Upgrading RAM from 32GB could be required for certain games.
Upgrading RAM from 32GB could be required for certain games.
I assembled my Ryzen 7800X-3D plus RX 7900-XTX system roughly 15 to 16 months ago. I’m considering replacing my RAM with a 48GB or 64GB package. Over time, I’ve encountered a few situations where I simply don’t have enough memory. It’s almost there, but in certain titles—especially when other programs are running—it really does reach full capacity at times. It’s uncommon, but it happens with multiple games now. I’ve observed this with at least four titles so far. Everything was smooth until I checked RAM consumption during specific games. I try to keep background processes down, yet things like Discord for chatting and a single Chrome tab for weapon searches still use a lot. In most games, pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del and opening Task Manager shows usage well above 16GB, including Windows and the game itself. This applies even to less demanding titles. Usage climbs significantly when playing with friends, Discord active, and Chrome open. At this stage, it usually reaches around 20-24GB, which isn’t even for a heavy RAM user. The worst consumers are certain strategy games plus Star Citizen. Star Citizen is particularly bad—it fills all 32GB while Discord and one tab remain. Recently, my performance has dropped further, with page files consuming up to 100GB! Another demanding title I love is Planetary Annihilation: Titans. Because the maps are vast and players manage entire planets, RAM usage spikes depending on the terrain. A small map can use just under 16GB, but larger ones with many worlds can completely exhaust my 32GB. Fortunately, a 48GB kit should suffice, as I’m only hitting limits occasionally. Star Citizen isn’t an issue, and I won’t buy a 128GB model just for that game. It’s probably worth it. My current G.Skill Trident-Z NEO setup is solid—6000MHz CAS-30—and I’d expect to sell it for at least $60, maybe $80, given its price point. Compared to the 32GB kit I had back then (around $130), the cost per GB hasn’t changed much. Still, newer 24GB sticks haven’t caught on yet, and removing RGB from the RAM wouldn’t hurt. There’s a 2x32GB 6000MHz CAS-32 set for $200, while a cheaper 48GB kit is $155. A 2x24GB Corsair Vengeance RGB 6000MHz is $150 but has a lower speed rating. What do you think? Could it be better to stick with the 32GB and live with occasional saturation? It’s not a huge investment, and RAM is affordable these days.
I would definitely opt for a 2x32GB Kit. Ryzen struggles to reach full RAM speed or proper timings with four sticks, which is puzzling but seems to be a known issue. I prefer the thought of a 48GB configuration as it appears to offer a balanced compromise. If finding a solid set at a fair price isn’t possible, I’d likely choose a 64GB kit since they don’t seem significantly better. I’m just comparing on NewEgg USA right now; I’ll probably check other sites and use PCPartPicker to explore available deals.
Do the games feel heavy? With 32GB RAM I’m fine, though background apps can affect it. Many titles and the operating system consume memory just because they’re present, leading some to believe more RAM is necessary. If your software runs smoothly at 32GB, you probably don’t need the full amount. As @Dedayog suggested, consider upgrading to a 64GB configuration if you want double the DIMM capacity.
Oh ya I forgot there is headroom, but SC does choke a bit and so does Planetary Annihilation on the largest maps. SC only chokes after a couple hours of play. It seems to saturate worse and worse over time. Luckily only those two show actual symptoms and its the classic Micro-Stutter as the game accesses the paging file for more Memory. You should be able to see the saturation in SC over time for yourself. Use the console command to run r_displayinfo 1 With this running, play the game for a while. Travel to several planets, and then I found the Paging file had hit a full 100GB of usage after playing for about 90 mins and then going to Grim Hex to spawn a large ship. You will see two RAM numbers - One is for physical RAM usage and the other is for the paging file. Prepare to be shocked lol. Ill try some small tweaks to alleviate RAM usage a little bit. Good news is I found some killer deals on PCPartPicker. G.Skill has Ripjaws S5 2 x 24GB kit in 6000MHz CAS 32 for $165. Silicon Power has 2 x 32GB Zenith Gaming in 6000MHz CAS-30 for $175 although I'm not sure about the trustworthiness of Silicon Power and Im not sure how they got 64GB of high-speed low-latency for so cheap... Not sure if I can trust it...
It's not always the CAS 36 that causes issues; it's more about the tRCD 44. These components are very particular about BIOS versions to ensure proper functionality, and AM5 boards are only recently receiving these updates. Performance on these sticks is also lacking. The 48GB options make sense for Intel because they offer higher clock speeds than their 64GB versions (my 13900K can handle 7200 with a 2x24GB kit while struggling above 6000 with a 2x32GB one), but on AM5 you want to stay in the lower end and hit a maximum of 6400. The slower clock speed from a 2x32GB setup no longer matters there, making it more practical given their current pricing. Since these kits are relatively affordable to produce, they typically use SK Hynix 16Gb A dies or M dies for the revision, which are very reliable and require minimal customization to reach 6000 CL30 speeds. Then simply double the memory chips in a RAM stick to achieve 32GB performance. Silicon Power relies on OEM-grade components sourced from other makers, assembling them into sticks that generally work with most systems. G.Skill and Corsair tend to cost more due to their larger brand presence and extensive binning processes, which adds to the price. Also, they manufacture their own PCBs, which can drive up costs slightly compared to more generic options.
Thanks for the notification. I think the Silicon Power kit sounds like a good choice. I'll check how the system performs after reducing RAM consumption. If I still want the upgrade later, I'll buy it then, keeping an eye on any discounts.