Hey everyone! I'm planning to upgrade my PC with a new GPU but want to know if my current RAM could be a bottleneck. I recently upgraded my motherboard and CPU about 8 months ago. Here's my setup: I've got an AMD 5700X3D processor, a B550 motherboard, and I'm deciding between getting an RX9060XT or an RTX 5060TI, both with 16GB. The thing is, I'm still using my old 16GB (2x8) 2400MHz CL16 RAM. Do you think this current RAM will hold back my new GPU performance, especially for gaming? Would I see a significant performance boost if I switch to 32GB of 3200MHz CL16 RAM? I've read that the X3D processors are less dependent on fast RAM. Any thoughts?
6 Answers
You might want to wait for the GPU first and use a tool like Intel PresentMon to check if your GPU is being held back by your CPU. 16GB is workable for now, but you'll likely need 32GB later on. So upgrading your RAM sooner rather than later isn't a bad idea.
It definitely could be a bottleneck. Depending on the games you play, just having more RAM could improve things. I’d suggest going for a 2x16GB setup since DDR4 prices seem reasonable right now. But I'm curious, how do you mean that the RAM costs as much as the GPU?
It's not just about raw FPS; you'll probably experience significant stutters with the slower RAM. Don't underestimate its impact.
Upgrading to DDR4 3600 CL16 would be optimal. While it's tough to quantify exactly how much you’d miss out with slower RAM, it's likely you'll notice it in more CPU-intensive games. Plus, 32GB isn't super pricey—around $80 for decent kits here in the US.
Yeah, you're probably losing around 20% performance by sticking with that 2400MHz RAM instead of upgrading to 3200MHz. It can really make a difference, especially in gaming.
Sorry if that was confusing! I meant that the combined price of the RX 9060XT and the RAM upgrade would equal the cost of the RTX 5060TI alone, which is why I’m torn.