Choose the right RAM for beginners starting their first project.
Choose the right RAM for beginners starting their first project.
I dislike that these memory kits were both 200$ less in February. It’s hard to choose between the 32gb with lower CAS latency and timing versus the 64gb with slightly higher latency and timing. Some friends suggested going up to 64gb is actually quite fine for a 32gb setup. They felt that once you pay a premium for these components, you don’t want to stress about performance issues—just want smooth multitasking, like opening tabs or startup programs without worrying they’ll slow down gaming or boot times. Right now my build uses an old Patriot 1600mhz or 2400mhz 32gb RAM and it’s not great. The kit is meant for a new build with an i9 10900k. Here are the links:
- https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-32gb-288-...6820232895
- https://www.newegg.com/g-skill-64gb-288-...6820232865
Please let me know if you think there’s a better option or a cheaper alternative elsewhere. Thanks everyone, and namaste.
It really comes down to your specific needs. 64 GB seems excessive for most situations right now, though 32 GB works well for many gamers. For gaming, lower CAS latency tends to matter more, but the extra cost usually isn't justified unless you're targeting high-end titles. I'd suggest around 16 GB with a 3600 CL 18 or 3200 CL 16 setup if you play certain games, or 32 GB for titles like Flight Simulator and if you plan to use the system long-term. Performance mainly hinges on having a reasonably fast SSD rather than focusing heavily on RAM speed.
The pace of technological change is accelerating rapidly. You might spend a significant amount now for 64 GB of storage that you never actually use, only to find it outdated by the time you need it again. By then, you could likely obtain the same capacity at a more affordable cost. Building your own hardware offers flexibility—such as adding more RAM or upgrading the GPU later. My current i5 3570K is over eight years old, my RX 480 is nearly five years old, and I still run on 16 GB DDR 3 1600. I can still handle most games with reduced settings, though the CPU often becomes a hassle for serious tasks. I’d have replaced it sooner, but the expense hasn’t reached a point where it makes sense.
I believe grasping RAM involves realizing that pushing toward the fastest speeds usually only boosts performance by a few frames per second. I’m not certain this holds true for every MHz or CAS setting, so I think most users won’t notice much change except in detailed comparisons between systems. However, a big jump from 3200Mhz to 3600Mhz might really matter. Actual gigabytes matter too. A quicker CPU lets you run more tasks at once and demands more RAM for storage or processing. Or it could mean running just one program that heavily uses memory, like editing home videos or using Fruity Loops, where more synths require more RAM. I’m comfortable with an FX8350 that has 16GB of RAM, so for a casual user it’s fine now. But if I aim higher, I’d prefer two sticks totaling 32GB or more to give extra space for future apps. With the 10900, you’re likely future-proofing your CPU. I’m planning for 32GB, which should leave room for additional slots and upcoming needs. I don’t think I need 64GB or more unless I use extremely demanding software. Ultimately, price and availability will decide what’s practical for regular users.
Both rams perform roughly the same. The 3600 14 cas offers a slight edge. For gamers, 32GB is sufficient. However, given their close price difference, I recommend 64GB. Assuming they’re both Samsung B-Dies, they’ll behave similarly when overclocked. You could boost the 64GB model to match or exceed the 32GB performance. For instance, a G.Skill Trident Z 3600 17-19-19-38 at 1.35v was pushed to 4000 17-19-19-39 at 1.39v.