I recently bought an AMD bundle from Microcenter that includes a G.Skill 16 GB 6000 MHz RAM stick. I've added another stick, giving me a total of 32 GB. However, I'm wondering if I should return the extra stick and go for 64 GB instead. I don't prioritize max graphics but need enough resources for gaming and browsing multiple tabs. I run Linux, and even when just playing one game with a browser open, I notice some swap RAM being used. I'm concerned about occasional heavy usage when my PC runs background tasks. Do you think 32 GB will be sufficient, or should I upgrade to 64 GB?
5 Answers
From what you described, I'd be surprised if you ever need more than 32 GB. Also, consider getting a decent NVMe SSD for better performance if that's in your plans.
It's completely normal for your system to use the swap file, even if you have some RAM free. As long as you're not completely out of available RAM, you're probably fine. You likely won't need more than 32 GB for your current setup.
My PC sometimes hits 95% physical RAM usage, so I'm not sure it's that simple.
You're probably fine sticking with 32 GB unless you're doing something extreme like 8K video editing. 64 GB is overkill for most users; you'd likely not use it all while gaming or multitasking.
Honestly, 32 GB should be more than enough for gaming while multitasking with apps like Discord and a bunch of tabs. I rarely exceed 20 GB even with heavy usage, and I play games while streaming on Twitch.
When I play games and have several tabs open, my max RAM usage has only hit around 18 GB.
I juggle a lot of apps and tons of tabs and still manage just fine with 32 GB.
I personally would recommend 64 GB if you can afford it. Windows can be quite resource-heavy, so having that extra RAM provides a lot of breathing room, especially for future-proofing your system.
I run Nobara Linux now and wouldn’t go back to Windows!
I'm not dual booting, but I plan to add a 2 TB NVMe drive soon.