I'm building my first PC and found two deals: 32GB of DDR4 as a 2x16GB kit for $70, or 16GB of DDR5 as a 2x8GB kit for $160. I understand that DDR5 usually goes with the newer AM5 platform, while DDR4 would mean choosing an older platform, but I'm unsure whether 16GB will be enough for the next several years.
I'll mainly play demanding games at 1440p on high settings, including Silent Hill 2, The Last of Us Part I and II, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Requiem, and eventually GTA 6. I don't expect to upgrade the CPU or rebuild the system for at least four years. Should I prioritize the newer platform and upgrade to 32GB later, or choose 32GB of DDR4 immediately?
4 Answers
16GB is still usable for gaming, especially if you don’t keep many programs open. However, demanding modern games plus Discord, a browser, or video playback can push memory usage close to the limit. That can cause stuttering or force you to close background applications, so 32GB is the more comfortable target.
The graphics card matters too. If you’re using a midrange GPU and focusing on 1440p gaming, 16GB can get you by for now. With a higher-end card and very demanding AAA games, 32GB is increasingly worthwhile. If you choose 16GB, use two sticks for dual-channel operation and leave room in the budget for a 2x16GB upgrade rather than treating 16GB as the long-term configuration.
First, make sure the memory matches the motherboard. AM5 boards use DDR5, while typical AM4 boards use DDR4, so these aren’t just two interchangeable RAM choices. For a brand-new build, DDR5 and AM5 generally offer the better upgrade path. You could start with 16GB if the budget is tight, but plan to add another matching 16GB kit fairly soon.
Also, don’t assume four RAM sticks will run as easily as two. A 2x16GB kit is usually preferable when upgrading to 32GB.
I’d choose the DDR5 platform and add another matching 16GB stick when you can. The extra memory is useful, but building a new system around an older DDR4 platform mainly to get 32GB today can leave you with fewer CPU upgrade options later. Just confirm that the motherboard has two compatible DIMMs and buy the same kit or matching specifications when expanding.
I noticed the same thing: 16GB worked fine for games by themselves, but having lots of browser tabs or videos open made the system noticeably less comfortable.