Questions about RAM and games

[topeira]

hi there, guys.

My rig is:
Windows 10, 64bit
8GB RAM (i think the speed is 1333mhz or something like that) devided by 2 sticks of 4GB each.
i7 4770 3.4ghz
GPU: soon i will buy a GTX 1060 6GB

Questions -
1) The bottom line question is - should i upgrade to more than 8GB?
i have been playing thus far with my current GPU (R9 280 3GB vram) just fine. i didnt notice slowdowns or anything problematic enough to even recall. is there a reason to get more than 8GB for gaming?

2) How will more RAM effect my gaming experience?
I never got that, really.
From the little i understand the game will use the Vram and only if it runs out of Vram than it uses RAM.... but if i have a 6GB vram than will the game ever need the RAM at all? if not , than i guess more ram will do absolutely nothing to me. am i right?

3) how about more ram for softwares like After effects , photoshop and heavy animations on Adobe Animate?

4) same question as "2" - how will more RAM effect such softwares?

5) As i said - i have 2 sticks of 4GB each. just in case i will get some recommendations to get more ram - should i get 1 more stick of 4GB and end up with 3 sticks, or will 3 sticks be problematic and i should use an even number of sticks (2 or 4)?

6) in case i will come to a conclution i want 16GB ram - how come a single stick of 16GB costs more than 2 sticks of 8GB? is one option better than the other?

Thanks in advance.

 

[pentium4inside]

None of the current (popular) games consume more than 8GBs of RAM (assuming you'll play at 1080p) even at the highest of settings with mods and stuff!

 

[mbilal2]

hi there, guys.

My rig is:
Windows 10, 64bit
8GB RAM (i think the speed is 1333mhz or something like that) devided by 2 sticks of 4GB each.
i7 4770 3.4ghz
GPU: soon i will buy a GTX 1060 6GB

Questions -
1) The bottom line question is - should i upgrade to more than 8GB?
i have been playing thus far with my current GPU (R9 280 3GB vram) just fine. i didnt notice slowdowns or anything problematic enough to even recall. is there a reason to get more than 8GB for gaming?

2) How will more RAM effect my gaming experience?
I never got that, really.
From the little i understand the game will use the Vram and only if it runs out of Vram than it uses RAM.... but if i have a 6GB vram than will the game ever need the RAM at all? if not , than i guess more ram will do absolutely nothing to me. am i right?

3) how about more ram for softwares like After effects , photoshop and heavy animations on Adobe Animate?

4) same question as "2" - how will more RAM effect such softwares?

5) As i said - i have 2 sticks of 4GB each. just in case i will get some recommendations to get more ram - should i get 1 more stick of 4GB and end up with 3 sticks, or will 3 sticks be problematic and i should use an even number of sticks (2 or 4)?

6) in case i will come to a conclution i want 16GB ram - how come a single stick of 16GB costs more than 2 sticks of 8GB? is one option better than the other?

Thanks in advance.

A) What mobo are you using? (I am assuming it supports a maximum of 64 Gb RAM)
B) Is your operating system 32-bit or 64-bit? (I am assuming it's 64-bit)
C) Do you currently have DDR3 RAM or DDR4? (I am assuming DDR3 since 1333Mhz is not supported by DDR4.)

I will answer your questions to the best of my knowledge with the information you have provided.

1. With a GTX1060, it's not necessary. However the speed of your RAM (1333Mhz) is quite slow as most computers today run the next generation DDR4 2133, with high-end gaming PC's running at 3200.
Most games have a minimum requirement of 4 Gb with high end games requiring 8 Gb of minimum RAM. There are little to no games that have a minimum requirement more than that. You will see increased browsing speed and a significant speed increase while multi-tasking with 16 Gb of RAM..

2. Here's the thing about RAM. It holds temporary data for the processor to process. Computer processors run at insanely fast speeds when compared to the hard drive (which has your game in it). The speed difference needs to be filled so that the processor will have quick access to the files that you are currently using (your game), hence they are stored in the RAM, which run at speeds faster than the HDD. [Not the whole game. Just the files you are/were using currently/recently.]
From the graphics point of view you are right. More ram won't do you much good if you have a 6GB+ graphics card. But there are still other files that a game needs to run and those are stored on the RAM modules of your computer.

3. I use such softwares occasionally a honestly my RAM tops out at about 7 GB. But if you are a graphics designer like me, you are constantly running Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, etc al together at once. Premiere in my opinion uses the most RAM (I reached 12 once with premiere alone), followed by After Effects(~8 Gb). I am not experienced with Adobe Animate and never tested it.

However keep in mind that once you are using ~7.5 Gb of the 8 Gb RAM you have, you will experience extreme lags, occasional freezing of the system, etc since the extra data will start going to the HDD which like I mentioned runs super slow.

4. More RAM means you have access to files faster. If you intend on using softwares like Adobe AfterEffects and Premiere, I highly recommend you get a total of 16 Gb RAM. You can work within the software much faster without the lags that you will experience with 8Gb of RAM.

5. It is always recommended you add more RAM in pairs. You can still use 3 RAM modules (I have used them in the past and it works fine) but it is not recommended. (Dual channel issues I am not aware of). So yes you will add two more sticks of 4 Gb each.
WARNING: It is highly recommended you do NOT mix RAM modules of different kind. Try to find the same RAM that you currently have or the closest one you can find.

6. Making a single stick of 16 Gb is much more complex than making a stick of 8 Gb. An oil painting of the Mona Lisa will be more expensive than a photograph of the Mona Lisa. Fortunately for us the difference between 1x16 vs 2x8 RAM modules isn't that big. (~30-50 for DDR4)

If money is no issue (I'm sure it is), the best upgrade to your system will be change your RAM to DDR4, get a z270/B350 mobo and a Kaby Lake/Ryzen processor . This will cost you about 400-500$. I would leave it for the future. So for now, plug in your GTX 1060 and enjoy your games. Make the above mentioned upgrades in the future. 2x4Gb modules will cost you about 50$ for DDR3-1333. Make that upgrade if you have some spare cash. Otherwise save up for the big upgrade.

Hope this helped! Cheers

 

[topeira]

hi there, guys.

My rig is:
Windows 10, 64bit
8GB RAM (i think the speed is 1333mhz or something like that) devided by 2 sticks of 4GB each.
i7 4770 3.4ghz
GPU: soon i will buy a GTX 1060 6GB

Questions -
1) The bottom line question is - should i upgrade to more than 8GB?
i have been playing thus far with my current GPU (R9 280 3GB vram) just fine. i didnt notice slowdowns or anything problematic enough to even recall. is there a reason to get more than 8GB for gaming?

2) How will more RAM effect my gaming experience?
I never got that, really.
From the little i understand the game will use the Vram and only if it runs out of Vram than it uses RAM.... but if i have a 6GB vram than will the game ever need the RAM at all? if not , than i guess more ram will do absolutely nothing to me. am i right?

3) how about more ram for softwares like After effects , photoshop and heavy animations on Adobe Animate?

4) same question as "2" - how will more RAM effect such softwares?

5) As i said - i have 2 sticks of 4GB each. just in case i will get some recommendations to get more ram - should i get 1 more stick of 4GB and end up with 3 sticks, or will 3 sticks be problematic and i should use an even number of sticks (2 or 4)?

6) in case i will come to a conclution i want 16GB ram - how come a single stick of 16GB costs more than 2 sticks of 8GB? is one option better than the other?

Thanks in advance.

A) What mobo are you using? (I am assuming it supports a maximum of 64 Gb RAM)
B) Is your operating system 32-bit or 64-bit? (I am assuming it's 64-bit)
C) Do you currently have DDR3 RAM or DDR4? (I am assuming DDR3 since 1333Mhz is not supported by DDR4.)

I will answer your questions to the best of my knowledge with the information you have provided.

1. With a GTX1060, it's not necessary. However the speed of your RAM (1333Mhz) is quite slow as most computers today run the next generation DDR4 2133, with high-end gaming PC's running at 3200.
Most games have a minimum requirement of 4 Gb with high end games requiring 8 Gb of minimum RAM. There are little to no games that have a minimum requirement more than that. You will see increased browsing speed and a significant speed increase while multi-tasking with 16 Gb of RAM..

2. Here's the thing about RAM. It holds temporary data for the processor to process. Computer processors run at insanely fast speeds when compared to the hard drive (which has your game in it). The speed difference needs to be filled so that the processor will have quick access to the files that you are currently using (your game), hence they are stored in the RAM, which run at speeds faster than the HDD. [Not the whole game. Just the files you are/were using currently/recently.]
From the graphics point of view you are right. More ram won't do you much good if you have a 6GB+ graphics card. But there are still other files that a game needs to run and those are stored on the RAM modules of your computer.

3. I use such softwares occasionally a honestly my RAM tops out at about 7 GB. But if you are a graphics designer like me, you are constantly running Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, etc al together at once. Premiere in my opinion uses the most RAM (I reached 12 once with premiere alone), followed by After Effects(~8 Gb). I am not experienced with Adobe Animate and never tested it.

However keep in mind that once you are using ~7.5 Gb of the 8 Gb RAM you have, you will experience extreme lags, occasional freezing of the system, etc since the extra data will start going to the HDD which like I mentioned runs super slow.

4. More RAM means you have access to files faster. If you intend on using softwares like Adobe AfterEffects and Premiere, I highly recommend you get a total of 16 Gb RAM. You can work within the software much faster without the lags that you will experience with 8Gb of RAM.

5. It is always recommended you add more RAM in pairs. You can still use 3 RAM modules (I have used them in the past and it works fine) but it is not recommended. (Dual channel issues I am not aware of). So yes you will add two more sticks of 4 Gb each.
WARNING: It is highly recommended you do NOT mix RAM modules of different kind. Try to find the same RAM that you currently have or the closest one you can find.

6. Making a single stick of 16 Gb is much more complex than making a stick of 8 Gb. An oil painting of the Mona Lisa will be more expensive than a photograph of the Mona Lisa. Fortunately for us the difference between 1x16 vs 2x8 RAM modules isn't that big. (~30-50 for DDR4)

If money is no issue (I'm sure it is), the best upgrade to your system will be change your RAM to DDR4, get a z270/B350 mobo and a Kaby Lake/Ryzen processor . This will cost you about 400-500$. I would leave it for the future. So for now, plug in your GTX 1060 and enjoy your games. Make the above mentioned upgrades in the future. 2x4Gb modules will cost you about 50$ for DDR3-1333. Make that upgrade if you have some spare cash. Otherwise save up for the big upgrade.

Hope this helped! Cheers

thanks a lot for the detailed answer.

i did specify im using win10 64bit. i dont know how much ram it takes, sadly :\

During work or gaming i dont encounter too many stutterings or freezing, so i guess im gonna hold off buying more ram. it seems like a waste of money right now.

i just wish i knew what kind of ram sticks i can get but i dont know my mobo. its too hard to read the physical writing on the mobo because of all the cables and components and by running "msinfo32" and looking into "BaseBoard" it doesnt specify...

maybe by knowing what OTHER hardware i have you can "assume" my mobo's RAM capabilities?

also, if i buy RAM sticks in the future and they are of types that are not supported by my mobo - what will be the harm? will the RAM not work at all or cause BSODs and such or will the speed just be capped at my mobo's limitations?

 

[mbilal2]

thanks a lot for the detailed answer.

i did specify im using win10 64bit. i dont know how much ram it takes, sadly :\

During work or gaming i dont encounter too many stutterings or freezing, so i guess im gonna hold off buying more ram. it seems like a waste of money right now.

i just wish i knew what kind of ram sticks i can get but i dont know my mobo. its too hard to read the physical writing on the mobo because of all the cables and components and by running "msinfo32" and looking into "BaseBoard" it doesnt specify...

maybe by knowing what OTHER hardware i have you can "assume" my mobo's RAM capabilities?

also, if i buy RAM sticks in the future and they are of types that are not supported by my mobo - what will be the harm? will the RAM not work at all or cause BSODs and such or will the speed just be capped at my mobo's limitations?

Sorry skipped over the Windows 10, 64bit. My previous answer is still valid.
You should get a software called CPU-Z and it will give you the details of all your hardware. You can download it from HERE.
Run the software and go the mainboard tab. It will give you the model number. You can also see the RAM model and speeds in the SPD section. You can't buy a DDR4 right now (or in the future) since they won't fit in your mobo. You have to buy a DDR3-1333 Mhz RAM. The software will tell you exactly which RAM to buy and have the part number in there as well.

When and if you buy a new z270 mobo, in the specification section it will say DDR4 3200- 2166, XXXX, 3000,3200. It means you can buy RAM having any of those frequencies, 3200 bring the max. If for some reason you get the wrong DDR4, your computer might not boot, giving off beeps or you will get the BSOD.

Up vote and choose as the best solution if my answers were helpful.

 

[topeira]

thanks a lot for the detailed answer.

i did specify im using win10 64bit. i dont know how much ram it takes, sadly :\

During work or gaming i dont encounter too many stutterings or freezing, so i guess im gonna hold off buying more ram. it seems like a waste of money right now.

i just wish i knew what kind of ram sticks i can get but i dont know my mobo. its too hard to read the physical writing on the mobo because of all the cables and components and by running "msinfo32" and looking into "BaseBoard" it doesnt specify...

maybe by knowing what OTHER hardware i have you can "assume" my mobo's RAM capabilities?

also, if i buy RAM sticks in the future and they are of types that are not supported by my mobo - what will be the harm? will the RAM not work at all or cause BSODs and such or will the speed just be capped at my mobo's limitations?

Sorry skipped over the Windows 10, 64bit. My previous answer is still valid.
You should get a software called CPU-Z and it will give you the details of all your hardware. You can download it from HERE.
Run the software and go the mainboard tab. It will give you the model number. You can also see the RAM model and speeds in the SPD section. You can't buy a DDR4 right now (or in the future) since they won't fit in your mobo. You have to buy a DDR3-1333 Mhz RAM. The software will tell you exactly which RAM to buy and have the part number in there as well.

When and if you buy a new z270 mobo, in the specification section it will say DDR4 3200- 2166, XXXX, 3000,3200. It means you can buy RAM having any of those frequencies, 3200 bring the max. If for some reason you get the wrong DDR4, your computer might not boot, giving off beeps or you will get the BSOD.

Up vote and choose as the best solution if my answers were helpful.

thanks again, mate.

i already have CPU-z. didnt know it can help.

my mobo is a Gigabyte mobo , model B85M-D3H.
What is the fastest memory i can run on this mobo?

in the memory tab i see its a DDR3 8GB dual and the max bandwidth is PC3-12800 (800mhz). does that mean i have 1600mhz?
i dont know if that is considered really slow or not, but what kind of effect does a slow RAM have on softwares or games? slower loading times?
does it effect stuttering in games or something?

because i have to admit that with my current R9 280 3GB i am running games just fine. no real issues.
At least no issues i thought have anything to do with limited RAM or slow RAM.

 

[mbilal2]

Hi again,

Your mobo supports a maximum of 32 Gb RAM. According to the manufacturers website, the mobo supports DDR3 1600/1333 MHz memory modules, 1600 being the max and 1333 being the slowest.
800mhz is your I/O bus clock meaning your data rate is 1600 and PC-12800 is the module name. So you are running at the maximum speed supported by your mobo.

For your system, it is considered as the fastest it could run. Once you get the GTX 1060, you'll have to make the following decisions.

1. In case everything works smooth, keep the same system for a year (approx.) and then upgrade to the Kaby Lake/Ryzen universe moving the GPU into the new system.

2. If you experience lags, minor stutters when using/switching programs but games run smooth(ish), add more DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 RAM.

3. If you are experiencing horrible fps in games, constant lags, etc, you need to upgrade to a new system.

My best guess is you will face the first scenario but that is just me.

 

[topeira]

Hi again,

Your mobo supports a maximum of 32 Gb RAM. According to the manufacturers website, the mobo supports DDR3 1600/1333 MHz memory modules, 1600 being the max and 1333 being the slowest.
800mhz is your I/O bus clock meaning your data rate is 1600 and PC-12800 is the module name. So you are running at the maximum speed supported by your mobo.

For your system, it is considered as the fastest it could run. Once you get the GTX 1060, you'll have to make the following decisions.

1. In case everything works smooth, keep the same system for a year (approx.) and then upgrade to the Kaby Lake/Ryzen universe moving the GPU into the new system.

2. If you experience lags, minor stutters when using/switching programs but games run smooth(ish), add more DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 RAM.

3. If you are experiencing horrible fps in games, constant lags, etc, you need to upgrade to a new system.

My best guess is you will face the first scenario but that is just me.

frankly, i've been running the same system for nearly 4 years and i would change a thing about it if my current GPU didnt start to show signs of malfunction. games run pretty darn well on pretty high settings on 1080p and i experience nearly no stutters during work. only large PSD files are sluggish when using certain brushes.
do you think it has to do with the RAM?!

in any case, since this is my experience with my hardware i doubt i will do a massive upgrade if nothing gets worse than it is now.

i would appreciate an answer to my small question about photoshop slugginess, but regardless - your answers have been detailed, to the point and very helpful. thanks, buddy!

 

[mbilal2]

Lag experienced when working with PSD files, is 70% RAMS fault and 30% CPU's fault. But once you get the GTX 1060, you can open Photoshop, go to edit>preferences>performance and check "use graphics processor". This should improve Photoshop's performance significantly.

http://imgur.com/a/HghTa

 

[topeira]

Thanks again.
i found this option in photoshop. i wonder if it will make a difference.

this topis is solved and done.
thanks to anyone who wrote.

 

[mbilal2]

Thanks again.
i found this option in photoshop. i wonder if it will make a difference.

this topis is solved and done.
thanks to anyone who wrote.

Glad to help. Good luck!