 8GB modules are probably 1Rx16 configuration which basically sucks. 2x16GB is the first to not suck.

 

For non-gaming uses, if you need it, you need it. If you don't, you don't.

on the topic of ddr5, is it worth buying for a future build? does it affect performance significantly?

[SorryBella]

Just now, strawberrygirl said:

on the topic of ddr5, is it worth buying for a future build? does it affect performance significantly?

Much like transitional ages back in DDR to DDR2, DDR2 to DDR3, and DDR3 to DDR4, not yet.

 

[porina]

4 minutes ago, strawberrygirl said:

on the topic of ddr5, is it worth buying for a future build? does it affect performance significantly?

You'll have to look up tests for things you care about how performance stacks up. To me, for a new high end build I'd go DDR5 for sure. If you want AMD CPU, you have no choice anyway. While Intel does still support DDR4 for now, I feel like that might only be an interesting option if you happen to have a lot of high performance DDR4 spare. I wouldn't be buying it new at this point.

[strawberrygirl]

Thank you both, @porina @SorryClaire for the insight! ^^
 

[Blqckqut]

id say 32gb is becoming the new minimum if you multitask

[BetteBalterZen]

I have in a few games seen RAM usage above 16GB, actually 20GB. I do however have a few programs running in the background always but not many. So IMO, I would not only buy 16GB today but 32GB as a minimum. 

[Beerzerker]

On 6/1/2023 at 3:21 AM, BetteBalterZen said:

I have in a few games seen RAM usage above 16GB, actually 20GB. I do however have a few programs running in the background always but not many. So IMO, I would not only buy 16GB today but 32GB as a minimum. 

Goes right to what I've said before about what's "Enough" today not being so tomorrow.

Up until recent times it's been said 16GB's was enough but my response was requirements will only increase as time passes - If you have plans on running the machine you have now it's smart to plan ahead and consider these requirements we all know will be. Thing is we can't really predict when that would be but you can be ready for it, grabbing 32GB's is a good move right now and helps to ensure the machine can and will operate well at least for a few years no matter what programs/apps, games and whatever else comes along.

Alos don't forget with each new iteration of an OS minimium RAM requirements just to operate goes up too, trying to run Win 10 on 2GB's is pratically impossible, on Win 7 it can be done but it suffers and Win XP runs it just fine.

Since all that we've had Win 11 to come out and now Win 12 is in the works so..... Do the math, follow the obvious trend and you'll see 32GB's right now is indeed a good choice if you can get it.

In fact I'm going to say at this time onward, 64GB's may be worth considering if you can afford it.

[Darkseth]

Not Overkill, but also not absolutely neccessary. 24gb would be a perfect sweetspot.

 

Some Games today want a LOT of Ram. And Vram. Sometimes only the Game itself can use 7-8gb Ram alone.

It will be okay, if you close Applications for Gaming, but if you like to keep everything open, alot of Tabs, 16gb will start giving you Error messages, if your Pagefile is low (<3gb maybe). I had this once with Rise of the Tomb Raider, 16gb Ram, and 3gb Pagefile to safe SSD storage.

Windows gave me a "not enough Ram, close Firefox" message. It got better, once i increased Pagefile to 8-16gb, i still did upgrade tho.

 

If you use your Computer for 1 thing, 16 is fine.

If you like to Multitask, go for 32 and be happy for the next x Years.

 

If it's DDR4. Ram has gotten really cheap. Go for 32.

 

For what you described, 16gb might work, but go for 32.

[dilpickle]

For the highest end gaming build 32GB is standard now and 64GB would be overkill. 

 

For other tasks overkill is only defined by what your needs are. 

[SteveGrabowski0]

When I was running 16GB of RAM on The Last of Us Part 1 I'd have to close down everything else before launching the game or I'd get massive stutter. It may be first but certainly won't be the last that 16GB is insufficient for. With DDR4 RAM so cheap right now it's nuts to not go for 32GB. Only cost me $68 to get a 2x16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200 kit with Samsung chips about a month and a half ago.