With the current RAM prices through the roof, I'm considering building my PC with a single 16GB DDR5 stick alongside a 7800X3D and a 5070 Ti. My goal is to have the build ready in time for Christmas, and I plan to add a second stick later. Will this setup still handle demanding games like Cyberpunk, Ghost of Tsushima, and Elden Ring? What limitations should I expect with just 16GB? Appreciate any insights!
5 Answers
Yeah, starting with one stick is totally fine! You might experience a bit of a performance drop until you get the second stick, but the system will be functional. When you do add that second stick later, you could see about a 10-20% performance boost.
There was a Hardware Unboxed video that showed some games were only mildly impacted while others had significant drops, especially in those 1% lows. It’s a little suboptimal, but nothing's outright unplayable. You may not get the full potential from your build now, but you’ll still be able to enjoy gaming.
Check out this roundup by Hardware Unboxed that tested 1x16GB vs 2x16GB configurations. The performance hit is noticeable but not game-breaking. With the X3D CPU, the RAM sensitivity isn't too severe, but you should still aim for a stick that's in production so you can easily find the same one later. Good luck with your build!
Just a heads up, it’s unlikely RAM prices will drop before Christmas. They might stabilize around March or April, so you could be waiting a while if you plan on getting that second stick later.
Honestly, just pick up some extra hours at work and grab two sticks. Waiting for prices to drop might stretch out to a year, and you don’t want to risk it!
I was in the same boat yesterday, looking at RAM. The price was so tempting that I almost went for a single stick myself, but I decided to invest in a dual-stick kit since the prices didn't seem like they'd change anytime soon.