The Beginner's Guide To RAM in 2026

When building or upgrading a PC, RAM is one of the most misunderstood components. People either overspend on specs they’ll never use - or cheap out and end up with stutters, crashes, and regret.

So we've created this guide to break it down properly so you can make the right decision and possibly save some serious cash.

Why RAM Actually Matters

RAM (Random Access Memory) is your system’s short-term memory. It stores the data your CPU needs right now.

If you don’t have enough RAM:

• Games will stutter more often

• Applications may lag or crash

• Load times increase significantly

If you have too much:

• You’re simply wasting money that could’ve gone into a better GPU or CPU

The good news is RAM is one of the easiest components to upgrade later - but getting it right from the start saves time, effort, and money (especially with current price hikes).

DDR4 vs DDR5 - What’s the Difference?

DDR4 (Previous Generation)

DDR4 is older, but don’t let that put you off. For gaming, it’s still very capable and offers solid performance at a much lower cost. The main limitation is really just compatibility, since it only works with older platforms like AM4.

DDR5 (Current Generation)

DDR5 is the modern standard and is required for newer platforms like AM5.

It offers:

• Higher speeds

• Increased bandwidth

• Better efficiency

While it’s often marketed as “twice as fast,” the real-world gains in gaming aren’t that dramatic - but it is the better long-term choice.

The AI Effect - Why RAM Prices Have Gone Up

If you haven’t heard, AI is the new big thing, and unfortunately, that has a very negative impact on the PC industry.

We’ve seen:

• GPU shortages

• Increased component pricing

• Delays in hardware availability

And now RAM is feeling it too. What used to cost $200-$300 for 32GB DDR5 has now jumped to $600+ in most cases. Even DDR4 has been affected, with prices rising significantly, so you can now pay up to $400 for 32GB of DDR4 RAM!

At The PC Project, our philosophy has always been simple:

Gamers shouldn’t have to overpay for RAM.

We’ve seen too many builds where RAM is marked up heavily just because prices have been volatile - and that’s something we actively push against.

Real-World Performance Differences

Here’s the honest truth:

• Most games: 3-5% FPS difference

• CPU-heavy/esports titles: 5-15% improvement with faster DDR5

• 1440p & 4K gaming: almost no difference (GPU is the bottleneck)

  
  

So while DDR5 is technically better, it’s not going to magically double your FPS.

How to Actually Use Your RAM Properly

Most people don’t know this - and honestly, they shouldn’t have to.

RAM doesn’t run at its advertised speed by default.

To unlock full performance, enable either XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) in your BIOS settings. This allows your RAM to run at its rated speed instead of the default lower speed, and here at The PC Project, we handle this for you - so your system is fully optimised out of the box.

How Much RAM Do You Actually Need?

16GB - Budget Option

• Still playable for most games

• Fine for esports and general use

• Can struggle with AAA titles and multitasking

32GB - The Sweet Spot (Recommended)

• Smooth performance in modern games

• Handles multitasking easily

• Ideal for gaming + Discord + browser + streaming

This is quickly becoming the new standard for modern PCs.

64GB+ - For Power Users

Only worth it if you:

• Edit 4K video

• Use Blender, Unreal Engine, or similar

• Stream, game, and multitask heavily

More RAM = faster workflow and smoother performance.

Dual Channel - The Hidden Performance Boost

Modern motherboards use something called dual-channel memory, which significantly improves performance.

Instead of:

• 1x32GB stick

You should use:

• 2x16GB sticks

This can give up to 20% more memory bandwidth. Most motherboards will have 4 slots, but the optimal configuration is usually:

• Slot 2 and Slot 4 (check your motherboard manual)

You may see in some of our older AM4 builds that we filled all four RAM lanes (4x8GB) for more aesthetic reasons. However, with DDR5 speeds so high, most manufacturers have now stopped providing 4-stick kits and are sticking with 2-stick kits to optimise the dual RAM channels.

Capacity vs Speed - What Matters More?

Simple answer -  it depends. The simple rule is to focus on capacity first and speed second, since most people won’t really notice the difference between 2666MHz and 3000MHz. Upgrading from 16GB to 32GB will give you a bigger boost than increasing RAM speed, so once you have enough capacity, then speed and timings start to matter.

Trusted RAM Brands

There are a lot of trusted brands nowadays for RAM, so if you’re building or recommending systems, you can’t go wrong with the following brands:

• Corsair - Reliable, strong RGB ecosystem, but generally more expensive due to branding

• G.Skill - Great performance and overclocking capabilities, and is usually more favoured for Ryzen builds

• Kingston - An excellent value brand in Australia, you’ll often see their RAM kits being the cheapest, but that doesn’t mean they have terrible performance

• Crucial - Because Crucial is a consumer brand of Micron Technology, one of the world's largest manufacturers of DRAM chips, their memory is hailed for using high-quality components directly from the factory

• TeamGroup - Known for good value and performance, particularly with their T-Force gaming kits, with some good RGB options

Final Thoughts

If you’re building a PC today:

• Go DDR5 if your budget allows

• Aim for 32GB (2x16GB)

• Treat it as your performance baseline

But we also understand not everyone wants to spend $600+ on RAM.

That’s why DDR4 still exists - and our budget-friendly, QA Assessed options are still a great choice for the right build.

At the end of the day, it’s not about chasing specs - it’s about building a system that makes sense for you.

NEED HELP CHOOSING?

At The PC Project, we build every system with the right amount of RAM from the start - balanced for performance, multitasking, and long-term reliability.

• Get a custom quote

• Upgrade your current system

• Or speak to someone who actually knows what they’re doing

  
  

Start your build with The PC Project today.

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AUTHOR

Rafat Rahman

Tech Writer - The PC Project

Rafat is an undergraduate student at Murdoch University with a great interest in all things technology and its rapid improvement. He is a former content creator with a background in writing, currently focused on learning and sharing knowledge.