Hey everyone! I'm trying to figure out why my gaming setup isn't performing as well as others with similar specs. Here's the breakdown of my rig: I've got an Intel Core i5-12400 CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM running at 2666MHz in a single channel configuration. My motherboard is an ASUS PRIME H610M-R D4, and I'm using a 500GB Kingston SSD for storage. I usually game at 1080p on a 60Hz monitor and my OS is Windows 11 with the latest NVIDIA driver (576.52). I typically get around 150 FPS on low settings in games like CS2 and Valorant, but I've noticed that friends with the same CPU and GPU are achieving 250-300 FPS. Everything runs smoothly temperature-wise, but my FPS feels pretty low. Do you think my RAM is the limiting factor here? What would you recommend upgrading first? Thanks for your help!
5 Answers
It’s probably your RAM that's holding you back. Running on a single stick of 16GB at 2666MHz isn’t the best setup. A 2x16GB kit is pretty cheap these days and would really help improve your performance in games.
Don't forget, your monitor is only 60Hz. While higher FPS can feel smoother, you're capped at what your monitor can display. But if your friends are getting significantly higher FPS, I’d definitely say it’s your RAM since having just one stick isn’t optimal. Consider upgrading to dual channel memory, ideally 3200MHz or faster.
For sure, it's the RAM. You're running in a single channel mode, which limits bandwidth. Upgrading to a dual channel setup with at least 3200MHz RAM would help a lot. Look for a 2x8GB or 2x16GB configuration to maximize performance.
Absolutely, your RAM is a bottleneck! 2666MHz is okay, but since you’re using just one 16GB stick, you’re not utilizing your hardware to its full potential. Go for two sticks of 3200MHz DDR4 if you want to unleash the power of your CPU and GPU. Dual-channel memory can make a huge difference!
That sounds like what I need! I’ll definitely look into getting some dual-channel RAM.
Yeah, it's definitely the RAM. You might be hitting a wall there. While 2666MHz isn’t terrible, it’s also not ideal for gaming today. Try to get a cheap set of 2x16GB or two 8GB sticks of 3000MHz or better. It’ll help a ton!
Thanks for pointing that out! I guess I didn't consider the monitor cap, but I definitely need to improve the RAM.