System RAM How much is enough?

[sidhe]

I'm customizing a new PC and I would appreciate some guidance in deciding how much RAM to purchase. I know the answer is completely dependent on what I want to do and my OS limitations. I've already decided on some relatively high performance memory (Gskill Ripjaws DDR4/2666MHz) but I don't know how much to buy.

My primary purpose is gaming and my goal is to shoot a little higher than what is reasonable... but I don't want to be ridiculous. Based on my limited experience, I'm thinking 8GB would be very reasonable so I'm considering shooting for 16GB. However, if there is a compelling reason, I am willing to consider 32GB.

So my question is: Am I correct in thinking 16GB is slightly overkill for my needs for the next 4-5 years or is there a compelling reason to consider more?

EDIT: Thanks all! This is exactly what I needed to hear. Going with 16GB 4X4 Gskill Ripjaws.

 

[digitaldoc]

There is definitely no reason to go for more than 16 GB RAM unless you are a professional video editor.

The current "Sweet spot" is 8 GB of RAM, and 16 GB would already be kicking it up a notch for future proofing.

 

[-Lone-]

I'm customizing a new PC and I would appreciate some guidance in deciding how much RAM to purchase. I know the answer is completely dependent on what I want to do and my OS limitations. I've already decided on some relatively high performance memory (Gskill Ripjaws DDR4/2666MHz) but I don't know how much to buy.

My primary purpose is gaming and my goal is to shoot a little higher than what is reasonable... but I don't want to be ridiculous. Based on my limited experience, I'm thinking 8GB would be very reasonable so I'm considering shooting for 16GB. However, if there is a compelling reason, I am willing to consider 32GB.

So my question is: Am I correct in thinking 16GB is slightly overkill for my needs for the next 4-5 years or is there a compelling reason to consider more?

Since it is an x99 build I'd get 16GB for future purposes, I play my games 4k@ultra and my RAM usage is already over 8GB, so I'd get 16GB just in case, 8GB for such an expensive build is just...waste.

 

[theonerm2]

By the time you need more than 8GB of RAM for gaming you will need a new PC anyway. The X99 platform is more for video editing and other professional work. A Z97 motherboard along with a 4790K or really even a Core i5 4690K would be ideal for gaming and it would probably last a long time as well. As I said about the RAM I'll say again about the CPU. By the time you really need 6 or 8 intel CPU cores for gaming you will need a new PC anyway.

 

[ShadyHamster]

At this stage 16GB is overkill, no one can tell what we will need in the future.
Don't even consider 32GB for gaming unless you want to use a ramdisk program.
2666Mhz speeds is also overkill, consider just pickingup a 1600/1866 kit, unless you can get a 2666 kit for the same price it's just a waste.
I'd recommend going with 8GB unless you have the money for 16GB.

 

[chenw]

RAM is also one of the easiest parts in a PC to upgrade, so there is really no harm in getting what you need now and then upgrade it later when you need more

 

[-Lone-]

At this stage 16GB is overkill, no one can tell what we will need in the future.
Don't even consider 32GB for gaming unless you want to use a ramdisk program.
2666Mhz speeds is also overkill, consider just pickingup a 1600/1866 kit, unless you can get a 2666 kit for the same price it's just a waste.
I'd recommend going with 8GB unless you have the money for 16GB.

There is no DDR4 lower than 2133MHz, and it is approximately $250 for 16GB of 2133MHz, the one he wants which is 2666MHz is only like $50 away.

 

[-Lone-]

This is x99 here, so obviously he doesn't have money problems.

 

[Tradesman1]

16GB in 4x4GB to utilize the quad channel capabilities of the X99 - I'd look at the GSkill Ripjaws in 2400

 

[-Lone-]

Yeah, that's what I got, which works perfectly, and I'd get the black ones, they seem to have the best reviews for some reason, G.Skill all the way! 😀

 

[ShadyHamster]

At this stage 16GB is overkill, no one can tell what we will need in the future.
Don't even consider 32GB for gaming unless you want to use a ramdisk program.
2666Mhz speeds is also overkill, consider just pickingup a 1600/1866 kit, unless you can get a 2666 kit for the same price it's just a waste.
I'd recommend going with 8GB unless you have the money for 16GB.

There is no DDR4 lower than 2133MHz, and it is approximately $250 for 16GB of 2133MHz, the one he wants which is 2666MHz is only like $50 away.

Ah my bad, didn't even notice the DDR4 part lol.

Since you've spent the money on a x99 platform you may as well go for 4x4GB kit then and be done with it.

 

[-Lone-]

At this stage 16GB is overkill, no one can tell what we will need in the future.
Don't even consider 32GB for gaming unless you want to use a ramdisk program.
2666Mhz speeds is also overkill, consider just pickingup a 1600/1866 kit, unless you can get a 2666 kit for the same price it's just a waste.
I'd recommend going with 8GB unless you have the money for 16GB.

There is no DDR4 lower than 2133MHz, and it is approximately $250 for 16GB of 2133MHz, the one he wants which is 2666MHz is only like $50 away.

Ah my bad, didn't even notice the DDR4 part lol.

Since you've spent the money on a x99 platform you may as well go for 4x4GB kit then and be done with it.

No problem, but yeah, why go so low when you've already gone this far and stay on "current" needs when you can get it over with now for a little price increase and won't have to worry about it again and be prepared for the future.

 

[Tradesman1]

Yep, great sticks, GSkill's been leading the way for a few years now 😉

 

[-Lone-]

Yep, great sticks, GSkill's been leading the way for a few years now 😉

That's because G.skill has the Skill 😀 hahaha

 

[Tradesman1]

Yep, great sticks, GSkill's been leading the way for a few years now 😉

That's because G.skill has the Skill 😀 hahaha

_______________

They have a support rep here on the forums, will have him take a look at this 😉

 

[-Lone-]

Nice, here, get this one. It's the same exact one as mine except for mine is 32GB, so far there are no issues at all, and I just love their lifetime warranty

https://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f42400c15q16grk

 

[crazeeadd22]

I'm customizing a new PC and I would appreciate some guidance in deciding how much RAM to purchase. I know the answer is completely dependent on what I want to do and my OS limitations. I've already decided on some relatively high performance memory (Gskill Ripjaws DDR4/2666MHz) but I don't know how much to buy.

My primary purpose is gaming and my goal is to shoot a little higher than what is reasonable... but I don't want to be ridiculous. Based on my limited experience, I'm thinking 8GB would be very reasonable so I'm considering shooting for 16GB. However, if there is a compelling reason, I am willing to consider 32GB.

So my question is: Am I correct in thinking 16GB is slightly overkill for my needs for the next 4-5 years or is there a compelling reason to consider more?

EDIT: Thanks all! This is exactly what I needed to hear. Going with 16GB 4X4 Gskill Ripjaws.

 

[crazeeadd22]

could you please tell me your results in your 16gb pc