Is DDR5 overkill for gaming? For most gamers, DDR5 may be overkill as the current performance gains may not be noticeable in games. DDR4 RAM is still capable of providing a satisfactory gaming experience.
Gaming sees no improvement from using DDR5 instead of DDR4, at least in 1440p resolution. However, this is not a statement I make lightly, as performance boosts will most likely appear on very high-end computers using extremely powerful graphics cards such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090.
This is a very typical result. DDR4 comes out roughly 4fps ahead of DDR5. The only spec here where the DDR5 came out ahead was the “CPU Simulation” where DDR5 got 410.8fps and DDR4 got 401.8 fps on the minimums. The average differed by 3fps, which at 400fps for either, means less than a one percent difference.
Let's start with the system performance. We all know that game updates can toss surprising results. And based on Crucial's claims, their DDR5 4800 RAM is considered as an excellent option for gaming.
8GB of RAM is the minimum amount of RAM for any gaming PC. With 8GB RAM, you will be able to play most released games without many problems, but some games might not play at the highest quality, and you might have to shut down other applications.
Does DDR5 RAM Improve Gaming Performance? Yes, DDR5 RAM does improve your overall gaming performance. However, the difference itself is not that significant at its current stage.
We recommend a minimum of 16GB for most serious gaming PCs (it's what we use in our high-end PC build), but as 32GB DDR5 kits are so widely available, 32GB has become the new baseline for a DDR5 system. With 32GB, you'll have more than enough for pretty much every task you can throw at your system.
This means DDR5 transfers data at up to 38.4 gigabytes per second (GB/s), while DDR4 tops out at 25.6 GB/s. Overall, DDR5 can be 50% faster than DDR4's maximum data rate.
Breaking the Sub-30 Latency Barrier on DDR5
SKILL is releasing an extremely low-latency sub-30 timing memory specification at DDR5-5600 CL28-34-34-89. Setting a new bar for low-latency timing performance, this memory specification with CL28 marks a new era of high-end DDR5 memory.
That, combined with the improved performance and much greater density of the memory chips, means DDR5 runs hotter than DDR4. This means you'll want to make sure you have compatible heat sinks before installing DDR5 RAM .
In addition to higher bandwidth and improved power consumption, DDR5 will also offer higher capacity per memory module. Memory density and banks go hand-in-hand. When you increase the density, you also have to augment the number of banks to accommodate the extra capacity.
You can never have enough memory bandwidth, and DDR5 helps feed that insatiable need for speed. While DDR4 DIMMs top out at 3.2 gigatransfers per second (GT/s) at a clock rate of 1.6 gigahertz (GHz), initial DDR5 DIMMs deliver a 50% bandwidth increase to 4.8 GT/s.
Why is DDR5 latency so high? DDR5 inherently has more bandwidth by the way it was designed. As for why the timings are so much looser on DDR5, that's the way it goes for every new DDR release.
DDR6 RAM is expected to begin the testing phase of production in 2024 and be available to buy sometime during 2026. While the standard is still in development, you can expect speeds in the area of 12,800Mbps for DDR6.
16GB is the recommended amount of RAM for playing most games and will provide a noticeable increase in performance from 8GB. You will also be able to run applications in the background without affecting gameplay.
Is 64/128 GB of RAM Overkill? For the majority of users, it is. If you plan on building a PC purely for gaming and some general, basic, everyday activity, 64 GB of RAM is just too much. The amount of RAM you need will ultimately depend on your workload.
6000 with two 16GB sticks should work on essentially every 7000 series processor, which is why it's the sweet spot. 5600 should absolutely not have any issues even on the cheapest motherboards. If you experience memory instability, you can lower the frequency a bit.
Although it won't have as profound an effect as upgrading the processor or graphics card, faster RAM can improve game performance and frame rates. Performance improvements vary from game to game: some see a noticeable boost, while others are barely impacted.
If we're considering 4K resolution, as many gamers are nowadays, the case for not upgrading to DDR5 becomes even stronger. This is because, above 1080p resolution, gaming performance tends to be limited by the GPU and not by the CPU. Therefore, noticeable differences in performance are rarely seen at this resolution.
DDR5 technology is still very young, and there is not enough compatible hardware, at least for mainstream PC users. But as early as 2022, PC hardware manufacturers might start making the hardware available. Although DDR5 RAM sticks are impressive, to say the least, they are overkill for most gaming applications.
In the realm of high-performance laptops, 128GB RAM is still considered overkill for the vast majority of users. Most business laptops do not require such large capacities, and only a small fraction of users may benefit from this amount of memory.
Nevertheless, adding more RAM will only be helpful up to a certain point. Adding too much RAM will eventually jeopardize the computer's performance, even when you have enough of it. The additional RAM will start applying the law of diminishing returns at a certain point, meaning you won't get much value from it.
Most games recommend 16GB of memory for speedy, high-performance play. Having this much RAM in your computer will allow you to change what games you play, and to avoid issues with lag and stuttering. At an absolute minimum 8GB is usually a good starting point for most games.