Is 32GB of DDR4 a Better Choice Than 16GB of DDR5 for AAA Gaming?

DDR5 has the advantage of a newer upgrade platform, especially with AMD’s newer socket, but the specific DDR5 configuration listed is not ideal because it is only 16GB and single channel. For high-quality gaming where the GPU is doing most of the work, the 5700X with 32GB of dual-channel DDR4 should still perform well and may be the better value.

The 32GB DDR4 setup also makes more sense if you plan to multitask while gaming. CPU upgradeability matters less when you’re targeting high or ultra settings, since those settings usually put more demand on the graphics card. The Ryzen 7 5700X is still a capable gaming processor and should remain adequate for this use case.

For these builds, I’d lean toward one of the 32GB DDR4 options. Having 2x16GB running in dual channel is preferable to using a single 16GB DDR5 stick, and 32GB gives modern games more breathing room. DDR4-3200 CL16 is perfectly suitable; DDR4-3600 can also be worth considering if the price difference is small.

Before deciding, compare complete platform prices rather than just the memory type. Occasionally, CPU-and-motherboard bundles make a 32GB DDR5 system much more affordable. If you can get 32GB of DDR5 in dual channel for a reasonable price, that would be a stronger long-term option than either of the listed 16GB single-stick configurations.