PC Gamer Presents - PC Hardware Handbook - May 2018

(nigelxxx) #1

CAPACITY FOR CAPACITY


To understand how memory capacity is
calculated, we have to look at how the chips
themselves are designed. This starts with
JEDEC, an association of over 300 different
companies that focus on solid-state
technology. Its task is to ensure that
universal standards are used across the
registered companies when it comes to
solid-state tech, with a particular emphasis
on DRAM, solid-state drives, and interfaces
(NVMe and AHCI, for instance). What this
does is ensure that the consumer won’t have
to pick between four different connection
standards for DDR4, for example, and
everything is consistent across multiple

manufacturers – aka no proprietary BS. As
far as memory is concerned, JEDEC lists
the criteria that, say, DDR4 needs to adhere
to – for instance, the number of pin outs,
the dimensions of the chips, and more.
That spec is then handed over to the
manufacturers to produce memory chips to
their own specifications that fit into
JEDEC’s criteria. Typically, the differences
lie within the size of the manufacturing
process used (which additionally affects
power draw). These chips are then bought
by aftermarket partners, such as Corsair,
HyperX, G.Skill, and so on, to be assembled
with their own PCBs, heatsinks, and

aftermarket features (RGB LEDs, anyone?),
while, of course, still adhering to JEDEC’s
original outline.
Due to limitations in transistor size,
DDR4 chips are limited to just 1GB each,
although a theoretical 2GB per chip is well
within the specification. In the consumer
market, most DIMMs can only support up
to a maximum of 16 memory chips per stick,
meaning a maximum capacity of 16GB per
DIMM is possible. You can find larger sticks
in the enterprise market, typically featuring
up to 32GB per stick, but these are designed
for server use rather than the consumer
market, and are priced into the thousands.

So, in this world of
hyperinflated memory prices,
just how much DDR4 is
enough for what you want to
do? It’s tricky. A year or so
ago, we would have happily
sat here and recommended
64GB of DDR4 for any video
editor or content creator out
there. But, to be honest, given

the ludicrous price increases
(more on that later), that’s
just not a practical or good
use of your money in this day
and age.

4GB If all you’re
building is a home theatre PC
or a machine for low-end
office work, then arguably a
single 4GB stick of low-spec
DDR4 should be perfect for
the job. Couple that with a
low-end Pentium part, and
you’re all set. For those keen
miners out there, this is also
the ideal spec for a
cryptocurrency mining rig,
because mining is typically
not as memory-intensive as
other more mainstream
applications (but you should
pass on the Pentium if you’re
planning to mine CPU-
intensive currencies).

8GB If entry-level
gaming is your jam, 8GB (2x
4GB) is the absolute minimum
we’d recommend. Ironically,
the lower the amount of VRAM
on your GPU, the more likely
the system is to cache overly
large texture files onto the
actual RAM itself.

16GB For
mid-range to high-end
gaming, you absolutely need
that 16GB of DDR4.
Annoyingly, more and more
games are starting to use
more and more memory.
Yearly releases and poorly
optimised titles are putting
more strain on system
memory, with even Star
Citizen recently announcing a
minimum spec of 16GB of
RAM purely to run the Alpha.

16GB is also a nice
middleweight RAM capacity
for any task you want to throw
at your rig. Whether that’s
extensive office work,
Photoshop, entry-level
videography, you name it, it’s
the right spec for you.

32GB For anyone
who makes a living from 3D
modelling and content
creation, 32GB is the way to go
for the time being. Although
this will more than likely still
set you back £300 or more,

it’s the absolutely perfect
amount for applications such
as After Effects, 4K Premiere
Pro, and more.

32GB PLUS
For now, unless you can
somehow get it aggressively
subsidised, anything beyond
32GB just isn’t worth it, at
least not until RAM prices
drop below that key £500
mark once more. You’ll kick
yourself for spending that
much when prices drop again.

(^) HOW MUCH MEMORY?
Feature
MEMORY MATTERS

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