Yes; as an average user, 12GB should be good enough for you unless you want to do some heavy and resource-intensive data processing. Conclusion Even though these two are completely different platforms, both support DDR4-3600 at a synchronized FCLK. AMD recommended DDR4-3200 at the time of the launch of the Ryzen 3000 Series, and buyers who can’t afford DDR4-3600 at reasonable timings (CAS 18 or lower) might wish to consider this less-expensive option. ▶ Intel Z390, H370, B360, and Z370 Chipset Motherboards (With 8th and 9th Generation CPUs) As you’ve seen in this 8GB RAM vs 12GB review, you need a different amount of RAM for different tasks. With 12GB, you get better speeds and the ability to multi-task but you don’t always need to spend extra money on memory that you don’t need. Typically installed in entry-level laptops. This is fine for basic Windows gaming at lower settings, but rapidly runs out of steam.

This test was rather eye-opening in how clearly it showed the impact of web browsing on memory use. The initial 10-tab test used 3,333 MB of memory, with an additional 3,963 MB in standby. Those 4GB of standby memory held throughout testing, but every additional ten tabs used roughly a full GB of memory. Surprisingly, the overall memory demands weren’t that different from regular browsing. Whether listening to multiple audio streams or watching multiple videos, the overall memory use didn’t change much. Single audio or video streams from Spotify or YouTube used less than 3GB of memory (2,747 MB and 2,532 MB, respectively), and you had to bump that up to 4 or more simultaneous streams to get above the 3GB mark. At that point, you’re streaming an unenjoyable cacophony of sight and sound, but you can add more if you want. of RAM is best for slightly demanding tasks like graphic design and editing videos (but not for cinematography). It’s also enough to run some less-demanding games. As we can see, there are a number of cases where 8GB is more than enough for you. In addition to standard RAM, there is also VRAM. VRAM (video random access memory) stores graphics data and is located on your graphics card. VRAM acts as a buffer between the CPU and display for rendered images. Video games and 3D graphic design programs benefit most from VRAM. If you’re planning on playing resource-intensive games or creating your own video games, you’ll need a good amount of VRAM. Similarly, if you’re a professional moviemaker or a cinematographer, 12GB is completely out of the question. Your PC won’t be able to run professional video or picture editing software. To make them work, you’ll have to add more RAM. – Animation

That leads to our general capacity guidelines. We recommend 16GB of main system memory for most users who want to multitask without incurring the above-mentioned slowdown, and 32GB for heavy multi-taskers or those running memory-hogging programs such as video editors. Remember that Threadripper X399 boards tend to have eight memory slots. Breaking from DDR4-3600 recommendations because many builders wish to fully populate these boards with eight dual rank modules (16 total ranks), stability at this setting is still common when using up to eight total ranks with the Ryzen Threadripper 2950X. Earlier processors can be fussier, though. DDR4-3200 is compatible across most Threadripper processor models and memory configurations, but AMD recommends only DDR4-2933 for second-gen Ryzen Threadrippers and DDR4-2666 for first-gen Ryzen Threadrippers. ▶ Intel X299 Chipset Motherboards (With LGA2066 Core X-Series CPUs) Some of the most famous titles available today can be played with 12GB of RAM. These include “Battlefield 1-5,” “Overwatch,” “Fallout 5,” “GTA 5,” “CS:GO,” etc. This amount of RAM is also enough if you want to create gaming streams. Since your computer will be functioning smoothly, you’ll be able to record both your video and your voice smoothly.

DDR4-3200 could be a better choice for users who can’t afford DDR4-3600 at CAS 18 or lower latency, though. And given the age of these platforms, even slower (and thus, cheaper) memory could be appropriate. Investing in premium RAM for a venerable PC may not make sense within your budget, especially if you think you might upgrade the whole system before long. Photo editing is far more demanding than basic office or web functionality, and is usually right on the cusp of what an affordable system can do well. We decided to test photo editing with Photoshop CC, Adobe’s current offering, and used unedited photos from a smartphone, each with 5312 x 2988 resolution, and measuring 5-6 MB each. Keeping this in mind, both 8GB and 12GB are only good if you won’t be putting your phone under an extremely heavy load. For instance, they’re more than enough for day-to-day use. However, for high-end games and applications, you need something that offers more RAM.One thing to remember is that most systems require a matched pair of modules to run dual-channel mode, or four matching modules to operate in quad-channel mode. While past platforms have occasionally allowed for mixed modes using different modules, those didn’t perform optimally. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to ditch an old pair of modules when a pair of empty slots are available, as we’ve had good experience adding a new matched pair to an old matched pair of the same data rate, but doing so may make XMP mode unworkable. We’ve even added 2x 8GB kits next to 2x 4GB kits without breaking dual-channel mode, creating a 24GB (12GB per-channel) configuration as 8GB-4GB-8GB-4GB, by simply leaving the board at default (non-XMP) settings. You’ll just want to make sure the matched pairs are inserted into the proper paired DIMM slots recommended by the motherboard maker. To help you find the best answer for you, we tested for five specific use cases, each common but distinct in its memory demands: To test multitasking, we started by simple adding one use case on top of another, and ran the same test on three different systems: An inexpensive Dell Inspiron 11 2-in-1 with 4GB of RAM, a mid-range Dell Inspiron 17 5767 with 8GB of RAM and the Alienware 15 R3 with 16GB of memory. Key takeaway: For web browsing, 4GB is only going to cut it for a few tabs of basic content. Anything more, you’ll want at least 10GB of memory; more if you want to multitask in other programs as you browse. Media streaming The 16GB Alienware 15 held strong, but the in-use memory approached the 14GB mark, while the amount of free memory dwindled to nearly zero. At this point we started to see programs slow down, with jittery navigation and slowness in loading files as they were opened. GTA V continued to run, and we enjoyed a shootout and a car chase before moving on to the next level of multitasking torture.