Question RAM Upgrade?

Connor99z

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Jun 1, 2015
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So I've been getting into Escape From Tarkov a lot recently, but it requires ALOT of Ram, Im talking my PC is so slow when I try and do other stuff with the game open, chrome takes forever to load, or crashes.
I currently have 16GB but it is limited to 2133Mhz due to my Motherboard limiting and XMP isn't an option in my BIOS so I cant enable that to get the full potential of the RAM. What I'm asking is,

  1. can I upgrade to 32 or 64 and keep my same motherboard, yes it will still be limited but would it speed up processes on my computer? Playing the game my RAM goes up to 15% out of a total of 16% sometimes a bit more, so its hitting max, which is then why chrome takes it over the edge, or anything else for that matter.
  2. Can I make a big upgrade do my RAM? get a higher speed to future proof for when I want to upgrade my Motherboard and CPU? or am I limited to what I can actually upgrade to with my current specs?
Link below is a screenshot of my specs.
Suggestions to what RAM I should go for, and if I'm limited, what RAM am I limited to. Thank you.

Specs: https://prnt.sc/ghHgOylyNyeo
Task Manager during gaming... : https://prnt.sc/IL1I-v715_T5
Resource Monitor Memory: https://prnt.sc/aST4JxfoWYQ_
 
Here is the ram support qvl list for your motherboard:
https://download.gigabyte.com/FileL...per-b7.pdf?v=5849546ee57231d078d85530b8aa8951

Upgrading by adding ram is always a risk. Ram must be matched to insure proper running at advertised specs.
My suggestion would be to buy a 2 x 16gb kit that has the same specs as your current ram.
You will have a guaranteed 32gb. Then, try adding in your old ram, balancing capacity across channels.
Tun memtest to verify proper working.
If it works, you have 48gb, if not sell the old ram or keep it as a backup.

Do not worry too much about tam speeds(unless you are using integrated graphics)
Intel performance is not very sensitive to ram speeds.

To see if you are truly short of ram, activate task manager resource monitor.
Select the memory tab.
The column of interest is the hard faults /sec.
Hard faults are bad and causes stuttering.
50x worse if your page file is not a ssd.
Any number more than zero suggests that you can benefit from more ram.
 
Here is the ram support qvl list for your motherboard:
https://download.gigabyte.com/FileL...per-b7.pdf?v=5849546ee57231d078d85530b8aa8951

Upgrading by adding ram is always a risk. Ram must be matched to insure proper running at advertised specs.
My suggestion would be to buy a 2 x 16gb kit that has the same specs as your current ram.
You will have a guaranteed 32gb. Then, try adding in your old ram, balancing capacity across channels.
Tun memtest to verify proper working.
If it works, you have 48gb, if not sell the old ram or keep it as a backup.

Do not worry too much about tam speeds(unless you are using integrated graphics)
Intel performance is not very sensitive to ram speeds.

To see if you are truly short of ram, activate task manager resource monitor.
Select the memory tab.
The column of interest is the hard faults /sec.
Hard faults are bad and causes stuttering.
50x worse if your page file is not a ssd.
Any number more than zero suggests that you can benefit from more ram.
I ment i would remove my current 16, and replace with a new 2 x 16 making it 32. but what RAM would be suggested to do this with? that link of compatible RAM for my motherboard, i cant see on there 32? it just says alot of 8GB what does this mean? can i still put in 2 x 16 sticks into my motherboard?

If i was upgrading my Motherboard in the future would it be simpler to just buy a whole new motherboard + RAM and replace them both at same time?

Here is a screenshot of my Resource Monitor: https://prnt.sc/vbK5vrdzfxRr
 
Your hard fault rate is high. Apps are stealing ram from each other.
To continue as you are, you would need more ram. 32gb should do it.
In the mean time, look at what has been loaded at startup.
See if that can be reduced.
If you have chrome active, or other apps like discord shut it down
If you have a favored ram vendor like corsair, g.skil, go to their support site and access their ram configurator.
Enter your motherboard and you will get a list of supported kits.
 
Your hard fault rate is high. Apps are stealing ram from each other.
To continue as you are, you would need more ram. 32gb should do it.
In the mean time, look at what has been loaded at startup.
See if that can be reduced.
If you have chrome active, or other apps like discord shut it down
If you have a favored ram vendor like corsair, g.skil, go to their support site and access their ram configurator.
Enter your motherboard and you will get a list of supported kits.
I can’t find my chipset or anything or my motherboard model on g.skill or Corsair, my system is too outdated.. hahaha.
I’m planning on upgrading my motherboard at some point so that I can upgrade my CPU, so the motherboard upgrade will be soon. So would limiting my self to slower RAM speed because of my current Motherboard be a waste of time, or do I just upgrade the Motherboard AND the RAM together?
 
I ment i would remove my current 16, and replace with a new 2 x 16 making it 32. but what RAM would be suggested to do this with? that link of compatible RAM for my motherboard, i cant see on there 32? it just says alot of 8GB what does this mean? can i still put in 2 x 16 sticks into my motherboard?

If i was upgrading my Motherboard in the future would it be simpler to just buy a whole new motherboard + RAM and replace them both at same time?

Here is a screenshot of my Resource Monitor: https://prnt.sc/vbK5vrdzfxRr
It's your call if you want to upgrade the mobo you have or go with a new mobo.

Go here and run the scanner see what it shows.
Crucial
 
It might be hard to find 2133 memory, but pretty much every XMP kit will have 2133 as a JEDEC speed so even though it may seem counter intuitive buying a 3200/3600 XMP kit is probably the best way to go.

With regards to buying a new system it really depends on what you're looking at and how much you're willing to spend. $55-60 in the US gets you 2x16GB 3200/3600 XMP and this would be reusable in any other DDR4 system. If you were looking at moving to a DDR5 platform then buying more DRAM currently would just be money out of pocket.
 
It might be hard to find 2133 memory, but pretty much every XMP kit will have 2133 as a JEDEC speed so even though it may seem counter intuitive buying a 3200/3600 XMP kit is probably the best way to go.

With regards to buying a new system it really depends on what you're looking at and how much you're willing to spend. $55-60 in the US gets you 2x16GB 3200/3600 XMP and this would be reusable in any other DDR4 system. If you were looking at moving to a DDR5 platform then buying more DRAM currently would just be money out of pocket.
OK so can i currently buy new 3200/3600 RAM for my system which will limit it to 2133, that is 32GB rather than my existing 16GB, without having to upgrade my motherboard? even though i will be upgrading my Motherboard at some point, id want to then use the new 32GB of ram Im going to buy on the new motherboard?

Isn’t 5600/6000 mhz RAM cheap atm and not worth upgrading to?

By the looks of it i can only get

Crucial 32GB Kit (2x16GB) DDR4-2400 UDIMM?​

 
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It's your call if you want to upgrade the mobo you have or go with a new mobo.

Go here and run the scanner see what it shows.
Crucial
Not sure what its doing, but running the exe file it takes me to my browser with a tab saying "While we're finding compatible upgrades for your system...." and is stuck on this, doesnt get any further lol.
 
Your chipset is, I think H150. It is a very basic chipset.
You can verify this by running cpu-Z and looking at the mainboard specs.

3200 or 3600 ram is really better quality 2133 ram that can be overclocked to those higher speeds.
That may not be possible on a H150 based motherboard.
Such ram will have a default 2133 speed which will boot to bios.
In the bios, you can specify a supported higher speed.
This is most easily done by picking one of the xmp profiles.

The crucial you listed should be fine. Both now and for an upgrade.
To reuse it in the future, pick a motherboard with DDR4 support.

Today, there is little difference in performance between DDR4 and DDR5.
The5600/6000 speeds you see for DDR5 are offset by the required higher latencies.
 
Your chipset is, I think H150. It is a very basic chipset.
You can verify this by running cpu-Z and looking at the mainboard specs.

3200 or 3600 ram is really better quality 2133 ram that can be overclocked to those higher speeds.
That may not be possible on a H150 based motherboard.
Such ram will have a default 2133 speed which will boot to bios.
In the bios, you can specify a supported higher speed.
This is most easily done by picking one of the xmp profiles.

The crucial you listed should be fine. Both now and for an upgrade.
To reuse it in the future, pick a motherboard with DDR4 support.

Today, there is little difference in performance between DDR4 and DDR5.
The5600/6000 speeds you see for DDR5 are offset by the required higher latencies.
So if I got 2 x 16 3200 RAM DDR4 and put it into my motherboard now it would obviously limit it down to 2133 as XMP isn’t supported on my motherboard to enable the full speed, but it would still give me the extra 32GB of speed rather than my now 16GB meaning it would run games that are higher demanding RAM speeds better? Then when I upgrade my Motherboard I’d be able to put the 3200 RAM I’ll be buying for my motherboard now limiting down to 2133 into my new motherboard and enable XMP to get the full speeds? Then after that if I want more I’d have the opportunity to upgrade the ram to even better speeds as the new motherboard I’ll be buying will enable that?

Is the DDR4 3200Mhz RAM going to work on my existing Motherboard now?
https://uk.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/ct2k16g4dfra32a#rohs
 
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Do not confuse ram speed and ram capacity(amount)
Your game and apps need more ram(GB) to eliminate hard page faults.
Faster ram would be a negligible bonus later on down the line.

Later, if you want more than 32gb plan on replacing the ram(not adding to it)
Ram must be matched for proper operation.
 
Do not confuse ram speed and ram capacity(amount)
Your game and apps need more ram(GB) to eliminate hard page faults.
Faster ram would be a negligible bonus later on down the line.

Later, if you want more than 32gb plan on replacing the ram(not adding to it)
Ram must be matched for proper operation.
When I typed in my motherboard on Crucial it come up with the

https://uk.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/ct2k16g4dfd824a/ct8336313

But when I click it I can then change it to 3200.. but would that then not be compatible? Can I only get 2400 32GB of ram with my motherboard.. the 3200 would be better if I could get that so i can then get the full 3200 when I plan on upgrading my motherboard, rather than having to get 2400 then upgrade again instantly when I get a new motherboard

Would this one not work?:
https://uk.crucial.com/memory/ddr4/ct2k16g4dfra32a

Edit;

It says the 3200 32GB ram isn’t compatible with my motherboard, can I just not go any over 2400 then?
 
Crucial is suggesting what speed your current motherboard can support.
If you buy a similar kit, but 3200 speed, it will boot at 2400 speed and run there on your current motherboard.
Later, when you have a new DDR4 motherboard and processor that supports a higher speed, it will boot at 2400, but the new motherboard will let you select 3200 speed.
 
Crucial is suggesting what speed your current motherboard can support.
If you buy a similar kit, but 3200 speed, it will boot at 2400 speed and run there on your current motherboard.
Later, when you have a new DDR4 motherboard and processor that supports a higher speed, it will boot at 2400, but the new motherboard will let you select 3200 speed.
So I’m safe to buy the 2 x 16GB 3200Mhz I can buy and replace the existing 2 x 8 in my motherboard now? Unless there is other better RAM around?

So can I not get this instead? It’s cheaper.
Corsair Vengeance LPX Black DDR4-RAM 3600 MHz 2x 16 GB - schwarz - CMK32GX4M2D3600C18 https://amzn.eu/d/80VErlQ
 
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OK so can i currently buy new 3200/3600 RAM for my system which will limit it to 2133, that is 32GB rather than my existing 16GB, without having to upgrade my motherboard?
Yes you can do this just fine, but only with a kit that is XMP (all 3600 kits will be XMP) as non-XMP may not have the lower speeds coded and could potentially be a problem.
even though i will be upgrading my Motherboard at some point, id want to then use the new 32GB of ram Im going to buy on the new motherboard?
This is where the problem comes in as the latest platform from AMD is only DDR5 which isn't compatible with DDR4. On the Intel side you can get DDR4 boards still, but going with DDR4 can limit your performance. You need to have an idea of what you're looking to move to before you should make any purchase, or just accept that a purchase you make now may not be usable in the future.
Isn’t 5600/6000 mhz RAM cheap atm and not worth upgrading to?
This is DDR5 and is incompatible with your existing system.
By the looks of it i can only get

Crucial 32GB Kit (2x16GB) DDR4-2400 UDIMM?​

I am not completely sure this would work due to your CPU only running up to 2133 and the very limited BIOS options, but it is technically compatible with your motherboard.
So can I not get this instead? It’s cheaper.
Corsair Vengeance LPX Black DDR4-RAM 3600 MHz 2x 16 GB - schwarz - CMK32GX4M2D3600C18 https://amzn.eu/d/80VErlQ
Yes you could just buy that and run it at 2133 which it should default to.
 
Yes you can do this just fine, but only with a kit that is XMP (all 3600 kits will be XMP) as non-XMP may not have the lower speeds coded and could potentially be a problem.

This is where the problem comes in as the latest platform from AMD is only DDR5 which isn't compatible with DDR4. On the Intel side you can get DDR4 boards still, but going with DDR4 can limit your performance. You need to have an idea of what you're looking to move to before you should make any purchase, or just accept that a purchase you make now may not be usable in the future.

This is DDR5 and is incompatible with your existing system.

I am not completely sure this would work due to your CPU only running up to 2133 and the very limited BIOS options, but it is technically compatible with your motherboard.

Yes you could just buy that and run it at 2133 which it should default to.
I mean in the future I’m wanting to upgrade to an i7 CPU, and will need to be upgrading my Motherboard to a better motherboard to take future upgrades, probably around the £200 mark for the Motherboard and £400+ mark for a new CPU. Just the only game I’m playing right now is very RAM heavy, and takes nearly my entire 16GB of Ram, but without upgrading everything else I’d like to just up my RAM on my existing system.

https://amzn.eu/d/80VErlQ

Moving towards this.. to use in my current motherboard, yes i know the RAM I get will limit down to 2133 like my existing RAM at current, which is fine as it’ll be 32GB rather than 16GB, and SHOULD improve the gameplay of the game. And hopefully be able to transfer it to the future rig I plan on getting..?

Is it just a matter of buying that RAM, then taking the old RAM out of my system, putting in the New RAM and starting the PC UP?

Unless of course there is better MHz RAM I can buy still and put into my existing board, yes it’ll limit it still but when I move to a new Rig it’ll then run at the speed advertised…

OR can I go all out and buy a new motherboard + RAM for my system now, replace both motherboard and RAM? Or would my current CPU need to be upgraded at the same time.
 
Moving towards this.. to use in my current motherboard, yes i know the RAM I get will limit down to 2133 like my existing RAM at current, which is fine as it’ll be 32GB rather than 16GB, and SHOULD improve the gameplay of the game.
Yeah it should be fine and eliminate that DRAM issue.
And hopefully be able to transfer it to the future rig I plan on getting..?
As long as what you get supports DDR 4 it'll be fine.

If you're going to be able to reuse the DRAM the I'd suggest spending a bit more to get lower latency DRAM like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DNPVR64
OR can I go all out and buy a new motherboard + RAM for my system now, replace both motherboard and RAM? Or would my current CPU need to be upgraded at the same time.
You're likely not getting any motherboard that's an upgrade compatible with your existing CPU unless you're buying old used hardware which I wouldn't really recommend. I think it would be a good idea to figure out what specifically you want to upgrade to, or at least an idea, just so you know where you stand.
 
Yeah it should be fine and eliminate that DRAM issue.

As long as what you get supports DDR 4 it'll be fine.

If you're going to be able to reuse the DRAM the I'd suggest spending a bit more to get lower latency DRAM like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DNPVR64

You're likely not getting any motherboard that's an upgrade compatible with your existing CPU unless you're buying old used hardware which I wouldn't really recommend. I think it would be a good idea to figure out what specifically you want to upgrade to, or at least an idea, just so you know where you stand.
OK, I’ll get the RAM for now, just to improve gameplay, then think about upgrades on my Motherboard and CPU.
What’s the difference between the RAM you have sent and the RAM I sent before? And does the one you sent have XMP?
And would 64GB of RAM be an overkill until I’ve got the rest of my System upgraded?
 
What’s the difference between the RAM you have sent and the RAM I sent before?
It runs lower latency so if you are able to use it at a higher speed than 2133 down the road it will be better performing.
And does the one you sent have XMP?
yes
And would 64GB of RAM be an overkill until I’ve got the rest of my System upgraded?
64GB is overkill period for the vast majority of home users. Usually 16GB is plenty, but sometimes issues can crop up like yours where 32GB makes a difference.
 
It runs lower latency so if you are able to use it at a higher speed than 2133 down the road it will be better performing.

yes

64GB is overkill period for the vast majority of home users. Usually 16GB is plenty, but sometimes issues can crop up like yours where 32GB makes a difference.
OK, Im going to buy the one you have sent me, would it be a matter of turning my PC off, pulling the old RAM out and inserting the new RAM and firing up the PC? Hopefully, when it comes to upgrading my Motherboard and CPU I’ll be able to use this new RAM on the new Motherboard and still be futureproofed.
 
OK, Im going to buy the one you have sent me, would it be a matter of turning my PC off, pulling the old RAM out and inserting the new RAM and firing up the PC? Hopefully, when it comes to upgrading my Motherboard and CPU I’ll be able to use this new RAM on the new Motherboard and still be futureproofed.
Since your current board doesn't support XMP yes you should be able to just plug it in and go.
 
OK, I’ll get the RAM for now, just to improve gameplay, then think about upgrades on my Motherboard and CPU.
What’s the difference between the RAM you have sent and the RAM I sent before? And does the one you sent have XMP?
And would 64GB of RAM be an overkill until I’ve got the rest of my System upgraded?
your current system is b150

small recomendation find i7 7700 cheap they usually go between

80 usd
70 pounds

you can still buy a ram kit at 3200mhz but you wont be able to run it at that speed till you upgrade your motherboard can only handle up to 2400mhz max after upgrade to i7 7700 this would be my ideal recomendation

also depends what chipset your going on ddr4
 
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