What RAM do i really need to game?

[dav1257]

When i built my system i literary bought the cheapest 1600MHz RAM i could find.

Did i do the rite thing?

[s0nrise]

no, the smallest memory issue may cause your computer to be unstable, even causing bluescreens.

[blackout331]

Most RAM will do the job, as long as it works it should be fine. Also how much do you have? you should have about 8 GBs of RAM for gaming.

[Kumar]

Need? 4GB 1600MHz. If you can stretch your budget to 8GB (it isn't that much more expensive anymore).

The thing with RAM is; cheap doesn't mean it's bad. If it works, it works.

You'll know if you have a bad stick when you run tests (See Linus trying to find a bad stick here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZhHlX6JMvg).

But if your current RAM is working fine, then I think you've done fine :)

[ACK]

If your memory is stable and works fine then you are OK.

I would say that 4GB is enough just for gaming but since RAM is so cheap nowadays I would suggest to go with 8GB of RAM.

Now, if you also use your PC for other RAM intensive tasks I believe that you know that the more the better.

[dav1257]

I should add i have a 2x4 Gb kit. Corsair Dominator dual channel. I know what i need but i think i worded my question poorly.

I think i am pretty tech savvy . . . thanks to linus.

I guess the question is really . . . Why spend 3x as much for Dominator Platinum wen normal Dominator RAM works just fine?

[pierrelucsav]

Go with 8GB to be safe. Memory is pretty cheap right now, and as long as it's at least 1333 MHZ you're good. As some people said, if it works there's no reason to worry. I've had issues in one game (The Witcher 2) with a 4GB kit. Upgrading to 8GB fixed all the crashes I was getting.

[CallMeWicki]

If you want to do great quality gaming then go with high quality 8gb of ram, corsair makes good ram, or even up to cheap 16 gb. 4gb will work but not very well.

[Dim]

Dominator Platinums are for people with more money than... well... they just have a lot of money. I won't say more money than sense, because Dominator Platinums look AMAZING. They're just perfect RAM, and that 2800MHz kit makes me drool.

For a computer on a budget, or simply a computer for one that doesn't care too much for the enthusiast "best of the best", almost any RAM will do fine (assuming it works).

AMD processors benefit noticeably from 1600 vs 1333 RAM, and 1600 is pretty much the most performance you will need--I have 2400 and I don't really notice any difference (honestly, I don't think there IS a difference).

Enthusiast with lots of money: Corsair Dominator Platinums @ 2800

Regular gamer: Corsair Vengeance @ 1600

Me: G.Skill RipjawsZ @ 2400

8GB RAM is more than enough. I have 16GB and I rarely use more than 2GB of it while gaming! Although, I'm very OCD about any programs and only let like 40 processes be running at any one time. I put the rest of my RAM to use with an 8GB RAM disk, which helps very little since I have an SSD anyway :/

[Guest]

I can't remember who said it but realistically there was about only a 2-3% increase in performance between 1600 and 1866mHz ram so unless you're pushing your system hard (3D rendering, multi track audio/video editing ect) you won't notice the difference.

Most games are fairly light on their usage of ram and 8GB is what I normally see recommended for RAM. Just make sure you're using a 64-bit OS (instead of 32) because 32-bit is capped at 3.25GB. Also watch out with your CPU cooler clearances; CM 212's and fullsize Corsair Vengeance doesn't usually end too well.

[MetalLobster]

AMD processors benefit noticeably from 1600 vs 1333 RAM' date=' and 1600 is pretty much the most performance you will need--I have 2400 and I don't really notice any difference (honestly, I don't think there IS a difference). [/quote']

Agreed, although Intel processors should see the performance difference as well.

Enthusiast with lots of money: Corsair Dominator Platinums @ 2800

Regular gamer: Corsair Vengeance @ 1600

You don't NEED to go for Corsair. Kingston, Mushkin and Gskill are just as reliable and usually cheaper. Whether Corsair RAM looks betters or cooler is subjective.

[Money]

For gaming REALISTICALLY you wont use more than 6GB's. And you don't exactly need faster RAM than 1600MHz because the video card already has fast enough RAM for what it needs to do.

[Dave :)]

There is, in reality, very little performance gain between 1333-1600-1866 ram speed. As for how much you need, i would argue no more than 4GB, i can't think of game which utilities more than that, but as others have said, if you can get 8GB, go for it, it will come in handy if you want to do heavy editing and run programs along side each other etc.

[MG2R]

The only reason to go for fast RAM is iGPU's, they use system memory instead of dedicated graphics RAM. So if you are running your system of the onboard graphics, get fast RAM. Otherwise: 1600MHz is perfectly fine.

[Dr3nz4r]

Hey dav1257,

if I would be you i would go for some cheap Low-Profile 1866 Memory from Kingston/Corsair/Mushkin.

You should be ready for everything in future then.

Greetz

Dr3nz4r

[christoi]

As already said, in terms of gaming performance with a discrete graphics card there's really little difference between memory speeds and timings. 1333/1600 memory is usually your best bet given the price. Only thing I'd recommend is that the modules have a rated voltage of 1.5v or lower and that it comes with heat spreaders (the difference between different spreaders usually isn't that important).

In terms of reliability, I'd honestly say it doesn't matter. Companies like Corsair, G.Skill, Kingston, etc actually don't produce their own memory, but just sell rebranded units which are produced by OEM's. Consequently it's pointless to say that "company x produces more reliable memory," because they aren't actually producing it themselves.

[Craig]

Hey dav1257

As said already other brands are just as good as Corsair. and if you are using onboard graphics fast ram is better. other then that in my opinion you made the correct choice.

[LaiLaiNoob]

Get the Samsung 30nm WonderRAM. It's amazing at overclocking and doesn't give off that much heat, granted it doesn't look as bling as the platinums. It does what it does and does it well.

[Lumi]

I would suggest picking up like 8gb of corsair vengeance for 39.99-46.99$ depending on where you go.

[Chevaishr]

for the more expensive ram you are mostly paying for the extreme branding, the extreme testing the extreme overclocking potential and the extreme speeds though the end result may be not much different from cheaper kits... it s still extreme!!!!

[Metallurgico]

4. Or 8 if the price difference is worth it

[allthatremains94]

Get the Samsung 30nm WonderRAM. It's amazing at overclocking and doesn't give off that much heat' date=' granted it doesn't look as bling as the platinums. It does what it does and does it well.[/quote']

Yep, these little guys overclock very easily and sip power. These things should be the go-to RAM for more people by now.

[Vanderburg]

The problem with overclocking the RAM is that you have to relax the timings, so you have to pick if you want more bandwidth, or quicker response.