I'm upgrading from an i7-9700k to a 9800x3d and need new RAM since my old 16GB DDR4 kit isn't compatible with the new motherboard. I found a cheap 16GB DDR5 5200 stick but it's the only one I can find, and it comes from a prebuilt system. I'm thinking about using this single stick until RAM prices drop, but I'm wondering if it will still be good enough for gaming, or will I regret this decision?
4 Answers
You're fine with just one stick. I saw a recent video that explained how DDR5 performance with a single stick is only a minor issue. Unlike DDR4, where single-channel hurt performance significantly, DDR5 holds up pretty well.
Let’s hope DDR6 improves it even more!
If pricing works in your favor, you might actually want to consider upgrading to a 7800x3d along with 32GB of RAM rather than sticking with the 9800x3d and just 16GB.
The x3d CPUs don't depend heavily on super-fast RAM due to the extra cache they have. So honestly, even with just the single stick at 5200 speed, you're likely getting good gaming performance. You're all set!
Yeah, you can totally use that single DDR5 stick for now. DDR5 has better performance even in single-channel compared to DDR4. While two sticks do give a slightly better boost (about 5-10% in benchmarks), you'll be fine for gaming until you can grab a full kit.
Thank you!
Here's the video I mentioned: [YouTube Link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nMu1KFkOC4)