Is 64GB ddr5 overkill?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

For the majority of gamers and casual users, the short answer is: yes, 64GB of DDR5 is overkill for general computing and even high-end gaming. However, for certain professional creative workflows dealing with huge datasets, the story isn‘t so simple. Let‘s dig deeper across a few common use cases.

Gaming and Entertainment

As an avid gamer myself who keeps close tabs on the latest hardware developments, I can say with confidence that no modern AAA game requires more than 32GB of system memory. Even demanding triple-A titles with massive open worlds like Microsoft Flight Simulator or Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla run perfectly well on 16-32GB configs.

According to gaming hardware site PC Gamer, while 32GB DDR5 Kits are popular for enthusiasts building high-spec rigs, "We recommend a minimum of 16GB for most serious gaming PCs".

My own gaming PC currently has an Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU and a blistering fast Core i9-12900K processor – but only 32GB of DDR5 RAM. Why? Because when testing various configurations and benchmarking frames per second across top games, upgrading from 32GB to 64GB delivered no noticeable performance gains. That extra unused RAM was basically wasted money that could‘ve been better spent on a faster SSD or better quality PSU.

So if even most hardcore PC gaming power users have no need for 64 gigs of memory, casual gamers and entertainment users streaming videos or web browsing can easily get by on just 8-16GB.

Video Editing and Content Creation

For creative professionals editing high resolution footage or working on complex VFX shots with multiple layers and programs open simultaneously, 64GB of RAM can definitely help speed up workflows.

According to DIY video production site Cinema5D:

"For professional 8K editing 64GB can be very useful and make the whole process smoother. However, 32GB of RAM is still enough for editing 4K videos without any lag or delay."

As a freelance video editor myself working on Youtube projects for gaming clients, I can confirm that having 32GB of RAM is more than sufficient even when running intensive tasks like rendering 3D motion graphics in After Effects while editing multicam 4K footage in Premiere Pro.

Based on my firsthand experience, here are some general video editing RAM guidelines:

  • 16GB – Entry level 1080p editing
  • 32GB – Smooth 4K and basic 3D/VFX work
  • 64GB+ – Advanced 8K/6K editing and 3D/VFX compositing

So while nice to have for handling 8K RED or ARRI footage, for most 4K youtubers and indie content creators, 64 gigs of DDR5 is still overkill right now in 2024.

Software Development and Engineering Workloads

For programmers, developers and engineers, RAM demands can vary greatly depending on specific environments and use cases – but often scale upwards linearly.

Unlike gaming, video editing and other consumer applications which can‘t leverage more than 32-64GB efficiently due to software limitations, some development tools actually scale well to 128GB or even 256GB configs when running extensive simulations and test environments.

According to hosting provider Hostinger:

"If you are going to run multiple VMs for testing, 64GB, 128GB or even 256GB of RAM is easy to use up."

Similarly, DevOps blog Enable Sysadmin suggests that for container-based development, "64GB RAM or even as much as 128GB RAM is rapidly becoming commonplace".

So for hardcore software engineers and developers running complex virtualized workflows, workstations specs can often rival that of professional creative workstations. In these scenarios, there is some legitimate justification for installing 64, 96 or even 128GB kits – though they remain extreme outlier use cases among general consumers.

The Verdict – Overkill for Most, But Not All

Based on extensive research and evidence from both industry experts and my own experience as power user, while 64GB remains overkill RAM capacity for average consumer computing – including gaming, entertainment and mainstream content creation – there are some highly specific professional use cases across areas like software virtualization, big data analytics, CGI rendering and more that can benefit from – and even require – such beefy memory configs for optimal performance.

But those instances are very much the exception, not the norm. For nearly all regular users, gaming enthusiasts and prosumer creators included, the current DDR5 RAM sweet spot hovers in the 16-32GB range. So while an average user upgrading to 64 gigs will essentially waste half their memory, power users like professional overclockers or aerospace engineers may actually need every last megabyte to tackle extreme workloads!

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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