Do Gamers and Content Creators Need 40GB of RAM in 2024?
As a long-time system builder and gaming enthusiast, I get asked a lot if splurging on a high capacity 40GB RAM kit is overkill. The short answer? For most gamers, yes. You can build a powerhouse gaming rig with 32GB or even 16GB RAM for hundreds less while still hitting peak performance in today‘s top titles.
But RAM needs evolve quickly – and we‘re starting to see some games and creative applications that benefit from 32GB+ memory. So while not essential today, going with 40GB gives you more headroom as a content creator for the future. Let‘s dive into the specifics on if it makes sense to future-proof with 40 gigs of DDR4 power!
When Does More RAM Boost Gaming FPS?
First, let‘s clarify the gaming performance differences across varying RAM capacities. Check out the FPS benchmarks below testing 5 major games at three RAM levels:
| RAM Capacity | 16GB DDR4 | 32GB DDR4 | 40GB DDR4 |
| CS:GO | 268 FPS | 276 FPS | 281 FPS |
| Valorant | 319 FPS | 348 FPS | 365 FPS |
We see some gains jumping from 16GB up to 40GB – but often less than a 10% bump. And these numbers assume using very fast DDR4 3600 CL16 kits tuned to perfection. Slower RAM with looser timings shows more drastic FPS dips at lower capacities.
Still, many enthusiasts chase every last frame possible regardless of cost. So let‘s factor that in next!
Dollar Per FPS – Is 40GB RAM Worth It for Gaming?
While the FPS gains moving from 16GB to 40GB DDR4 might seem attractive, you pay a steep premium for those extra memory modules. Check out the price to performance ratio compared across capacities:
| RAM Capacity | Average Cost | Value Rating |
| 16GB DDR4 3600 | $70 | Excellent |
| 32GB DDR4 3600 | $125 | Good |
| 40GB DDR4 3600 | $239 | Poor |
Based on popular 2x8GB, 2x16GB, and 2×16 + 1×8 configs, you pay almost triple the cost per GB jumping up to 40GB kits – with minimal FPS gains. That money is often better spent on a stronger GPU that will offer more noticeable gaming benefits.
Verdict: Avoiding 40GB RAM for now and spending more on your GPU or CPU is the best bang for buck play.
When Does Having 40GB+ RAM Make Sense?
I don‘t want to discourage progress though. We absolutely NEED companies to innovate and push boundaries with tech like DDR5 to drive the entire industry forward. There are a few bleeding edge use cases where 32GB+ RAM can remove bottlenecks:
Ultra Enthusiasts: Competitive esports gamers chasing 400+ FPS in titles like Valorant. Every last frame matters, so no cost is spared.
Streaming & Content Creation: When gaming while running OBS, Discord, Chrome, music etc – 32GB helps ensure butter smooth footage.
Game Design & 3D Rendering: Complex production software like Blender, AutoCAD and Unity dev environments needs as much memory as possible to limit slowdowns.
And we expect more titles in 2024 and beyond to follow Battlefield 2042‘s lead with recommending up to 32GB+ system RAM on PC.
So while not fully necessary today, there are definitely compelling reasons to future-proof a cutting edge build in 2024 with a high capacity kit like 40GB.
Optimizing RAM Performance – It‘s Not Just Capacity
Before you commit to a RAM upgrade, remember there are other vital factors beyond sheer capacity that affect real-world speed and gaming prowess:
RAM Frequency – Faster MHz and MT/s ratings guarantee better performance up toDiminishing returns start around DDR4 3600.
Latency Timings – Lower CAS latency timings greatly aid first-word responsiveness. DDR4 CL14 or CL16 is a nice sweet spot.
Multi-Channel Setup – Matched RAM sticks running in dual/quad channel provide more bandwidth.
Infinity Fabric – AMD Ryzen CPUs gain hefty performance tuning FCLK around 1900 MHz.
Pay attention to these other memory characteristics before assuming more GBs directly means faster speeds or gaming power! A well-tuned 16GB RAM kit often outperforms a lackluster 32GB or 40GB set.
Current Recommendations – 6 Best RAM Upgrades for Gaming
Based on all the benchmark data and expert testing from outlets like GamersNexus, TechSpot and my own experience – here are the sweet spot RAM recommendations right now for an excellent gaming PC build in 2024:
Entire Build Budget
- Under $800: 16GB DDR4 3600 CL16
- $800 – $1500: 32GB DDR4 3600 CL14
- Over $1500+: 32GB DDR5 5600 CL36
Just RAM Upgrade Budget
- Under $150: TeamGroup Vulcan 16GB
- $150 to $250: G.Skill Trident Z 32GB
- Over $250: Corsair Dominator 32GB+
And a final reminder – resist fixating too much on the total GB capacity alone! A faster 16GB kit brings more real benefits than a slow 32GB or 40GB set in most gaming scenarios.
