The upgrade boosts your system's performance significantly, especially for memory-intensive tasks.
The upgrade boosts your system's performance significantly, especially for memory-intensive tasks.
Considering a laptop upgrade, I’m planning to switch to gaming. My current setup includes an Asus ROG Strix G15 2021 with an R7 5800h RTX 3050TI, 16GB of 3200MHz DDR4 memory (two 8GB modules).
It varies based on your needs, but it boosts clock speeds, reduces crashes and freezes, and likely removes the need for virtual memory (using storage as RAM). You'll notice the improvement—like when I upgraded my laptop's RAM. For tasks demanding a lot of memory, go for 64GB.
It’s likely negligible for gaming purposes, the jump from 3200mhz to 3600mhz would be the biggest factor if any improvement exists. For boosting from 16gb to 32gb, the main advantage would be enhanced multitasking. If you’re navigating several browser tabs or using many apps simultaneously, the upgrade helps. Professionals also gain from more RAM for tasks like video editing or 3D rendering. For everyday use, 16gb usually suffices and 32gb makes sense with higher resolutions or multiple monitors. Given current prices, 32gb appears a solid option.
When you don’t utilize the available memory, performance drops significantly. Using all the memory improves responsiveness when launching and stopping programs, reduces game stutters—especially during loading—and enhances frame consistency or raises low frame rates. In memory-intensive games, this can also boost stability during extended play sessions such as strategy titles or MMOs.
The actual speed isn't the main concern, though having a higher speed is beneficial. What really counts is the storage capacity. You haven't mentioned what you require in terms of memory, so basic operations should perform almost identically. This is especially true with a reliable and quick SSD; even with more RAM, caching effects and reduced dependence on the page file won't significantly impact performance. You'll notice a difference when browsing a lot or running multiple tasks. For gaming, 16 gigabytes is sufficient, but many titles run smoothly with more than 16 GB. However, it's unlikely you'll be playing triple-A games with those specifications.
AMD Ryzen tends to be quite responsive to clock speeds. I thought it might boost performance, though I expected a more noticeable change. Right now I’m playing Valorant and OW, usually with Discord or Spotify playing in the background. I might need to edit videos for college someday, but that’s uncertain. Upgrading later could work if I require more RAM—possibly 32GB or even 64GB—but some users have reported issues with that configuration.
The CPU is officially rated for 3200, so 3600 doesn't matter much. Verify your laptop can handle 3600 before searching for alternatives, but it's unlikely. Still, performance improvements may occur based on your current RAM setup. I'm assuming 2x8GB with 1Rx16, which is subpar. A 1x16GB RAM would be even worse. 1Rx8 works fine, 2Rx8 is better. With 8GB modules it's been using 1Rx16 for a while now. Switching to 16GB modules lets you get 1Rx8 or 2Rx8 if you shop wisely. I found Kingston enabled me to pick 2R modules, which explains the performance boost I noticed after replacing the RAM. The difference was noticeable in speed and latency, especially during gameplay at 1080p. I'm not a strict benchmarker, so the results come from a few tests. More info in the discussion thread below.
I believe the limitation is mainly on the desktop side due to AMD's chiplet architecture, which results in lower memory bandwidth and higher latency between components. Their mobile models avoid this design, so they likely aren't affected much. However, if you manage to obtain it, it works well. I also recommend paying attention to @porina's suggestions. Performance remains stable on 16 GB, though video editing may vary depending on the project. A 32 GB configuration could help in some scenarios, but I'm unsure about 64 GB. Overall, 32 GB appears to be a reasonable choice regardless of your setup.
I didn't need to purchase anything and I saved some money. The device supports dual channels with 2x8GB, and I've updated the original post with more information. Performance shouldn't be affected much by adding RAM, so I might consider upgrading to a faster SSD.
Ensure the range increases from 16 to 32 for better results. Verify compatibility before proceeding. Consult about the kits you're thinking of if uncertain.