Would 4 GB of ram help a lot with running games? (specs inside)

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Blackhammer20

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Nov 2, 2014
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Hello, here are my specs:

GPU: GTX 1060
CPU: i5 - 4570
RAM: 8 Gb DDR3 from Goodram

I've noticed there are a few newly released games which give me ram-related errors and stutter, in once case to the point of unplayability.

I am on a tight budget, so I have limited options. My question is: would extra 4 Gb of RAM help with the issue? Is it going to make a difference in games which already run smoothly, but not on max details?

I play on 1080p if that matters.

Thanks.

UPDATE
So how can I update my RAM if it can just "not work" ? I don't understand. Would I have to re-buy all of my RAM components? I have 2x Goodram 4GB which I bought 3 years ago.
 
Solution
Achint2000
Before going for anything, make sure what's causing the problem. Run Heaven Benchmark on Ultra, use a GPU Monitoring tool like GPU-Z or ASUS GPU Tweak's Monitor to see how much GPU Usage is there. Also download some great windows gadgets - Core Temp, All CPU Meter, GPU Meter, PCMeter.

While the benchmark or the game which stutters is running IN WINDOWED MODE (use Alt+Enter for Windowed mode), just do some random things there and check weather the RAM usage is too high (above 85%) or the CPU Usage is too high (about 75%) or the GPU's Video Memory Usage is too high.

GTX 1060 is new and good enough for most games so that shouldn't be an issue.

CPU Throttling can also be an issue. Check if the CPU is running too hot (above 75C) and on...
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geofelt

geofelt

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Oct 9, 2006
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More ram is always good.
But, be careful if you try to add 4gb.
It is not guaranteed to work.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
This is more difficult when 4 sticks are involved.
That is why ram vendors will NOT support ram that is not bought in one kit.
It is safer to get what you need in one kit.

What is your plan "B" if an added stick does not work?

 
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clonazepam

clonazepam

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Jul 10, 2010
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I would troubleshoot the ram-related errors and stutter first. 8GB of RAM, so long as everything is functioning properly, is still good enough for gaming.

I'd create a bootable CD or usb stick with Memtest86 on it and test thoroughly. I'd torture the hardware with Prime95 / Futuremark and look for issues.

Adding more RAM to a potentially unstable system will not get you to the promised land.

What are your full specs? Motherboard make/model, GPU, all pertinent settings, power supply, temperatures when gaming, etc. Thoroughly clean any dust, etc.
 
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Achint2000

Achint2000

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Feb 10, 2013
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Before going for anything, make sure what's causing the problem. Run Heaven Benchmark on Ultra, use a GPU Monitoring tool like GPU-Z or ASUS GPU Tweak's Monitor to see how much GPU Usage is there. Also download some great windows gadgets - Core Temp, All CPU Meter, GPU Meter, PCMeter.

While the benchmark or the game which stutters is running IN WINDOWED MODE (use Alt+Enter for Windowed mode), just do some random things there and check weather the RAM usage is too high (above 85%) or the CPU Usage is too high (about 75%) or the GPU's Video Memory Usage is too high.

GTX 1060 is new and good enough for most games so that shouldn't be an issue.

CPU Throttling can also be an issue. Check if the CPU is running too hot (above 75C) and on full frequency or not. If it's not running on full frequency, download Techpowerup ThrottleStop and set manual core ratio to the maximum.

Anyways, yes, 8 GB RAM isn't enough for games like Need for Speed 2015 on 1080p or GTA 5 on 1080p Ultra/High. These games need much more RAM. I upgraded to 16GB RAM and now, absolutely no issues with any sorta lag.
 
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