I'm choosing between a 2x8GB DDR4-3200 kit for about $70 and a 2x16GB DDR4-2666 kit for around $120. The PC will mainly be used for gaming, but I'll also keep Chrome or Edge open on a second monitor for walkthroughs, tips, and other background tasks. The faster kit is rated at 16-18-18-38, while the larger kit is 19-19-19-43. Which option makes more sense?
3 Answers
Go with 32GB at DDR4-2666. The 16GB kit is faster and has tighter timings, but the real-world gaming difference should be small, especially compared with the extra headroom for background applications.
I’d choose the 32GB kit. The slower memory may cost a few frames in some games, but having enough capacity is more useful when running games alongside a browser, Discord, and lots of tabs. Memory speed and timings usually provide diminishing returns for gaming.
Gaming is more often limited by the CPU or GPU than by memory bandwidth. Running out of RAM, on the other hand, can cause stuttering or force the system to rely on slower storage. For this use case, 2x16GB at 2666 is the safer choice.
The timings are also looser on the 32GB kit, but that difference is unlikely to outweigh the benefit of doubling the capacity.