Batu69 Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 With the recent arrival of Skylake, many are looking into Intel's latest platform which requires not just a Core i7-6700K or Core i5-6600K processor but also a new Z170 motherboard and DDR4 memory. Although memory prices are competitive at the moment (read: cheap), you can still expect to pay between 20 to 40% more for DDR4 memory versus DDR3. Naturally, users are questioning if the upgrade to Skylake is worth the premium.But regardless if you opt for Intel's latest platform and DDR4, or go for last season's Haswell range with more affordable DDR3 memory, you'll likely ask yourself: "Should I get 8GB or 16GB of RAM?"With 8GB DDR3-2400 kits starting at just $55 -- less than many of you would spend on a lump of aluminum for your CPU -- you probably won't think twice about spending $100 to secure a 16GB kit. The same spec DDR4 memory costs ~$65 for 8GB and $125 if you want 16GB.If you're building a Core i7 system with a high-end GPU and a speedy SSD, a 16GB memory kit is going to be one of the smaller purchases. However, if you're making an effort to get the most bang for your buck by opting for parts such as a Core i5 processor and perhaps the GeForce GTX 960, then you'll really want to know if that extra 8GB of memory is actually going to benefit you.Keep in mind there is little point in "future-proofing" your system with extra memory now as adding more down the track is always a more economical option, providing you have the empty DIMM slots.The last time I really bothered to compare memory capacities was in 2007 when DDR2 was all the rage. At the time I looked at 2GB vs 4GB performance in games and I found almost no advantage to using 4GB of memory.Today's modern games and many productivity applications can consume upwards of 4GB, so there's little argument for not going with 8GB. However, the need for 16GB of memory is a hotly debated subject, so today we are going see if and where this much memory might be useful for desktop users.Test System Specs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
212eta Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 For those building a new system or simply looking to upgrade their memory capacity to 16GB the answer is simple:don't bother unless you have the money to burn.For general usage and gaming, there is no advantage to be had by using 16GB of RAM.The only application we could find that really benefited from 16GB was 7-Zip,though we had to use a crazy big dictionary size to create heavy RAM demand.Overall, we see 8GB as the standard right now which is why we recommend it throughout our PC buying guide,from the Budget Box to the Enthusiast's PC, while 16GB of RAM is only essential for specific high-demand scenarios. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
: ) Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 4GB vs. 8GB vs. 16GBthat's like saying should we put $4, $8 or $16 worth of gas in the car! Everyone knows a full tank is the way to go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator DKT27 Posted August 19, 2015 Administrator Share Posted August 19, 2015 I think the requirement for more RAM will increase as more RAM becomes a standard. More softwares and games will start using it.The famous 640K RAM quote from Bill Gates, though denied by him, is a good example of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CODYQX4 Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 PCs last way longer due to more incremental change, so may as well make sure you have the RAM.I have 32GB RAM. I run lots of VMS. If not, the OS is happy to use 12GB of RAM for caching/speed if nothing else needs it.I'd go 64 GB, but my machine can't pass 32GB, so no luck there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StealthyBoi Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I have 32GB RAM. I run lots of VMS.Well I'm shocked, how many VMs do you run simultaneously? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnakeMasteR Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 I have 32GB RAM. I run lots of VMS.Well I'm shocked, how many VMs do you run simultaneously?I'm guessing. :hehe:Windows 1.0xWindows 2.xWindows 3.0OS/2Windows 3.1xWindows NT 3.xWindows 95Windows NT 4.0Windows 98Windows 2000Windows MEWindows XPWindows Server 2003Windows XP x64 and Server 2003 x64 EditionsWindows Server 2003 R2Windows FundamentalsWindows Home ServerWindows VistaWindows Server 2008Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2Windows Home Server 2011Windows Thin PCWindows 8 and Windows Server 2012Windows 10Windows Server 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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