I'm planning a new gaming PC with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti with 16GB of VRAM, and a 750W power supply. The build is already putting a serious dent in my budget, so using 16GB of DDR5 temporarily would save me a significant amount of money. Would 16GB be enough to play most games for now, or should I find a way to start with 32GB? If I upgrade later, I'm considering adding another matching pair of modules.
4 Answers
If possible, buy one 16GB stick now and add a second identical stick later. That keeps the upgrade path simple, although a single stick runs in single-channel mode and can reduce performance somewhat. A matched 2x16GB kit at DDR5-6000 with sensible timings would be the ideal setup for the 9800X3D.
You might save more by changing the rest of the build instead of limiting the memory. A less expensive X3D processor or a comparable Radeon graphics card could free enough money for 32GB immediately. The 9800X3D and 5070 Ti are excellent, but balancing the system is often better than pairing high-end parts with the bare minimum RAM.
Try not to plan on running four DDR5 sticks. AM5 systems can be harder to stabilize at higher memory speeds with four modules, and you may have to reduce the speed or loosen the timings. If you start with 2x8GB, it would usually be better to replace that kit later with 2x16GB rather than adding another 2x8GB kit.
Yes, 16GB will get you through most games, especially if you aren’t running lots of browser tabs, streaming software, or other programs in the background. Newer titles may occasionally stutter or use the page file when memory gets tight, though, so 32GB is the more comfortable long-term target.
A Radeon card can offer similar traditional gaming performance for less money, though Nvidia may still be preferable if you specifically want its ray tracing, upscaling, or software features.