Memory is the upgrade people ask me about most this year, partly because games keep getting bigger and partly because RAM has been oddly expensive. The global memory shortage driven by AI data centres has squeezed consumer DDR4 and DDR5 supply since 2025, and Micron even walked away from its Crucial consumer brand. So the question is not only how much RAM you need. It is how much RAM is worth buying right now.
I will answer the questions I actually get, in the order people ask them.
Is 16GB Still Enough for Gaming?
For lighter games, yes. For big open-world games with a browser, Discord and a launcher running in the background, 16GB is where I start to see stutter when the system pages memory out. It is the minimum I would build with, not the target.
Is 32GB the Right Amount for Most People?
Yes, and it is what I put in nearly every gaming build. Two 16GB sticks give you dual-channel memory and enough room that you stop thinking about what is running in the background. If GTA 6 eventually comes to PC, and Rockstar has not announced that, 32GB is the amount I would want for it. No official requirements exist yet, so anyone quoting them is guessing.
For a DDR5 build, my default is the CORSAIR Vengeance 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30. Timings are 30-36-36-76 at 1.40V, and it carries both AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 profiles, so it works properly on either platform. If you want lighting, the Kingston FURY Beast 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 has RGB lighting at the same speed and latency, also with both profiles. For a white build, the T-Force Delta RGB 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 runs at a slightly lower 1.35V.
When Does 64GB Make Sense?
When the PC is not only for games. Video editing, large photo libraries, running local AI models, or a game plus a stream plus a dozen tabs all benefit. For pure gaming, I have not found a good reason to go past 32GB.
The G.SKILL Ripjaws S5 64GB DDR5-6000 CL30 is fast for a 2 x 32GB kit, with 30-40-40-96 timings at 1.40V. One detail matters: its listing shows an Intel XMP 3.0 profile only, with no EXPO. On an AMD board it may still run its rated speed, but I would check the motherboard's memory support list first. The CORSAIR Vengeance RGB 64GB DDR5-6000 is looser at CL40 and 1.35V, but it lists both EXPO and XMP, which is the safer choice for AM5.
I Am Still on DDR4. Should I Bother?
If you are on an AM4 Ryzen system with 16GB, moving to 32GB is one of the cheapest meaningful upgrades left for that platform. The G.SKILL Ripjaws V 32GB DDR4-3600 CL16 is the kit I would use: 16-19-19-39 at 1.35V. It uses an Intel XMP 2.0 profile, which AMD boards typically load through their own memory profile setting. Replace both sticks rather than mixing old and new kits, because mixed kits are a common cause of instability.
Can I Upgrade My Gaming Laptop's RAM?
Only if it has SO-DIMM slots. Many thin laptops use soldered LPDDR5X that cannot be changed, so check your model's spec sheet before buying anything.
If it does have slots, the CORSAIR Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM is a straightforward upgrade at CL48 and 1.10V. For laptops that support it, the G.SKILL Ripjaws 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM doubles that at CL46. Laptops often run memory at their own supported speed, so treat the rated speed as a ceiling.
So What Should You Buy?
Gaming desktop: 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 with EXPO and XMP, like the Corsair Vengeance kit. Creator or AI work: 64GB, with the Corsair Vengeance RGB 64GB being the safer AM5 pick. AM4: 32GB of DDR4-3600. Laptop with slots: 32GB SO-DIMM. With supply still tight, I would buy the capacity you need now rather than planning to add sticks later. More kits are in Newegg's DDR5-6000 32GB listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much RAM will GTA 6 need on PC? There is no announced PC version and no official system requirements. For current open-world PC games, 32GB is what I recommend.
Why are RAM prices high in 2026? Memory makers have shifted capacity toward high-bandwidth memory for AI data centres, which has squeezed consumer DDR4 and DDR5 supply since 2025.
Should I buy one stick or two? Two matched sticks from the same kit. That gives you dual-channel bandwidth, and kits are tested together as a set.
Do I need EXPO or XMP? EXPO is AMD's memory profile and XMP is Intel's. A kit with both is the easiest to live with. Without a profile turned on in the BIOS, DDR5 runs at a slower default speed.
Can I mix my old RAM with a new kit? It can work, but mismatched sticks are a common cause of instability. I recommend replacing all the sticks with one matched kit.
Read More
- Wikipedia: Global Memory Supply Shortage -- Timeline and causes of the DRAM and NAND shortage affecting PC builders.
- Newegg Insider: DDR5 Price Crisis 2026 -- How to buy RAM sensibly while memory supply is tight.
- Tom's Hardware: RAM News and Reviews -- Ongoing memory coverage, testing and buying advice.
- AMD: EXPO Memory Technology -- AMD's explanation of one-click EXPO memory profiles.
- Newegg: DDR5-6000 32GB Kits -- Compare 32GB DDR5-6000 kits by latency, profile and colour.