John Chad, Bachelor Degree in Computer Science & Computer Engineering.
Russel Collins
RAM is important for any computer regardless of what your objective is, however, it’s especially important to get high gaming performance. If you want to know more about why this is so important, read our explanation of how RAM works we will do precisely that here. For now, let us explain some key points regarding the difference between RAM and ROM.
What Is The Difference Between RAM and ROM?
The most common type of upgradeable memory used by computers today comes from Samsung and is known as DRAM or double data rate RAM. It uses only one pin per side of the chip and thus allows only a single channel to access at any given time. In other words, one piece of memory cannot talk to another piece while they’re both being accessed simultaneously. Because of this, many people think that adding more RAM would make their system perform better since each bit of RAM could then share its bandwidth with all the bits in existence. However, that isn’t true either because the speed of RAM chips tends to increase every year thanks to new manufacturing techniques. So, in order to answer whether adding more RAM makes a significant improvement, you must first understand how RAM works.
To put it simply, when a processor needs information stored in RAM, it sends out a request using high voltage signals passed through capacitors. These requests go into a line where there are several different pieces of circuitry waiting for them. Each processor has a small circuit board that contains several identical copies of itself, and these circuits work together with others to create a hierarchy of processors inside the computer. When the processor asks for the contents of RAM, it refers to a part of the computer called a chipset.
In turn, the chipset relays the message up the chain until it reaches the physical location of the desired RAM module. At this point, a controller reads the requested content and returns it back down the chain to the requesting processor. Since RAM units are physically located next to one another, they operate almost instantaneously, allowing them to keep up with the speed of modern CPUs. Now that you understand how it works, the question remains, “how much memory should I buy?” Read below to find out…
How much memory does my computer need to run smoothly?
There are three main factors that determine how fast your computer runs:
1.) Processor power
2.) Amount of RAM installed
3.) Speed of hard drive(s).
As far as RAM goes, Windows 7 Professional Edition PCs require at least 1GB of RAM to function properly. Anything less may cause problems ranging from slow startup times to random crashes throughout usage.
On average, gamers tend to prefer 16GB of RAM to take advantage of advanced features like multi-monitor setups and SLI/CrossfireX technology. Some games require more RAM due to the fact that certain graphics cards utilize 8-12GB of VRAM (video card memories), but those who play demanding titles usually opt for 16GB to 64GB systems. For example, Call Of Duty Ghosts requires 6GB of RAM whereas Battlefield 4 demands 12GB.
Is a faster CPU better than having more RAM?
No, not necessarily. A faster Central Processing Unit (CPU) can improve performance in many ways, but increasing RAM doesn’t help boost processing power. That’s because RAM acts primarily as a buffer between the operating system and the actual hardware components within the PC.
Once the CPU receives instructions via the motherboard, the RAM temporarily stores them so that the computer can continue running without interruption. With that said, adding faster RAM can theoretically give you a slight edge during heavy loads, but it won’t affect overall performance unless you already own top-of-the-line software and hardware.
One way to test this theory is to try downloading multiple programs at once and see how long it takes before your computer starts slowing down significantly. If you notice the slowdown happening shortly after installing new RAM, consider yourself lucky.
Is 64 GB of RAM overkill for gaming?
Yes, probably. While 16GB of RAM was considered sufficient for gaming purposes five years ago, nowadays it’s best to get 32GB or higher. There are four reasons for this.
First, 64GB of RAM costs considerably more money than smaller amounts of RAM. Second, large chunks of RAM are harder to manage especially if you plan to use your computer for multitasking tasks like emailing, web surfing, etc. Thirdly, video files often consume huge amounts of space on modern day computers.
And fourthly, storage drives don’t seem to last very long anymore. All things taken into consideration, 64GB is definitely too big for most home consumers.
Unless you intend to build a server farm, there really aren’t any good reasons to spend this kind of cash right now. Sure, maybe you’ll start building virtual machines later on, but you shouldn’t rely on them indefinitely.