My PC has an RTX 3060 12GB, Ryzen 9 3900X, 3×8GB DDR4-2400 memory, and an Aorus X570 Elite motherboard. I'm considering replacing the RAM with a 2×16GB DDR4-3200 kit. In Battlefield 6, I'm getting very low FPS, and lowering the resolution or graphics settings barely changes the result. I'm running Windows 11 and usually have Discord and a few other background programs open. Could the unusual three-stick configuration and slow memory be causing a bottleneck, and would the 32GB 3200MHz upgrade noticeably improve or stabilize performance?
5 Answers
You may not need to replace the RAM solely for speed. Some DDR4 kits can be overclocked beyond their rated settings, but mixed or inexpensive modules may not reach 3200MHz reliably. Test changes one at a time and monitor CPU usage, GPU usage, RAM usage, temperatures, and frame times so you can identify the actual limitation instead of relying only on memory-latency benchmarks.
The RAM upgrade is reasonable, but don’t assume it will create a huge FPS increase. If lowering resolution does not improve frame rate, that usually points toward a CPU or other system bottleneck rather than the GPU. You could also try enabling XMP or manually testing the existing kit at a higher speed, but stability is not guaranteed with mixed modules.
Three sticks are an awkward configuration. You get some memory running in dual-channel and the remaining capacity operating differently, while 2400MHz is also quite slow for a Ryzen 3000 system. Battlefield is especially CPU-heavy, so the 3900X’s single-core performance may be a bigger limitation than the RTX 3060. A 2×16GB 3200MHz kit should improve memory performance and consistency, but it may not completely solve the low FPS.
A memory test showed latency around 92, while the 2×16GB 3200MHz setup I’m considering appears to be closer to the 60 range. I’m hoping that reduction will help make the frame rate more stable.
If you can afford both parts, 32GB of properly matched RAM and a Ryzen 7 5800X3D would be a much stronger upgrade for CPU-limited games on this platform. The 5800X3D is likely to provide a larger gaming improvement than RAM alone, while the 2×16GB kit would give you better capacity, compatibility, and memory speed. Check CPU support and update the motherboard BIOS first.
Before buying anything, try running only two matching 8GB sticks in the recommended dual-channel slots, usually the second and fourth slots from the CPU socket. That gives you a quick way to test whether the current three-stick arrangement is hurting performance. Battlefield, Discord, and typical monitoring tools generally fit within 16GB, although 32GB is a more comfortable long-term amount.
I tried moving the two matching sticks to separated slots, but the PC became unstable and I couldn’t get the memory to run with XMP at 3200MHz. The performance difference was very small when I tested it.
A 3×8GB setup does not necessarily put every gigabyte into single-channel mode; part of the memory can still operate in dual-channel. The main issues here are the low 2400MHz speed, the unusual configuration, and potentially the CPU-heavy workload.