AMD motherboards are about to get a major BIOS update that will introduce 24GB and 48GB DDR5 RAM module support, improve decades of memory capacity allocation, and crack the brains of math nerds everywhere.
Traditional RAM modules have long followed the power of the 2s capacity scheme, so 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and so on. This is related to the way computers store data using binary numbers – the classic zeros and ones of the digital age – but this has long been more of a memory capacity convention than some sort of hard requirement. Some of the best SSDs are 500GB in capacity, which is 12GB less than the clean 512GB you’d get from a pure binary display.
Of course, it’s always been possible to combine some RAM modules to get 12GB, 24GB, and so on of total system memory, but it’s rarely been offered on a single RAM module outside of high-end workstation PCs. Now, if our buddies bee Tom’s hardware (opens in new tab) note, the possibilities for some truly epic PC builds are possible, such as a small-form-factor PC build using a mini-ATX card with two 48GB DDR5 modules for 96GB of memory.
More memory is always the best upgrade you can make for your PC
While the best processor and graphics card money can buy will keep your PC humming nicely, for most people the best upgrade you can make to your PC is to add more memory.
The best RAM today offers fantastic speed that can eliminate bottlenecks in your day-to-day workflows better than almost any other upgrade. Every program needs memory to run, and the more memory you have, the more room they have to run without getting bogged down by the limits your operating system puts on them.
In addition, most motherboards only have four DIMM slots to put the memory in, and some smaller boards only have two slots available. That means cramming more memory into a single slot is a big deal because it raises the upper limit of what’s possible on any given system.
With four 48 GB DDR5 RAM modules, you can get a whopping 192 GB of RAM, which is professional workstation levels of memory on a consumer motherboard.
While most people will never need that much, two 24 GB modules will virtually eliminate any system latency caused by insufficient memory that users will experience for the rest of the decade (two 24 GB modules will be better than a single 48 GB module). GB due to the nature of dual channel memory).
All in all, this is a great move from AMD and the fact that no one needs to upgrade from their existing AM5 motherboards is huge.