After much deliberation, you’ve concluded that RAM (Random Access Memory) is why your computer is not running at optimal performance. However, do you need more RAM or faster RAM? These are the problems gamers, and modern computer users face.
Many computer users might believe that upgrading RAM is a straightforward scenario, but not anymore. It’s no longer just about the size of the RAM, but also the speed. And there are times when one is more needed than the other.
More RAM or Faster RAM for gaming or video editing?
The question is, which is needed in your particular situation? We will try to answer this for you to the best of our ability.
Why do we need more RAM?
For those who are wondering, RAM is the short-term memory that is used by your computer processor to store files for quick access whenever the need arises. Your computer utilizes this space for a quick response instead of taking several seconds or minutes.
Now, if your computer struggles to open certain programs, you may need access to more RAM. Users can use their hard drive as a type of RAM, but the speed is much slower; therefore, it doesn’t make sense in most cases.
What is the difference between speed and capacity?
When you increase your RAM size, you reduce the need to use your hard drive for storing files temporarily. However, once you have enough RAM, more than what you want, then adding more is out of the question if your computer is still moving too slowly for comfort.
In a situation such as this, your best bet is to r replace the RAM sticks inside of your PC with faster ones, but of the same size.
Bear in mind there are a few metrics that can determine the speed of your RAM. You see, frequency affects the maximum bandwidth, which is how much data can move to and from memory in your device. Furthermore, latency is something that affects how quickly RAM can respond to a demand.
When it comes down to frequency, this is measured in megahertz (MHz), and a bigger number is better than a smaller one. For example, the frequency for DDR4 RAM is between 1600MHz and 3600MHz, while the DDR5 RAM frequency sits between 3200MHz and 8400MHz. As for RAM latency, then, it shows up as a series of numbers, and you should always want these numbers to be on the lower end.
Now, once you’ve met the capacity needs, reducing latency and increasing the frequency may yield results that are more noticeable than adding more RAM to the system. Still, it all depends on the difference the user will notice at the end of the day.
How much RAM do you need or how fast should your RAM be?
In the past, most would suggest upgrading your RAM capacity to 16GB, but those days are no more since the new number is 32GB, especially if gaming, video editing, or programming is your preferred activity.
Still, not everyone should go out and upgrade to 32GB RAM; that’s because most computer users only need a maximum of 16 GB of RAM inside of their computer. You can also use less than 16GBs if you are only interested in working with Office applications or social media.
Problems will arise if you want a computer to play the latest video games at the highest possible graphical level. In a situation like this, 32GB of RAM is required, especially if you intend to game while streaming on Twitch, or chatting to friends on Discord.
In terms of RAM speed, it all boils down to your motherboard. You see, if your motherboard only supports 3200MHz speed RAM, then you should not buy one that has a maximum speed of 3600MHz. Additionally, the same goes for those who want to upgrade from DDR4 RAM to DDR5 RAM. You will need a new motherboard, so that is something one must keep in mind before spending their hard-earned cash.
Is RAM capacity more important than speed?
More than 16GB of RAM isn’t necessary now, but speed is always critical. So, from our point of view, we would suggest going with 16GB of fast RAM or the maximum speed supported by your motherboard.
For gamers and professionals, 32GB of fast RAM is the best way to go. Tuck in a fast SSD and you’ll have a very impressive machine on your hands.
READ: How much Computer RAM or Video memory do I have on my PC?
Does faster RAM increase FPS?
The answer to this question is, yes. However, it depends on the amount of RAM installed on your computer. Games require a certain amount of RAM to run properly, so if you have the required amount, you should experience better FPS compared to having lesser RAM. But bear in mind that having more RAM than the recommended number won’t lead to tangible differences in performance.
What RAM speed is good for gaming?
Today, it is best to have RAM with speeds between 3,200MHz and 3,600MHz. Also, ensure your CPU has enough bandwidth because high RAM speed requires a powerful CPU, or else it won’t be able to keep up, and as such, bottlenecks will appear.
