Hey everyone! I'm currently using 16GB of RAM and I'm worried about future performance as games become more demanding. I'm considering upgrading from my current setup of 2x8GB CL16 DDR4-3600 memory to a new 2x16GB CL19 DDR4-3600 kit. Will this upgrade actually help improve performance, especially in real-world scenarios like gaming? My specs include an RTX 3080 10GB and a Ryzen 5800X, and I'm gaming at 1440p with a 165Hz monitor. I'm not mixing RAM, as I'm planning to give my old sticks to my partner. Any thoughts?
2 Answers
If you're focused on capacity rather than timing, then the CL19 should be fine for most everyday games. Yes, CL16 is technically better, but in real gaming scenarios, you likely won't see a noticeable performance drop unless you're really diving into benchmarking. The key takeaway here is that you're improving your RAM capacity to avoid hiccups while gaming with other apps open, which is a smart move!
Right? Unless you’re a hardcore player looking for every last advantage, don’t stress too much over the CL timings.
Upgrading to 32GB can be really beneficial, especially for multitasking. While most games typically use around 16GB, some unoptimized ones can go as high as 22-24GB, which is rare but possible. With 32GB, you can keep more applications running at once—like your browser with tons of tabs, Discord, and maybe even streaming without impacting your gaming performance too much. Just remember, mixing RAM may lead to some instability and tuning issues, so it’s great you’re sticking with one kit. Honestly, even if 16GB was working fine, the extra capacity will just give you more headroom for the future!
That’s what I’m thinking too! I’m moving to 32GB as well. The extra capacity is definitely appealing, plus my old RAM will be used by my partner.
Exactly! Unless you’re super into figuring out the very last bits of performance, the bigger capacity is where it's at for general use.