I want to improve my gaming experience in Escape from Tarkov without spending close to $1,000, since that would make building a new PC more appealing. The game is known for being poorly optimized and often limited more by the CPU than the GPU.
My current system is:
- Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B460M DS3H AC V2-Y1
- CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F at 2.90 GHz
- GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060
- Memory: OLOy 2x8GB DDR4-3000, currently running at 2666 MHz
I've been told that moving to 32GB of RAM and eventually using an X3D processor would provide the biggest improvement. Since an X3D upgrade would be much more expensive, I'd like to try upgrading the memory first and see how much smoother the game becomes.
Because my motherboard uses DDR4, I assume DDR5 memory is not compatible. Should I add another 2x8GB kit or replace my current memory with a 2x16GB kit? What speed and capacity would make the most sense for this system and help reduce stuttering in the game?
2 Answers
Your motherboard only supports DDR4, so DDR5 won’t work in it. Moving to 32GB is a sensible first step, especially for reducing stutters and improving consistency in Tarkov. A matched 2x16GB DDR4 kit would generally be preferable to adding another 2x8GB kit, since mixing kits can sometimes cause compatibility or stability issues. DDR4-3000 or DDR4-3200 memory is fine, though your B460 board may limit the actual speed depending on the CPU and BIOS settings.
The RAM upgrade may help, but it probably won’t eliminate the main performance limitation. Tarkov tends to benefit substantially from stronger CPU performance, so a later upgrade to a faster compatible processor could help more than a GPU upgrade. Check your motherboard’s CPU support list and BIOS version before buying a replacement.
Within your current platform, an i5-10600K or i7-10700K could provide higher clock speeds and better performance than the i5-10400F, assuming your motherboard and BIOS support the processor. The exact benefit depends on your cooler and the prices you can find. I’d still upgrade to 32GB first because 16GB is easy for the game and other background tasks to consume. The RTX 3060 should be left alone for now; the CPU and memory are more likely to be holding you back.
A 2x16GB kit is the safer choice, but adding another matching 2x8GB kit can work if you can find the same model and timings. Just enable the memory profile and test stability afterward.