How much RAM would I need for gaming?

[waltteri151]

Basically I want to choose between Corsair 2 x 4GB, DDR3 1333MHz and Crucial 12GB (3 x 4GB) DDR3 1333MHz. I'd like to know if I should get the 8Gb (2x4) for 51€ or 12Gb (3x4) for 86€. I'd rather pick the Corsair one but I'm not sure if 8Gb is enough ram in the future, obviously I could always add more but still. I'm basically going to get either FX-4130 or 8350, Gtx 550Ti and I'm not sure about the RAM yet.

 

[MatildaPersson]

8GB is the perfect spot to be.

1 x 8GB stick is better than 2 x 4GB sticks for overclocking stability. But 2 x 4GB is perfectly fine.

Only reason to ever go to 16GB or so is if you do video editing, sound engineering or graphic design. Or if you do a lot while gaming, like me -- recording, voice chats, uploading content, etc.

8GB is perfect for the average user.

 

[jessterman21]

There's no benefit having more than 8GB in games. If you've got the DIMM slots, you can always add more in the future.

Btw get DDR3-1600 at least.

 

[MatildaPersson]

There's no benefit having more than 8GB in games. If you've got the DIMM slots, you can always add more in the future.

Btw get DDR3-1600 at least.

RAM speed makes no difference in games. The tests are conclusive. Hell, the test they did on this very site shows that.

 

[MatildaPersson]

There's no benefit having more than 8GB in games. If you've got the DIMM slots, you can always add more in the future.

Btw get DDR3-1600 at least.

I also find it odd that you are telling someone to get "at least" 1600Mhz RAM when your CPU can only use up to 1333Mhz RAM.

 

[Brett928S2]

8gb ...2 x 4gb

 

[jessterman21]

I also find it odd that you are telling someone to get "at least" 1600Mhz RAM when your CPU can only use up to 1333Mhz RAM.

Memory speed makes very little difference in games, but there are a few percentage points to be gained by getting faster RAM. And you are misinformed: Vishera supports up to DDR3-1866 natively.

 

[MatildaPersson]

Memory speed makes very little difference in games, but there are a few percentage points to be gained by getting faster RAM. And you are misinformed: Vishera supports up to DDR3-1866 natively.

"Memory types: DDR3-1066/1333"

http://ark.intel.com/products/53422/

 

[jessterman21]

"Memory types: DDR3-1066/1333"

http://ark.intel.com/products/53422/

Right, but what does it matter what my CPU supports natively? DDR3-1600 is best bang-for-your-buck right now, but 1866 would be great, too. Noticeable improvements outside games with an AMD FX CPU.

 

[MatildaPersson]

Right, but what does it matter what my CPU supports natively? DDR3-1600 is best bang-for-your-buck right now, but 1866 would be great, too. Noticeable improvements outside games with an AMD FX CPU.

My point was that not only do you not know your own CPU, it's impossible for you to see any difference -- even if there was one -- with 1600 or 1866 RAM, because it would clock down to 1333Mhz on your CPU.

Basically, I was commenting on your inability to recommend something to others if you don't understand it.

 

[jessterman21]

My point was that not only do you not know your own CPU, it's impossible for you to see any difference -- even if there was one -- with 1600 or 1866 RAM, because it would clock down to 1333Mhz on your CPU.

Basically, I was commenting on your inability to recommend something to others if you don't understand it.

I never said I had first-hand experience, and I understand it just fine, though I am taking other review sites' word on the improvements. I am well aware of my CPU's natively supported memory speeds.

 

[MatildaPersson]

I never said I had first-hand experience, and I understand it just fine, though I am taking other review sites' word on the improvements. I am well aware of my CPU's natively supported memory speeds.

I am forced to wonder what speed of RAM you purchased -- or why you opted for a CPU that cannot support the RAM you claim to be of so much value.

 

[jessterman21]

I am forced to wonder what speed of RAM you purchased -- or why you opted for a CPU that cannot support the RAM you claim to be of so much value.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/configuration.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&pseudo=jessterman21

The CPU was $90 at Microcenter.

And my point to the OP is, DDR3-1600 is only a few euros more, and the same for DDR3-1866. If you're getting an FX processor, why not maximize the CPU's potential for very little extra?

I'm basing my recommendation on articles like these: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bulldozer-ddr3-overclocking,3209-13.html

It's true it doesn't make much of a difference in most applications, but the price difference is equally small.

 

[MatildaPersson]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/configuration.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&pseudo=jessterman21

The CPU was $90 at Microcenter. And my point to the OP is, DDR3-1600 is only a few euros more, and the same for DDR3-1866. Since waltteri151 is getting an FX processor, why not maximize the CPU's potential for very little extra?

I'm simply saying there is no reason to go out of your way to get anything faster than 1333Mhz, unless you run a server or love benchmarks.

If the option is there and it is, say, a dollar or two more, sure -- so long as the timings aren't high, because they play more of a role in things like compressing files and the such. But I wouldn't advice anyone to specifically look for anything beyond 1333Mhz. Find something from a good brand (Corsair) that you like the look of and fits within your budget. Anything over that is just nice fluff.

 

[noob2222]

8GB is the perfect spot to be.

1 x 8GB stick is better than 2 x 4GB sticks for overclocking stability. But 2 x 4GB is perfectly fine.

Only reason to ever go to 16GB or so is if you do video editing, sound engineering or graphic design. Or if you do a lot while gaming, like me -- recording, voice chats, uploading content, etc.

8GB is perfect for the average user.

WTF ... 1x 8gb stick?!!! there is this thing called dual channel memory ... might want to look that up.

 

[gamerk316]

^^ If you want to OC, one stick is more stable then two, especially at lower latencies.

From what I've seen, you get a small bump in performance moving from 4GB to 8GB, or from 1333MHz to 1600MHz. Anything more then that is a bit excessive though.

 

[grich96]

Most games have 4gb as recommended, but 4 gb will cost you about $30 and 8 gb is about $40. It is much more cost effective to go with 8 gb. make sure your MOBO can be upgraded to at least 16gb, preferably 32 gb. The prices of RAM have steadily gone down so if you get 8 gb now for $40, you can get 8 gb more a year or two from now for probably $20. Or you can look at it that the prices are the lowest now that they will ever be so you need to buy as much ram as you can.

 

[noob2222]

^^ If you want to OC, one stick is more stable then two, especially at lower latencies.

From what I've seen, you get a small bump in performance moving from 4GB to 8GB, or from 1333MHz to 1600MHz. Anything more then that is a bit excessive though.

so, ... if you want to overclock your memory, cut the bandwidth in half ... makes sense ... so ... 1x 8gb 2133 = 2x 4gb 1066. Might as well go with the 1066 so you can get it cl 7 instead of cl 10. Technially it should be the same bandwidth but lower latency.

point still stands, 1x 8gb = wtf.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/memory/display/20111122225550_Corsair_Breaks_Memory_Clock_Speed_World_Record_Using_AMD_FX_Chip.html

Memory bandwidth provided by single-channel memory at 3.468GHz is 27.74GB/s, whereas in dual-channel mode even 2.4GHz modules can achieve 38.4GB/s even without liquid nitrogen.

sure, it may be more stable, but whats the point if its 1/2 the speed of 2 sticks anyway. buy some 1600 mhz cl7s and youd need to overclock that one stick to 3200 mhz.

 

[bigirishman]

Basically I want to choose between Corsair 2 x 4GB, DDR3 1333MHz and Crucial 12GB (3 x 4GB) DDR3 1333MHz. I'd like to know if I should get the 8Gb (2x4) for 51€ or 12Gb (3x4) for 86€. I'd rather pick the Corsair one but I'm not sure if 8Gb is enough ram in the future, obviously I could always add more but still. I'm basically going to get either FX-4130 or 8350, Gtx 550Ti and I'm not sure about the RAM yet.

2 x 4gb if your just into gaming m8. 😉

 

[payturr]

Why 8GB... I mean, games from what I've seen only take up like, at most, 2GB, wouldn't 4GB be enough? Most of the game data is going into VRAM.

 

[payturr]

Not from what I've seen, at Newegg I could get a 1600 DDR3 4GB Crucial kit for 24$, the 8GB kit is around 50$!