How much memory do you need for gaming? (2023)

How does RAM work?

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the computer’s short-term memory that temporarily holds the information your PC needs to access. In contrast, a computer’s HDD or SSD is its long-term memory, where information is stored more permanently. When you launch a game on a PC, all the relevant data that your PC might need to access during the game are loaded onto the RAM. Constantly pulling information from the HDD or SSD is inefficient and much slower. RAM is a lot faster so can therefore load the game and read the game’s data quicker.

How much RAM do you need for gaming?

The amount of RAM that you need for gaming really depends on the games that you want to play as RAM requirements differ for each game title and format. For specific games, it’s important to check the game developers recommended system requirements. For a clearer idea of how much RAM you will need, check Can You Run It.{{Footnote.A62969}}

It is important to have the right amount of memory for each game because, without enough RAM, your computer won’t be able to store all the required information for the game to play. This will result in lagging frame rates and poor performance.

This article will run through our recommendations on how much memory you need for gaming and provide the frames per second (FPS) on four popular games: World of Warcraft, Call of Duty Warzone, Apex Legends and Fortnite.

4GB

A few years ago, 4GB of RAM would have been enough memory for gaming, but as games have developed and become more complex, 4GB is no longer enough. Older games might still work with 4GB of RAM but it is worth investing in at least 8GB in order to play a wider range of games. However, games such as Valorant, League of Legends (LoL), Minecraft, Counter Strike: Global Offensive System, DOTA 2 and GTA 5 should all still be playable with 4GB RAM, but performance may be compromised.

8GB

8GB of RAM is the minimum amount of RAM for any gaming PC. With 8GB RAM you will be able to play most released games without many problems, but some games might not play at the highest quality, and you might have to shut down other applications. Games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rainbow 6 Seige (R6) and World of Warcraft Shadowlands are playable with 8GB RAM.

16GB

16GB is the recommended amount of RAM for playing most games and will provide a noticeable increase in performance from 8GB. You will also be able to run applications in the background without affecting gameplay. Games such as Call of Duty Warzone and Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) are recommended to play with 16GB RAM.

32GB

32GB of RAM is becoming increasingly popular amongst gamers, and the increase of FPS from 16GB is likely to be a key reason. With 32GB you will be able to have a graphically enhanced gameplay, whilst still being able to do multiple things in the background such as livestreaming, use Chrome, system software or Spotify. However, it is unlikely that you will ever come close to using 32GB in game play, so if you’re on a budget or you only use your PC for gaming, it’s probably better to stick with 16GB. However, you will notice considerable performance benefits with 32GB, and it will future proof your PC for any upcoming releases that require more RAM.

Conclusion

How much gaming memory you really depends on what games you want to play and how many other applications you have open in the background. While some people might be able to use 8GB to play a few older games, 16GB will definitely improve your gaming experience if you like to play modern games and leave other background tasks running. But what about 32GB? 32GB of RAM sounds like a lot, but the difference in FPS really proves why so many gaming enthusiasts spend more money to add 32GB to their systems. The latest game releases are already starting to recommend minimum 16GB of RAM. So, if you use your PC for more than just gaming or want to future-proof for upcoming releases, 32GB could be the right option for you.

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