Building around an RTX 3050 – Is DDR4 a mistake in 2026?

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to build a new desktop PC and I could use some guidance. I already have an RTX 3050 8GB that I bought a while ago, so I'll be using that as my GPU.

My main uses will be:

• Casual Gaming: Mostly titles like Valorant and Overwatch.

• Work/Study: Heavy use of MATLAB, Visual Studio (programming), and general office tasks.

The Dilemma:

I’m currently leaning towards a DDR4 setup instead of DDR5 to keep the budget down. However, I’m worried I might regret it in the long run. I know choosing DDR4 locks me into older motherboard architectures and CPU generations, making future upgrades more difficult.

My questions for you:

1. For my specific use case (MATLAB/Coding + Casual Gaming), is the performance gap between DDR4 and DDR5 significant enough to justify the extra cost?

2. Does it make sense to "save" on the platform now, or should I invest in a DDR5-compatible motherboard/CPU to stay relevant for a few more years?