I'm considering upgrading my RAM for gaming at 1440p. Currently, I have two 8GB sticks, but I'm only able to afford an additional single 8GB stick right now. I'm running a 9060XT GPU and a Ryzen 5 3600X processor. Is it a good idea to go with 24GB of RAM, or should I wait until I can get more matched sticks?
4 Answers
It's nice that you're looking to upgrade! If budget is tight, keep in mind that spending a little more for 2x8GB or 2x16GB will provide better performance in the long run. Upgrading components can sometimes be better than expanding mismatched ones, especially for gaming.
It's better to design your setup for dual channel memory. If you can’t afford that right now, holding off for 2x8GB or upgrading to 2x16GB would be the better route. Even if 24GB is fine, running two sticks can keep speeds optimal compared to having an unbalanced setup.
Installing a single 8GB RAM stick with your existing two won't let you take full advantage of dual channel mode, which is important for performance. You might face lower speeds since the memory controller struggles with mismatched sticks. I'd suggest waiting until you can get at least two 8GB sticks for better performance, though ideally, aim for two 16GB sticks for future-proofing.
24GB of RAM is generally good for gaming, just remember that if you're downgrading clock speeds significantly with that third stick, it might be more efficient to stick with 16GB. Especially on a Ryzen 5 with decent GPU like the 9060XT, you should be fine for most games.
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