Suggested RAM for Fallout 4 includes models that enhance performance and compatibility.
Suggested RAM for Fallout 4 includes models that enhance performance and compatibility.
This game runs smoothly at around 34fps, which is faster than most previous standards and capable on DDR3 systems. The performance remains solid even at higher frame rates like 1866 or 2133. Capacity isn't the main concern here—it's still better than raw speed.
Capacity is useful only when the game takes advantage of it. Take my previous example into account. Game A requires roughly 8GB of RAM, but you only have 4GB. Adding another 4GB won’t improve performance because the CPU still has to search or read from storage. Same game with double the memory—no gain since utilization stays low. Now focus on speed (bandwidth) and latency. Higher bandwidth can raise CAS Latency, but RAM access becomes quicker overall due to more cycles. TL;DR: Increase RAM until it’s fully used, then faster RAM makes a real difference. There’s no point in overclocking the chipset without getting faster RAM near the optimal speeds of 1866/2133MHz (DDR3) or 2800/3000MHz (DDR4).
Based on typical F4 configurations, selling your RAM and upgrading to 2x8 GB at 2133 MHz would likely cost around $50 to $100 depending on your location.
You're considering a similar upgrade but with different specs. Your current RAM is 16GB DDR3, and you're looking into a new purchase of the same capacity. Since your motherboard doesn't support DDR4, you'll stick with DDR3. The new option you mentioned is a 16GB DDR3 2133MHz module priced at $149 USD. Decide based on your needs and budget.
Fallout 4 gained a lot from quicker RAM back in 2015. Using a GTX 970 and Xeon E3-1231v3 improved my frame rates from dips in the high 40s to consistently above 60 fps simply by switching from 8GB DDR3-1600 to 16GB DDR3-2400. I didn't use the full 8GB often, but the change made a big difference. Most of the time I played at 1080p, except for high HBAO+, medium grayscale, and one draw distance setting that was set high or medium. For the main game, on the Far Harbor DLC I frequently saw frame rates in the 40s in foggy areas. This was mainly due to GPU limitations since my card was heavily used. I'm not sure if this applies now, but it was definitely true back then. Don't worry about CAS latency getting worse with higher clock speeds. It's measured in cycles per second, and actual time delay depends on how long those cycles last. CAS latency tells you the number of cycles per second, while real-world delay is the time it takes. So a lower latency means better performance. DDR3-2400 offers faster data transfer at 1200MHz compared to DDR3-1600's 800MHz, which helps with responsiveness.
I advise that most titles won’t benefit much from quick RAM when aiming for 60 fps. The ones I’m familiar with that do are Fallout 4, GTA V, and The Witcher 3. I’m certain there are more, but games that gain from faster RAM tend to be those that push the CPU harder. Not every game needing a powerful CPU sees gains from quicker RAM. For example, Crysis 3 puts intense strain on your CPU but fast RAM barely changes the overall performance. The real improvement you’ll see usually comes from reducing frame rate fluctuations unless you’re using a budget processor like an i3 or Pentium G4560; in that scenario it can significantly boost your average frame rate.