I’ve been rocking a 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 memory kit ever since I got my current AM4 build. It’s natural to consider an upgrade to a 64GB DDR5 kit when I eventually move to AM5 in a year or two. After all, 64GB kits aren’t exactly “overpriced” on a high-end build, and there are obvious benefits to having more spare memory than ever. However, all things considered, I’ve decided to stick with 32GB RAM even on my next build. Based on my needs and preferences, spending more on a 64GB kit doesn’t make sense (yet).
Gaming will likely remain my main use case
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32GB will continue to be more than enough
If I’m being honest, I won’t need 64GB of RAM on my next PC for anything. I will be using my PC mainly for gaming and writing, with occasional streaming and productivity. 32GB of memory has been plenty for my system for the last three years, and it’ll most likely remain so for the next five as well. Even the most demanding games of 2025 don’t need more than 32GB of RAM on a gaming PC, and the chances of this changing anytime soon are pretty slim.
Hence, buying a 32GB DDR5-6000 or DDR5-6400 kit, even for my next build, will be the logical course of action. Of course, the temptation of having a 2x32GB kit will always be there, but I can’t really justify it. Besides, the GPU horsepower and CPU cache will play a larger role in gaming performance. Instead of a 64GB kit rated at 6,400MT/s, I could buy a 32GB kit rated at 7,200MT/s, and gain a bigger advantage in gaming, if any.
8/10
- Brand
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Crucial
- Size
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16GB, 32GB
- Technology
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Dr5
- Speed
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6,000 MT/s
64GB will never become mainstream during DDR5’s lifecycle
What future-proofing?
Some users believe it’s worth spending extra on a 64GB DDR5 kit just to be prepared for when they’ll eventually need it. However, by the time 64GB RAM becomes remotely necessary for the average user, it’ll be time to move to DDR6. DDR5 memory launched back in 2021, and has maybe four more years left till DDR6 DIMMs make their way to the consumer market. In that time, the memory sweet spot doubling from 32GB to 64GB is highly unlikely. Whether for gaming or productivity, 32GB RAM will be enough for most users.
Of course, enthusiasts and professionals might need 64GB of RAM (or more), depending on the use case, but the majority of us won’t. Modern operating systems and programs have become adept at using memory efficiently to minimize leaks, and the conventional wisdom of throwing more RAM at the problem doesn’t hold anymore. The imagined future where you’ll be able to utilize 64GB of DDR5 RAM will likely never come to pass. It’ll be skipped over by the advent of next-gen DDR6 RAMwhich is slated to populate server systems by 2027, followed soon after by early consumer adoption in 2028 or 2029.
The pricing doesn’t make sense
Not really a smart purchase
Even if I can somehow convince myself that I’ll be able to use more than 32GB of RAM on my next build, the current pricing doesn’t sit well with me. For instance, a 32GB DDR5-6000 kit can be had for as low as $85, but many 64GB DDR5 kits cost over three times as much. You can easily find $300 DDR5-6400 CL32 kits on the market, and even the CL40 variants cost at least $200. The price delta might not feel as great on a high-end, $2000–$2500 rig, but the fact is that I can use the money elsewhere for better results.
For instance, the extra $100 could go into a higher-end motherboard with better VRMs and quality-of-life features. Alternatively, it could get me additional storage, more PSU power, a fancier case, or even a more premium AIB model graphics card. The overall benefits of these decisions will easily outweigh those of buying a 64GB kit. It’s not a question of affordability but rather one of maximizing value when building a PC. And if I really can’t do without 64GB of RAM, I can always install additional memory later.
64GB RAM will have its day, someday
The nature of PC hardware is to constantly evolve and break past records. Hence, the time of 64GB RAM will eventually come, but it’s far into the future by PC hardware standards. When I build an AM5 PC in 2026 or 2027, 32GB of DDR5 RAM will still be sufficient for all my use cases. Upgrading to 64GB of memory will certainly be the next step, but it will be overkill to do it on my next build.
