Hey everyone! I'm thinking about upgrading the RAM in my PC and need some advice based on my current setup and what I use it for. Here are my specs: I have an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X CPU, an Nvidia 3070 FE GPU, and an MSI MPG B550 Gaming Edge WiFi motherboard. Right now, I'm working with 16GB (2x8GB) of Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz RAM. My cooler is a be quiet! DARK ROCK 4, which limits me to only two RAM slots, and I have a Corsair RM750 PSU.
Originally, I built this rig for gaming, but since starting college, I've transitioned to mostly doing school work and an occasional VR sim racing session. This means I often have a ton of Chrome tabs open for studying, along with music and other applications, which can slow things down. I'm also planning to dive into CAD work, which I know can eat up RAM.
Because of the cooler, I'm considering upgrading to either 2x16GB or 2x32GB 3600MHz RAM. My questions are: 1) Is 64GB too much for what I do? 2) Would a 32GB setup be more practical? 3) Is my Ryzen 3700X and B550 motherboard still decent, or should I be looking at updating those first? I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this, especially regarding potential bottlenecks or smarter upgrade paths!
5 Answers
Honestly, if you're moving to CAD, more RAM could be helpful since CAD can be a real RAM hog. But 64GB on a Ryzen 3700X seems excessive for most tasks. If you're okay with spending the money and plan to keep the system for a while, it could be worth it just to ensure you have headroom for future needs.
I think 32GB would suffice for most of what you're doing, plus you'd notice better performance with a CPU upgrade over more RAM. Maybe use the money for a new processor instead? The Ryzen 5000 series would give your system a nice boost without going all-out on RAM now.
If you're serious about CAD, getting 64GB is a smart move. I think you'll find it really does help, especially with how intense some tasks can get. Since RAM is cheaper than ever, just go for it!
Go for the 64GB! DDR4 prices are pretty low right now, so why not grab it while you can? It wouldn't hurt!
I hear you on the CAD part. While 32GB might seem enough, if you're running multiple heavy programs or working with large files, having 64GB really gives you that breathing room! Definitely something to consider, especially given the low cost of RAM right now.
I totally agree! I have 64GB across my builds, and it's great for multitasking without worrying about hitting limits. Plus, it keeps your options open for future upgrades.