I'm currently building a gaming PC for around €1600 and trying to save some cash on RAM since prices are pretty steep right now. I'm considering starting with 16GB and then adding another 16GB stick later on. My planned setup includes a Ryzen 5 7500X3D and an RX 9060 XT 16GB, and I'll be gaming mostly at 1080p for now, possibly moving to 1440p down the line. I play a mix of AAA and competitive games, often with Discord or a browser running in the background. The current price for a 2x16GB 6000 CL30 kit is about €450, which makes me hesitant since I can get a single 16GB stick for around €210. Will 16GB be enough for what I'm doing, or could I run into stuttering issues? Also, is starting with just 1x16GB a bad idea?
5 Answers
If you're mainly gaming and your games don't require more than 16GB, then you should be fine. X3D CPUs are pretty good at handling different memory setups without a lot of performance drop.
Yeah, why would you need more? For most gaming scenarios, 16GB should be sufficient.
Honestly, for gaming at 1080p, 16GB is generally enough. But I'd still recommend going with a dual-channel setup for the best experience.
Stick with 2x8GB for sure if it's just for gaming. If you plan on multitasking or using a second monitor, performance might take a hit with just 1x16GB.
Starting with 1x16GB isn't ideal because you'll be sacrificing performance by running in single channel mode. If possible, go for 2x8GB since it's better for gaming. 16GB is generally still adequate for most games, but dual-channel configuration is the way to go for optimal performance.
It's really better to start with two sticks. The performance difference can be noticeable, especially with gaming.
I'm thinking about grabbing 1x16GB and then adding another stick later on. Does that sound like a good plan for my build?