Hey everyone! I'm building a new PC and my last one was put together over 11 years ago. I'm wondering how much RAM I should install. I'm considering 64GB, but is that really necessary? My main uses will be modern gaming along with Photoshop and Lightroom. I'm looking at G.Skill Z5 Neo 6000 CL26, but it's quite pricey in my country since it's mostly available through resellers from the USA. The price differences are significant: 32GB vs. 64GB doubles the cost, 32GB vs. 48GB is about a $115 difference, and 48GB vs. 64GB is roughly a $65 difference. Just to note, I plan to keep this PC for about 10 years. Should I invest in 64GB for future-proofing?
5 Answers
While CL26 RAM is good, for most users, CL30 would more than suffice. Just ensure you buy two sticks instead of four to avoid stress on the memory controller. As for capacity, anything above 32GB generally works great for all types of media.
Definitely aim for 2x32GB sticks. This way, you're future-proofing yourself without breaking the bank. If you do a lot of graphic design or gaming, you'll likely appreciate the extra RAM in a few years. Besides, it’s likely that prices will go down for RAM later on, so don’t stress too much.
For your use case, 32GB is more than enough for gaming and software like Photoshop and Lightroom. If you multitask heavily or keep multiple apps open, you might want to go for 48GB. 64GB is a bit of overkill right now, but if you plan on using the PC for a decade, it could be a wise investment if your budget allows it.
If you're heavily using Photoshop with lots of layers and effects, 64GB would be a solid choice. However, for casual gaming and basic editing, 32GB is plenty for now. Just keep in mind that as software evolves, more RAM could become beneficial.
Exactly! If you're serious about your creative projects, investing in that extra RAM can save you headaches down the line.
If you’re planning on keeping the PC long-term, 64GB really does make sense. I just built a system with 64GB and I've found that it lets me run games and streaming apps simultaneously without any lag. So if you can afford it, I’d say go for it!
True, 32GB is great for most tasks, but if you're doing intense design work or running multiple virtual machines, then consider bumping it up to 64GB. It's better to have more RAM than you need than to run into limits later.