Hey everyone! I'm wondering if it's time to upgrade my memory. I've got 16GB of RAM, but I've noticed that while gaming, my usage often spikes close to 100%, mostly hanging around 14GB. I don't have anything downloading or updating in the background. Currently, I have two 8GB RAM sticks. Do you think I should upgrade? If that's a yes, would it be better to get another pair of 8GB sticks or switch to two 16GB ones? Here are my specs for reference: GPU: Gigabyte RTX 3060ti, and my processor is an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11700KF.
2 Answers
It really comes down to how you use your computer. If you’re just gaming, 16GB might be okay, but if you're running things like browser tabs, Discord, and streaming, 16GB can get tight. For example, I use a lot of RAM just for my Chrome tabs and Discord, which takes a significant chunk.
With all that multitasking, it can become pretty sluggish. For light use, 16GB is fine, but if you're doing multiple things at once while gaming, I'd recommend upgrading to 32GB. Trust me, you’ll notice a difference!
It’s pretty normal for Windows to use a lot of RAM even if you don’t need all of it. It helps with loading textures and other game data faster than your hard drive can. But if you’re hitting around 85% RAM usage while gaming frequently, that’s a sign it might be time to upgrade.
A lot of gamers these days are going for 32GB. This is especially true if you’re also running Discord, music apps, or a bunch of browser tabs. Upgrading will help prevent your system from dumping textures and slowing your performance. So yeah, if you’re consistently maxing out your memory, an upgrade is definitely recommended!
Thanks for the insight! Do you think this RAM would be compatible with my motherboard? [Memory](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z87ZMN3?tag=pcpapi-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1)
I totally didn’t think about how much I have open on my second screen. Discord and a music tab eat up RAM, don’t they?