I'm building a mid-tier PC on a tight budget of around £900 to £1200, thanks to a GPU that my mom gifted me—not the best (a 3050), but it was a kind gesture. I mainly game and use Blender, targeting demanding games like GTA V, RDR2, and Baldur's Gate 3. Considering the recent surge in DDR5 RAM prices, is it really worth spending up to £400 for 32GB of DDR5? Or would DDR4 suffice for my planned setup with a Ryzen 5 9600X and an MSI B850M motherboard? Any advice?
4 Answers
If you're going with an AM5 CPU and motherboard, you have to use DDR5 RAM—there's no getting around it. It's just how the platform works. So yes, if that's the path you choose, DDR5 is a requirement.
He could, but keep in mind that moving to an AM4 setup locks you into DDR4, which could limit future upgrades.
Honestly, with the GPU you got, spending a fortune on RAM isn't gonna give you the boost you expect. Many of those games were around before DDR5 was even a thing, so DDR4 should work well for you.
True! Plus, if you're on AM4, that's perfectly fine. Focus on balance in your build.
Yeah, and upgrading your GPU would make a bigger difference for gaming than RAM.
If you’re on a budget, I’d stick with DDR4. That setup should handle the games you mentioned just fine, and it won't stretch your wallet too thin.
Right? It’s not like those games are demanding enough to need DDR5. Just use the savings for a better GPU!
Exactly! And if you're worried about RAM speed, DDR4 is still pretty capable.
I’d say stick with DDR4 unless you're building for the long term. RAM prices are just too insane right now.
For sure! And who knows how long this price surge will last?
Right? You could use that money better elsewhere, like on a newer GPU.
I get that, but can't he just consider an older CPU? I wonder how the performance stacks up against newer ones.