How a lot RAM do avid gamers want? It’s a query we get requested rather a lot, and it is one we used to reply yearly with an excellent old style benchmark assessment. The downside is, the final time we did this was in 2018, and we have been informed that was a very long time in the past. So right here we’re with an up to date assessment.
In the previous, we spent weeks benchmarking to reply the age-old query, “How much RAM do gamers need?” however this time we’re approaching it in a different way for a number of causes. First and foremost, testing RAM capacities might be difficult.
Like VRAM testing, an absence of reminiscence would not at all times manifest in the identical method. In the case of VRAM, fps efficiency may drop considerably, which is the obvious signal of hassle. However, it may also be extra delicate, with occasional body time spikes, or it may not influence efficiency in any respect and as a substitute simply cut back textures for a decrease high quality presentation.
With system reminiscence or RAM, testing to see if an elevated capability improves efficiency is equally difficult. Going from, say, 16 GB to 32 GB is usually greater than only a capability improve. Factors like working frequency and timings are comparatively straightforward to account for, however issues like reminiscence ranks might be tough and, in some configurations, not possible to account for.
It’s a bit like when somebody upgrades from a 6-core Core i7-8700K to the 8-core Core i9-9900K and claims the additional 2 cores actually boosted their gaming efficiency, when in actuality, the 33% improve in L3 cache possible performed an even bigger position.
In the case of DDR4, we discovered that when going from a pair of 8 GB modules in a single-rank configuration, there was typically a major efficiency improve when including a further two an identical modules, even for video games that did not require greater than 16 GB of RAM. This is as a result of, with simply two 8 GB DDR4 modules, you find yourself with a single-rank configuration, however with 4 modules, it turns into dual-rank. If you’d prefer to study extra about this we did some testing on the topic, see: Are More RAM Modules Better for Gaming? 4 x 4GB vs. 2 x 8GB.
A special method could be to create a RAM drive, partitioning off a set portion of RAM, which ought to create a super situation for testing completely different reminiscence capacities whereas holding every part else an identical. This is one thing we’ll take a look at on this article, however actually, the main target is not going to be on benchmarks. We do not suppose a large number of blue bar graphs is one of the best ways to deal with this topic, as loopy as that may sound (coming from us).
Instead, let’s hearth up our Ryzen 7 7800X3D take a look at system with a GeForce RTX 4090 put in and 64 GB of DDR5-6000 reminiscence – an optimum high-end gaming configuration. First, what we need to do is play a number of dozen video games to see how a lot RAM they will burn up, as this can give us a extremely good thought of simply how a lot reminiscence you may want for the most recent and biggest triple-A titles.
We’re utilizing the RTX 4090 to make sure no sport property spill over from VRAM into the system reminiscence. As for background duties, now we have a number of fundamental purposes for monitoring system efficiency and sport launchers reminiscent of Steam. At idle, the system was utilizing 4.5 GB of RAM. So, let’s load up over 30 video games and play each for 20 minutes to see how a lot RAM they use.
RAM Usage in 30+ Games
64 GB vs 32 GB vs 16GB vs 8 GB
There are clear indicators right here that 16 GB of VRAM is not optimum for enjoying lots of the newest and biggest triple-A titles, with over half a dozen pushing close to or over that quantity.
Hogwarts Legacy is probably the most demanding instance we got here throughout, however different trendy video games reminiscent of The Last of Us Part 1 and Star Wars Jedi Survivor have been additionally very reminiscence hungry. We have been additionally stunned to search out Fortnite pushing previous 16 GB.
All of that mentioned, the overwhelming majority of the video games examined will nonetheless run simply superb with 16 GB of RAM, although lots of them have little or no headroom. So, for those who nonetheless have simply 16 GB of RAM and most video games are operating effectively for you, that is not terribly shocking. But for those who’re attempting to get into the most recent and most demanding video games with simply 16 GB, you could be experiencing a number of points.
Again, all of those video games have been examined utilizing the RTX 4090 with the best high quality preset enabled at 1440p.
Let’s do some fast testing with Hogwarts Legacy, utilizing RAM disk software program to partition off mounted quantities of system reminiscence. For this primary take a look at, we’ll run with all 64 GB obtainable. As you’ll be able to see, the body time graph is kind of clean – about as clean because it will get on this sport – and we’re 110 fps on common with 1% lows of 51 fps, although that quantity would enhance throughout a 3-run common.
Now, with half the reminiscence partitioned off, the sport and system have entry to 32 GB, and efficiency stays about the identical with comparable body time outcomes. This is predicted because the system consumed 22 GB on this title, effectively inside the obtainable reminiscence for this take a look at.
Retesting with simply 16 GB of obtainable reminiscence, we begin to see some spikes within the body time graph. It’s not horrible by any means, however the sport additionally is not taking part in as easily, and if we play for an prolonged interval, you begin to discover very jarring traversal stutters. So, for lower-end methods, you would get away with 16 GB, however for higher-end setups, you’ll unquestionably need 32 GB.
Finally, only for enjoyable, we re-ran the take a look at with simply 8 GB of system reminiscence obtainable, and boy, was {that a} unhealthy expertise. Who’s shocked? Even the typical body price dropped, however it was the 1% lows that tanked. As you’ll be able to see, the body time efficiency is admittedly unhealthy – so unhealthy that you do not want a graph to inform you that.
32 GB is the Obvious Answer
For a gaming system, 32 GB of reminiscence is the candy spot now and must be lots for the foreseeable future. There actually is not a have to transcend 32 GB for gaming – you are actually simply losing your cash at that time. Of course, for those who’re taking part in a sport that you realize wants a certain amount of reminiscence, like Skyrim with a ‘use all my reminiscence’ mod or Chrome with 2 tabs open, you may want greater than the everyday quantity of system reminiscence.
But for everybody else, 32 GB goes to be lots, and that is what we’re recommending for gaming in 2024.
For probably the most half, it is already the default reply for brand spanking new system builders. You must be going with DDR5, and whereas you may get 16 GB kits for as little as $60, they do not make sense as low cost 32 GB kits begin at $75 – a mere 25% premium for a 100% improve in capability. Moreover, high-quality DDR5-6000 32 GB kits might be had for round $90, so that is what we advocate.
What Happens When You Run Out of VRAM?
We ought to rapidly observe that for those who’re utilizing a lower-end GPU with, say, simply 8 GB of VRAM, relying on the standard settings you are utilizing, there’s an opportunity some sport property supposed for native video reminiscence or VRAM will overflow into system reminiscence, consuming up your RAM.
So, for those who’re taking part in Ratchet & Clank, for instance, and seeing greater than the 12.7 GB we reported for reminiscence utilization, there’s a probability textures are spilling over into system reminiscence. If that’s the case, you’ll want to dial down these high quality settings.
Background Tasks
Another subject value pertaining to is background duties, as this will additionally improve reminiscence utilization. On my workplace PC, for instance, I had two cases of Mozilla Thunderbird operating, a number of Chrome tabs throughout a number of accounts, Microsoft Excel, Photoshop, and some chat packages, all consuming up a mixed 17.8 GB of RAM earlier than opening a sport.
So, what occurs for those who’re already utilizing 17.8 GB of your reminiscence and also you solely have 32 GB in complete, however a sport like Hogwarts Legacy desires over 20 GB? This is the place Windows reminiscence administration comes into play. Programs which are deemed much less important or are given a decrease precedence find yourself within the Windows Pagefile, basically storing them in your a lot bigger, but in addition a lot slower, native drive, in all probability an SSD.
When this occurs, for those who ALT+TAB out of the sport, you may discover opening a Chrome tab that has been entered into the Pagefile could be very sluggish to recall, making a noticeably laggy impact.
This generally is a downside for those who like to talk with pals on Discord whereas gaming or watch a 4K YouTube video in Chrome, which we have been informed lots of you do. We noticed the Discord app consuming between 400-500 MB when gaming, however this will differ relying on what number of servers you might have energetic. Then, with Chrome operating, a single tab taking part in a 4K YouTube video consumed round 1.2-1.5 GB. So, if you’d like these items energetic whereas gaming, you’ll be able to add round 2 GB of additional reminiscence utilization to the numbers we beforehand quoted.
The excellent news is, so far as we will inform, even when taking part in the most recent and biggest triple-A titles with an inexpensive diploma of energetic background duties, 32 GB of RAM continues to be going to be lots. So even for these customers, our suggestion stays the identical.
What About 64 GB?
All of that mentioned, we’re positive a few of you might be nonetheless excited by bigger reminiscence kits as you should buy 64 GB of DDR5-6000 for $180, and that is a reasonably good value, although considerably anticipated at twice the value of comparable 32 GB kits. So, a few of you may nonetheless be questioning going with 64 GB. After all, for a mid-range to high-end construct, what’s $90 extra, and truthful sufficient if that is the way you method it.
The benefit of going with 64 GB now could be you are able to do so with a pair of 32 GB sticks, which ought to make reaching speeds like DDR5-6000 rather a lot simpler. The drawback, although, is that proper now we won’t discover a single gaming instance that requires anyplace close to that quantity of reminiscence, so that you’re basically losing $90.
AM4 DDR4 Lessons!
Looking again at latest historical past to see what it may well train us in regards to the reminiscence necessities of video games, we noticed some folks recommending avid gamers purchase 32 GB of DDR4 on the daybreak of AMD’s AM4 platform, claiming this was a future-proof method that may provide a greater expertise. The downside with this recommendation, trying again, is that it was quite poor, assuming you are not into losing cash. As we simply noticed, even as we speak, most avid gamers will play simply superb with 16 GB of RAM, and this has been true for a very long time.
For instance, again in mid-2017, the most affordable DDR4-3200 16 GB kits price round $150, with 32 GB kits costing at the least $260. Fast ahead to as we speak, and you will find including a further 16 GB of DDR4-3200 reminiscence will price you a mere $35, that means you are much better off shopping for the extra reminiscence if you want it. Even for those who occur to solely have a twin DIMM motherboard, now you can buy a 32 GB package for as little as $50, and even when adjusting for inflation over the previous seven years, that is nonetheless simply $64, lower than what you’d pay for 16 GB in 2017, and reminiscence costs solely received worse in 2018.
So, the purpose is, work out what you want now, and simply purchase that, except going to the subsequent tier is smart, as in you’ll be able to double the capability for effectively underneath twice the value. Really, the reply is 32 GB, and for these of you on older DDR4 platforms with 16 GB, there is a good probability including a further 16 GB will assist clean out body time efficiency within the extra memory-hungry titles.
And that is going to do it for this assessment. They do not all need to be benchmark marathons, and we do not suppose boatloads of benchmarks are one of the best ways to reply this query. But, in fact, tell us within the feedback part under what you considered this method, how a lot reminiscence you are operating, and whether or not you are feeling the necessity to improve.
