I'm upgrading from a six-year-old Dell G5 5590 laptop with 16GB of DDR4-2666 RAM because I'm running into memory warnings in Unreal Engine, stuttering in games, and slowdowns in Maya and Substance Painter as my projects get larger. I'd also like to keep several 3D applications and browser tabs open while working. With DDR5 memory currently so expensive, I'm considering starting with 16GB instead of 32GB and hoping the higher memory speed makes up for the lower capacity. Would 16GB be workable for this kind of gaming and 3D workflow, or is 32GB—or even 64GB—the more sensible choice? I've already bought an AM5 motherboard, but I'm also wondering whether switching to a cheaper DDR4 platform with more memory would offer better value and a reasonable upgrade path.
4 Answers
For professional 3D work, 64GB is the comfortable target, and some simulation or scene-building workloads can benefit from 128GB. If you’re still learning and mostly doing moderate modeling, texturing, and game projects, 32GB should be enough for now. I’d prioritize capacity over small DDR5 speed differences and avoid cutting the memory down to 16GB just to save money.
Some heavy 3D scenes can use 24GB of system memory by themselves, before adding the operating system, Unreal Engine, browser tabs, or other applications. For basic modeling, texturing, and smaller projects, 32GB should be comfortable. If you expect to work with large environments, simulations, or complex assets, 64GB is a much better safety margin.
You don’t necessarily need the newest memory platform. A DDR4 system with 32GB or 64GB can provide better value than an expensive DDR5 build, especially if your budget is limited. The important things are total capacity, a capable CPU, and a motherboard with enough slots to upgrade later. That said, since you already have an AM5 motherboard, keeping it and installing 32GB now—with the option to move to 64GB later—may be more sensible than rebuilding around an older platform.
Since your current system is already running out of memory, faster RAM won’t solve the underlying problem. For Maya, Substance Painter, Unreal Engine, gaming, and multitasking, 32GB should be considered the practical starting point. Sixteen gigabytes will likely leave you dealing with the same slowdowns and warnings, while 64GB is a safer choice for large scenes, world-building, simulations, or professional work.
That makes sense. I was hoping DDR5 speed would help, but it sounds like having enough capacity matters much more for my workload.
I was mainly worried about making the wrong choice for long-term upgrades. I’ll check whether the board has two open memory slots or supports larger kits so I can expand later.