I'm planning a high-end gaming PC for 1440p with an RTX 5080, a Ryzen 9850X3D or 9800X3D, a 2TB NVMe SSD, and an 850W Gold-rated power supply. The games I want to play include Escape from Tarkov, Cyberpunk 2077, Ready or Not, Arena Breakout, and possibly Gray Zone Warfare. Would 16GB of RAM be enough for high frame rates, or should I use 32GB? I was also wondering whether one 16GB stick would be acceptable or if I should use two sticks.
3 Answers
With a graphics card and processor in this price range, saving money on RAM doesn’t make much sense. If 2x16GB is difficult to fit into the budget, it would be better to step down to a less expensive CPU or GPU and keep 32GB of memory. An 850W Gold PSU should generally be adequate for this class of system, assuming it is a quality unit.
Go with 32GB, preferably as a 2x16GB kit. A single 16GB stick only runs in single-channel mode, which can noticeably reduce performance on a modern Ryzen system. Two sticks also give you better multitasking headroom.
Escape from Tarkov is the main reason not to settle for 16GB. It can use most or all of that memory by itself, leaving very little for Windows and background applications. While 16GB may work in some games, 32GB will provide a much smoother experience and reduce stuttering.
Tarkov can use around 24GB in some situations, so 32GB is a much safer minimum. Its listed recommendation may even be 64GB, though 32GB should be a sensible starting point.