PC Ram 16GB vs 32GB – How Much You Need for Different Tasks

16gb or 32gb which one to go with

With DDR5 ram modules around the corner, the prices of older DDR4 and DDR3 sticks have significantly dropped all over the world. The 32GB DDR4 kits now cost less than $250 whereas the 16GB modules are just a little above $100. So, there’s a narrow gap between the cost of a 16GB and 32GB memory module. Over time, the increasing demand for more memory has created a lot of confusion for end-users to choose between a 16GB and 32GB ram.

Applications, games, and web browsers occupy more ram space now. Jumping back to the year 2010, 8GB ram kit was enough to carve your gaming and general needs. But now, demanding games like Division 2, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance eat 8GB memory like a piece of cake.

PC Ram 16GB vs 32GB - How Much You Need
Ram installed on a motherboard

16GB VS 32GB | Which One You Should Go For

Upgrading your ram is the cheapest way to enhance the performance of your computer. But, you have to go for the module that falls under your budget while meeting your needs. Also, before going for an upgrade, check out which ram type is compatible with your motherboard.

Nowadays, 8GB is the bare minimum to deal with different tasks. And if you have 4GB ram installed on your computer, find out if it’s worth upgrading to 8GB from a 4GB memory.

An 8GB module would be enough if you don’t want to play demanding games and just want to stick with basic tasks. But if you are a hardcore gamer, then you have to leave aside 8GB kits and prefer 16 or 32GB kits depending upon your needs.

Let’s find out what you can accomplish with 16GB and 32GB ram kits.

16GB: From Here the Show Starts

Just have a look at the prebuilt builds or gaming laptops, everyone is equipped with at least 16GB of ram. Well, this is the sweet spot to tackle multiple tasks at the same time without slowing down your PC.

The laptop on which I’m writing write how has the 16GB of ram, and it’s a gaming laptop. I’ve run Red Dead Redemption 2 and at the same time I was playing an HD video on YouTube (in Chrome Browser), and both of these swapped around 11GB of ram.

As you can see, the games and applications are becoming demanding over time. Soon enough, the 16GB would become the bare minimum like 8GB was a few years back. However, if you are dealing with modern games, photo editing, or office-based applications, then 16GB is the sweet spot, at least for now.

But if your needs are more than this, then you have to upgrade to 32GB or more.

32GB: Should You Go For This Much Amount?

Moving up to 32GB of ram will definitely make your PC future-proof in every aspect, but won’t that be overkill? We’ve managed to play a lot of games on high-end PCs, but none of them was able to eclipse all of the 16GB amounts.

However, when it comes to tweaking with large files, especially in video editing, then it’s worth upgrading to 32GB memory. But it only makes sense to go for this much amount if you really need it on regular basis. For example, if you are dealing with large 4K files, having a 32GB memory will surely cut down your project time.

Conclusion

Finally, 16GB VS 32GB PC ram, which one is right for you? It’s simple if you are gaming and dealing with productivity tasks, then a 16GB of ram is the sweet spot. With this much amount, at least you can play AAA titles and do other tasks without having a negative experience.

For most gamers and enthusiasts, 32GB would be overkill. Unless you are manipulating large video files at higher resolution, don’t go for it. You can also create a ram drive from the unused space on a 32GB ram as well.

If you feel your system hitting the 16GB mark, then it’s a clear indication that you need to move up to 32GB. Other than that, it’s better to stick with 16GB kits that are affordable and meet every computing need as of today. Every cent counts when you are planning for a PC upgrade. So don’t waste money on a higher amount of ram unless you really need it.

  • Robert Milakovic

    Robert, based in Osijek, Croatia, is a co-founder of Incomera, a media company that has launched several entertainment sites including Fiction Horizon, Game Horizon, and Anime Horizon. He's also a co-owner of Computer Zilla, Comic Basics, and Voice Film. Since an early age, he wa...