Is 4GB of RAM good for a gaming system?

BennettWHU · 6 Jun 2012 at 19:34

I'm building my first ever custom system. I want to try and save a little cash on the RAM to be able to buy a more high end GPU or PSU. Is 4GB good or should I go for 8GB?

Sgt Tackleberry · 6 Jun 2012 at 19:44

4gb will do a lot of games but games like max payne 3 wants 8gb-16gb.

shawsy109 · 6 Jun 2012 at 21:27

4gb is enough for most, but if you can afford it mate Id go for 8gb just to leave yourself a little headroom.

MatsyLR · 6 Jun 2012 at 21:43

4gb is all you need, most get 8gb due to it's usually cheaper than buying 2 4gb packs and its not going to hurt anything.

Smoogels · 6 Jun 2012 at 21:53

4GB is fine. 8GB just allows for faster loading, in most cases.

Could just get 4GB now and should you ever need more in the future just get some more sticks

SubScape · 6 Jun 2012 at 21:57

4GB is fine but I would get 8GB for future-proofing as it's so cheap right now.

j.col · 6 Jun 2012 at 22:04

shawsy109 said:
4gb is enough for most, but if you can afford it mate Id go for 8gb just to leave yourself a little headroom.

this^
i am still on DDR2, only have 4gb of ram, but when i do eventually upgrade, will be getting 2 x 4gb

edit.
did you post a thread in general hardware, for advice on whats the best parts for your budget?

Xelene · 7 Jun 2012 at 17:55

Most games are limited to 2GB, but that's changing as 64bit uptake increases. Just get the extra as it's cheap at the moment and all those little icons in the tray area, random services and the browser you occasionally alt-tab out to all use RAM.

matty15 · 7 Jun 2012 at 18:25

Sgt Tackleberry said:
4gb will do a lot of games but games like max payne 3 wants 8gb-16gb.

Not true, the game runs smoothly on highest settings with my 4gb..

a66as · 7 Jun 2012 at 18:34

might as well just pay a bit extra and get 8gig, can't go wrong

TheLegendOfMart · 7 Jun 2012 at 18:45

Ram is dirt cheap there is no reason to scrimp.

shawsy109 · 7 Jun 2012 at 20:55

Eeeeeethan said:
Ram is dirt cheap there is no reason to scrimp.

Totally agree, i had 8gb, dont need 16gb, but for 40 quid for 8gb more, who cares.

wkingsnorth · 7 Jun 2012 at 22:19

shawsy109 said:
Totally agree, i had 8gb, dont need 16gb, but for 40 quid for 8gb more, who cares.

That ^

8gb is generally accepted as the standard for a gaming system, it's still pretty cheap now anyway

BennettWHU · 7 Jun 2012 at 23:18

I'm on a strict budget. My, PSU, RAM, and HDD are next. As my motherboard only has two memory slots, I'll wait until I upgrade to my P67 Sabertooth till I go for 8GB of RAM. I only want to play games like, The Old Republic, Medieval Total War II, Empire Total War II, Skyrim, and Fallout: New Vegas. I'll also want the new GTA when it is released.

Muel · 7 Jun 2012 at 23:36

For that game selection and the sake of £15 saved going for 4gb instead of 8gb, don't be silly. Get 8gb.

shawsy109 · 7 Jun 2012 at 23:40

Muel said:
For that game selection and the sake of £15 saved going for 4gb instead of 8gb, don't be silly. Get 8gb.

cereal3 · 8 Jun 2012 at 00:41

4GB on my system runs pretty much any game without issues, but it does take a few seconds to load the desktop after quitting intensive ones. Buy one 4GB stick now and get another later if you really need it. RAM is so cheap atm

TheLegendOfMart · 8 Jun 2012 at 07:18

Yeah good idea, running dual channel isn't going to make any noticeable difference over just one stick.

Vimes · 8 Jun 2012 at 08:29

I have gone from 4GB of DDR2 to 12GB of DDR 3 and I have noticed absolutely no difference gaming wise, albeit with limited testing of the following...

Civ V - I have noted it uses between 800mb and 1.2GB at most during gameplay.
Skyrim
Medieval TW II
Shogun II
RTW

I run Windows 7 x64.

However the OP should post his overall purchases in the General Hardware section, rather than a series of individual ones, and then people could offer more informed advice to "balance" those choices.

On its own 4GB of RAM is still very adequate for most Windows and gaming tasks but there can be other needs as to why it might be a wiser choice to go for 2x4GB sticks, especially for the price difference.

If the OP posts in the General section and then also details his use beyond the games he mentions then people will advise accordingly.