Hardware experts!

I have recently upgraded to FS2024.

My ram and graphics card are 16GB DDR4 3200 RAM and RTX2060 6GB OC both of which are slightly 'south' of the recommended.

My budget only allows me to add another 16GB RAM OR a used RTX2080 8GB immediately and the other one later.

Which one will result in the best noticable performance increase?

Regarding ram. My current ram (HyperX Fury) has a CL of 18-21-21 I am having trouble locating ram above CL16. Does that matter?

Also I read it is better to have 2 X 16 GB sticks instead of 4 X 8GB sticks and I wonder why and would I notice the difference (yes I have 4 slots on my motherboard)?

I have researched amount of ram with 2024 and found that it effects whether or not you get stutters which I get a little. It seems also that 32gb won't necessarily prevent some stutters.

Also would mixing ram rated faster than 3200 cause problems. I assume that it would just be throttled back to 3200.

A better graphics card only allows a faster fps at a given graphics/scenery settings I guess.

Thanks.

Edited August 9Aug 9 by Jarnie
last 2 sentences

I would drop a new graphics card in there. I would never "add ram". I would only buy all new ram.

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/get-a-radeon-rx-9060-xt-16gb-upgrade-for-just-usd399-take-your-pick-from-four-attainable-options-at-newegg-now

I thought you already started a thread. Why not update that thread?

I couldn't find it, sorry. Plus I've noticed in the past that sometimes when I add to an existing thread after a lapse of a few days I don't get a response. Also looking back at that thread the last post was from myself asking a question and I never received a reply and so thought the thread was 'dead in the water'.

I will update the previous thread. It would help if I received emails as I have never been able to work out why I don't and the only way I can keep track is to make a link on my desktop to the web page.

I tried to cancel or at least edit the initial question but was unable to.

Administrator please remove this thread.

Edited August 9Aug 9 by Jarnie
last 2 sentences

1 hour ago, Fielder said:

I would drop a new graphics card in there. I would never "add ram". I would only buy all new ram.

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/get-a-radeon-rx-9060-xt-16gb-upgrade-for-just-usd399-take-your-pick-from-four-attainable-options-at-newegg-now

The Aussie web site lists it as $A843 out of the question for me.

Of the two options, I think the 2080 will make the biggest difference.

It's not a great idea to mix RAM kits--even two identical kits can have enough subtle timing differences to make a system unstable. And mixing old RAM with new modules having completely different timing--that can be done by loosening the timings on the faster set, but it requires detailed knowledge of the full array of memory timing parameters and a great deal of patience and trial-and-error to get it dialed in. The most painless solution is to always use a kit as-tested by the manufacturer, so you know that the modules work out of the box together at the stated speed/timings.

As far as 2 DIMMs vs 4--fully populating the RAM slots adds to the load on the IMC (integrated memory controller) and the electronics involved in accessing additional modules slows things down some, and in some cases may require increasing the latency and/or loosening timings below the DIMM manufacturer's advertised speed to achieve stability. Remember that most RAM modules are overclocked by the module manufacturer and actually use memory ICs rated at significantly lower speeds than the DIMM is marketed for.

summary: to increase ram, use all new ram. Don't use 1 slot, don't use 4. Use 2 slots.

Hardware Unboxed is based in Australia and full of good advice.

https://www.youtube.com/@Hardwareunboxed

Thanks.

I had forgotten tomshardware forum so posted there about mixed ram and it seems that ram should be in matched pairs and that 2 X 16Gb is better than 4 X 8Gb and as Bob also mentioned. Also trouble is finding NEW ram as my pc is 6 years old and DDR4 3200 is not available new anymore.

Maybe a better graphics card is better. I think size of ram affects stutters only?

My system briefly is

i7 9700K cpu

Gigabyte Z390 m/b

16Gb DDR4 3200

Gigabyte RTX2060 6Gb OC graphics card

500gb M.2 SATA ssd plus 2 SATA 3 ssd

34" Gigabyte monitor

Windows 10 - please don't beat me up.

Nothing overclocked unless the computer shop did without my knowledge when they built it for me 6 years ago.

Edited August 10Aug 10 by Jarnie
windows 10 ....

According to this, a 5060 should cost $450 Australian. At 3:10

and the 9060XT 16GB is $530 Aus (9:00) accdg to HU

AT 12:50 he says Australia is the best (cheapest) place to buy video card with prices not above the suggested retail. Somewhere around 13:50 He says gpu prices are only 25% higher than their lowest ever of Nov '25, but RAM is 400% higher! Seems like it's the time to buy a video card instead of more RAM.

His video was posted 11 days ago.

Edited August 11Aug 11 by Fielder

56 minutes ago, Fielder said:

AT 12:50 he says Australia is the best (cheapest) place to buy video card with prices not above the suggested retail. Somewhere around 13:50 He says gpu prices are only 25% higher than their lowest ever of Nov '25, but RAM is 400% higher! Seems like it's the time to buy a video card instead of more RAM.

His video was posted 11 days ago.

Very interesting. I always thought that prices in Oz were expensive than other countries and sometimes cheaper buying overseas and paying extra for freight.

Hopefully this will 'resurrect' this thread.

I decided to start with more RAM and then later a better graphics card.

Unfortunately I purchased 2 X 16GB 3600Mhz modules which my motherboard does not support. Enabling XMP (which the ram supports) prevents the PC from booting up. Disabling XMP does not allow me to select a speed faster than 2133 even though the motherboard supports 2133/2400/2666.

The reason for 'resurrecting'?

Microsoft recommend 32Gb ram for FS2024 but the speed is not mentioned. How important is ram speed? What is the minimum I should accept?

I have the 2 modules installed in slots 1 and 3. Would slots 2 and 4 make any difference?

Edited Thursday at 07:35 AM4 days by Jarnie
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