How much RAM is too much?
How much RAM is too much?
extra ram is a plus No problem with too much memory if your budget allows. If you're limited, the main reason for choosing lower capacity would be performance issues. With 128gb ddr5 it's quite capable, but for ddr4 you can still achieve good speeds around 3800-4200 depending on your setup. The imcs handle quad rank well and a good motherboard isn't a bottleneck. However, tuning matters—16gbit iCs aren't ideal for timing precision, especially with trfc. You might want to opt for a 64gb quad 4x16 module instead, which offers tighter timing and better performance. This decision depends on your tuning approach; otherwise, 128gb is usually the top choice for speed.
I don't think 32 GB will be the main issue until a fresh console line appears. By then you'll likely need a different setup. Even if it comes sooner, upgrading RAM is usually straightforward. It's better to have it than not, but it can also be a quick way to buy something you never really use. Once you need it, it's often replaced by newer models.
It's a chance, by the time Ryzen 9000 or whatever hits the market, I'd expect upgrading from the 7800X3D to something like DDR5 8000MT. I'm sure Starfield ran much smoother after moving from the 5950X to the 7800X3D, and I saw it slow down recently because I hadn't adjusted my fan settings. Prices for RAM are still pretty affordable right now, so anything could change. If I'm ready to swap out the CPU soon, having extra RAM makes sense—especially since costs have gone up. Having multiple PCs also helps; I often replace old parts and find new uses for them. It gets annoying when I end up buying more RAM just because my NAS only has 32GB, which really hurts performance when moving files around. I also faced a Firefox memory issue, and it was easier to double my RAM to avoid dealing with tabs than to track down what was causing the problem. Honestly, I'm not sure if I have ADD or something—I can focus intensely on one task or get overwhelmed by too many open windows and tabs. Plus, trying to launch UE5 Matrix Demo City suggested 64GB would be ideal, but with games using Nanite, some might need a lot more memory.
I believe the key considerations are the amount of RAM you anticipate needing and how challenging it will be to upgrade later. The situation gets more complex depending on what options are available. Here are some typical categories: 8GB suits basic or light usage, older less demanding titles. 16GB represents a solid modern gaming experience, while 32GB is ideal for high-end games or heavily modified titles—especially with DDR5 support. Why 32GB for DDR5? Most 8GB modules are 1Rx16, which can cause a noticeable slowdown, so 16GB is the entry-level choice. For top performance, consider 2R modules (starting around 24/32GB), as DDR5 tends to be less responsive to dual-channel setups. Currently, 16GB should work well for most games, though some are pushing limits—so exploring larger builds might help. I own a 64GB system (8x8GB) mainly because it fits my needs; I rarely exceed 48GB. In benchmark tests, I ran 4x16GB (2R modules) and found better performance with 2x16GB, so I’ve settled on 32GB.
He might want to try Firefox since his 1500 tabs are using up 30GB of space.
I've used Firefox all my life... My routines don't need many open windows... it gets a bit chaotic when I had 20 tabs running at once.