Should I Upgrade My PC from 4GB to 16GB for Better Gaming Performance?
Upgrading from 4GB to 16GB of RAM can significantly improve gaming performance, especially for modern games. Here are some key points to consider:
Minimum Requirements
Many modern games recommend at least 8GB of RAM, with 16GB being ideal for optimal performance. With only 4GB, you may experience stuttering, longer load times, and lower frame rates.
Multitasking
If you tend to run other applications while gaming, such as streaming software, browsers, or voice chat, more RAM will help maintain smooth performance.
Future-Proofing
As games continue to evolve, having 16GB of RAM can help ensure your system remains capable of handling new titles and updates.
Price and Compatibility
Check the cost of RAM and ensure your motherboard supports 16GB. Also, consider the type (DDR4, DDR5, etc.) and speed of the RAM to match your existing components.
Conclusion: Upgrading to 16GB is a worthwhile investment for better gaming performance and overall system responsiveness.
Negative Considerations
While the answer in your specific situation may be ‘Yes,’ such a statement is not correct in a general sense. You should upgrade when your PC's RAM is no longer sufficient to run the games you want to play. More RAM does not inherently increase performance. Having too little RAM can hamper performance, leading to stuttering and lower frame rates.
Performance Impact and Multitasking
Stating that the performance of a computer is better when there is more RAM available is not accurate. The key point is to have enough RAM to support the applications and games you run without causing performance issues.
If your machine currently works well and feels smooth, adding more RAM will not make a difference. Playing a game that would use 8GB of RAM if available on a 4GB machine may feel sluggish. Increasing RAM to 8GB would make that machine feel smooth. Increasing RAM to 16GB while any game you play never uses more than 8GB does nothing.
My Personal Experience
I used to have a machine with 16GB RAM, which allowed me to play Cities: Skylines comfortably until I started using more custom content. The machine quickly became sluggish, and I ran out of RAM. Upgrading to 32GB RAM helped smooth operations, but at some point, the game was using 28.4GB of RAM. Adding the Notre Dame to my city consumes 6.7MB, and with 1000 custom objects, that would lead to 7GB of RAM usage. My game could have potentially 4500 custom objects, leading to significant RAM consumption.
Adding Firefox with a number of tabs in the background also took up space, eventually making 32GB insufficient. In May 2023, I replaced the machine for a new one with 64GB RAM and the possibility to even increase to 128GB, which I do not expect to happen anytime soon. Most games run just fine in 16GB, and only a small number perform better in 32GB.
General Considerations
In most cases, a machine with 4GB RAM often has a weaker processor, little RAM, and a cheap graphics card or integrated graphics in the processor. Adding RAM alone will not magically transform a machine into one capable of running modern triple-A games, like 'Cyberpunk 2077.'
Adding RAM is not enough. If you already have a system configuration, I can suggest whether it pays off to upgrade or suggest a system that can run what you want to run.
Conclusion: Adding more RAM is beneficial, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Evaluate your specific needs and choose the right amount of RAM for your gaming and multitasking scenarios.