How Much RAM Do You Need for Gaming? | Guide

The Role of RAM in PC Gaming Performance

While components like the CPU and graphics card are often prioritized for gaming performance, the amount of RAM (Random Access Memory) is also a significant factor. However, simply having more RAM doesn't automatically translate to faster gameplay.

Increasing RAM beyond a certain point yields diminishing returns. If your system already possesses sufficient memory, further additions won't necessarily improve performance.

Determining Optimal RAM Capacity for Gaming

Understanding the appropriate amount of RAM is vital when investing in a gaming PC, assembling a custom build, or considering an upgrade to an existing system.

This question is particularly important given the evolving demands of modern game titles.

Current RAM Recommendations

The necessary RAM capacity is influenced by the games you intend to play and your desired settings. Here’s a breakdown of current recommendations:

• 8GB RAM: Suitable for older titles or less demanding games at lower settings. However, many modern games will struggle with this amount.
• 16GB RAM: Considered the sweet spot for most gamers today. It provides a smooth experience with the majority of current games at medium to high settings.
• 32GB RAM: Beneficial for demanding games, streaming, or multitasking while gaming. It offers headroom for future game releases and resource-intensive applications.

It's important to note that these are general guidelines. Specific game requirements can vary.

Factors Beyond Capacity

Beyond the total amount of RAM, other factors contribute to performance.

RAM speed (measured in MHz) and latency (measured in CL) also play a role. Faster RAM with lower latency can improve performance, though the impact is often less noticeable than increasing capacity.

Ensuring your RAM is running in dual-channel or quad-channel configuration can also significantly boost performance by increasing bandwidth.

Capacity Over Speed: Understanding RAM Requirements

A more powerful graphics card directly translates to enhanced visual fidelity and the ability to utilize higher resolutions and detailed graphics settings. Similarly, a quicker CPU benefits games that heavily rely on processing power, such as Civilization V and other real-time strategy titles demanding extensive background calculations.

The Role of Solid State Drives

Employing a solid-state drive (SSD) will significantly reduce loading times compared to traditional mechanical hard drives. This improvement is due to the SSD’s faster data access speeds.

Why RAM is Different

However, RAM operates differently. While DDR4 RAM is indeed faster than DDR3 RAM, the performance gain in PC gaming is generally minimal. The primary consideration should be the amount of RAM, rather than its speed.

Games, operating systems, and applications all require memory to function. Sufficient RAM ensures that programs can store their data without resorting to using the hard drive as temporary storage, a process that drastically slows performance.

Determining Your RAM Needs

The necessary amount of RAM is directly tied to the applications you intend to run and their respective memory demands.

For a system primarily used for web browsing and basic desktop tasks, 4GB of RAM might be adequate, though it's approaching the lower limit. Conversely, systems handling large databases, virtual machines, or other memory-intensive operations may require 32GB or even more.

Understanding Memory Footprint

• Each program has a 'memory footprint' – the amount of RAM it requires.
• If RAM is insufficient, data is 'swapped' to the hard drive, causing slowdowns.
• Prioritize sufficient RAM capacity to avoid performance bottlenecks.

Exploring RAM Requirements in PC Gaming

A significant number of contemporary games are developed with cross-platform compatibility in mind, targeting consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One alongside the PC platform.

Considering both the PS4 and Xbox One are equipped with 8GB of RAM, it logically follows that many PC games also specify a RAM requirement within the 6GB to 8GB range.

The optimal amount of RAM is directly tied to the specific games you intend to play and the desired level of performance.

A game’s recommended RAM specification may exceed its absolute minimum, potentially leading to a more fluid gaming experience.

Generally, increasing system RAM doesn't directly enhance graphics settings; games utilizing high-resolution textures rely on video RAM (VRAM) integrated within the graphics card, rather than the system’s RAM.

RAM Demands of Popular Titles

Let's examine the RAM requirements of several prominent and resource-intensive games released in 2015 and early 2016.

The following details are sourced from each game’s respective Steam store page, unless otherwise indicated.

• Dying Light: Requires 4GB (minimum), 8GB (recommended)
• Grand Theft Auto V: Requires 4GB (minimum), 8GB (recommended)
• The Witcher 3: Requires 6GB (minimum), 8GB (recommended)
• Fallout 4: Requires 8GB (minimum and recommended)
• Batman: Arkham Knight: Requires 6GB (minimum), 8GB (recommended), 12GB for optimal Windows 10 performance (source)
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: Requires 6GB (minimum), 8GB (recommended)
• Far Cry Primal: Requires 4GB (minimum), 8GB (recommended)
• The Division: Requires 6GB (minimum), 8GB (recommended)
• Hitman: Requires 8GB (minimum and recommended)
• Quantum Break: Requires 8GB (minimum), 16GB (recommended) (source)

The data clearly indicates that modern PC games typically necessitate at least 8GB of memory for adequate operation.

While many games do not explicitly require 8GB, this amount is increasingly becoming the standard minimum specification.

Specific Cases and Future Trends

There are exceptions to this trend, notably Batman: Arkham Knight, which initially recommended 8GB but now suggests a minimum of 12GB for a stable experience on Windows 10.

The problematic PC port of Batman: Arkham Knight explains this higher requirement; the game suffers from inefficient coding and relies on additional RAM as a workaround.

Furthermore, Microsoft’s Quantum Break raises the bar by recommending 16GB of RAM to achieve “ultra” graphical settings.

This represents an outlier currently, but it is likely that more games will follow suit in the future, demanding greater RAM capacity.

Sufficient RAM for Contemporary Gaming: The 8GB Threshold

Currently, 8GB of RAM is generally adequate for most gamers. This amount of memory will satisfy the stated minimum specifications for all currently released and upcoming titles, with the notable exception of the poorly optimized release of Batman: Arkham Knight.

The Case for Upgrading to 16GB

However, a case can be made for investing in a larger RAM capacity. Gamers aiming for a premium experience and maximizing their PC’s performance should consider upgrading to 16GB of RAM.

Games like Quantum Break have demonstrated the benefits of this increased memory allocation, and future titles are likely to follow suit.

It’s important to remember that the necessity of 16GB isn’t universal, mirroring the situation with high-end graphics cards. The optimal configuration depends heavily on individual budgets and gaming requirements.

RAM Upgradability and Cost Considerations

Upgrading RAM is a relatively straightforward process. Instead of a complete replacement, additional RAM modules can be added to existing free slots on the motherboard.

Therefore, preemptive “futureproofing” with excessive RAM isn’t always necessary if 8GB currently supports desired games.

Despite its benefits, RAM remains reasonably priced. The cost difference between 8GB and 16GB of RAM is typically around $40.

Consequently, including 16GB in a high-performance PC build is a financially viable option for many enthusiasts.

Here's a quick summary of considerations:

• 8GB RAM: Suitable for most current games.
• 16GB RAM: Recommended for high-end gaming and future-proofing.
• Upgradability: RAM can be easily added to existing systems.
• Cost: The price difference between 8GB and 16GB is minimal.

RAM Requirements for Gaming PCs: A Closer Look

The guidance previously discussed primarily concerns PCs equipped with dedicated graphics processing units (GPUs) from manufacturers like NVIDIA or AMD. However, systems relying on integrated graphics present a slightly different scenario.

While discrete GPUs are generally preferred for gaming due to their superior performance, integrated graphics solutions are often found in more budget-friendly builds. If your system utilizes integrated graphics, increasing your RAM capacity is often a beneficial upgrade.

How Integrated Graphics Utilize System Memory

Dedicated graphics cards possess their own dedicated video RAM (VRAM), which is specifically allocated for storing textures and other graphical assets. This VRAM operates independently from the computer’s main system RAM.

Conversely, integrated graphics solutions do not have dedicated VRAM. Instead, they dynamically allocate a portion of the system’s RAM to function as video memory. Consequently, the speed of your system RAM can directly impact the performance of integrated graphics.

Therefore, having sufficient RAM is crucial when using integrated graphics. A larger RAM capacity allows the integrated GPU to allocate more memory for graphical tasks, potentially improving performance.

According to Intel documentation, integrated graphics can reserve up to approximately 1.8GB of system RAM. For users intending to play contemporary PC games with integrated graphics, exceeding the standard 8GB of system memory may be necessary.

However, it’s important to note that many demanding, modern games may not officially support integrated graphics configurations. In such cases, investing in a discrete graphics card is the recommended solution.

Determining the Optimal RAM Capacity

The ideal amount of RAM varies depending on your specific usage patterns. There isn't a universally applicable answer.

If you frequently engage in resource-intensive tasks such as running multiple virtual machines concurrently with gaming at high graphical settings, a RAM capacity exceeding 16GB is highly recommended.

However, for users whose primary computer activity is gaming, 8GB represents the absolute minimum, and 16GB is generally sufficient. Increasing RAM beyond 16GB typically yields diminishing returns in gaming performance.

• 8GB RAM: Minimum for basic gaming.
• 16GB RAM: Recommended for most modern games.
• >16GB RAM: Beneficial for multitasking and demanding applications.