How Much RAM Do You Need For Gaming In 2023?
I have been playing games on computers for more than 15 years but it’s still to this day hard to know which computer components are best for your gaming situation. Especially when it comes to how much RAM is needed for your gaming computer.
That’s why I took the time to dive further into the question to give you the exact information needed on the topic. We will go through what RAM is, how much RAM you need for gaming, RAM speed, and much more.
What Is Random Access Memory (RAM)?
RAM, or random access memory, is a key part of your gaming computer. It is what helps your computer to run the games you play. When it comes to gaming, having the right amount of RAM in your gaming PCs is essential because it increases game performance.
In general, the RAM is the short-term memory of your PC and the SDD or HDD is the long-term memory. You need RAM to access game data quicker compared to your storage device when playing games.
How Much RAM Is Needed For Gaming Today?
How much RAM you need all comes down to what games you want to play and what your current rig looks like. If you want to play modern games you probably need more RAM than the average PC. More demanding games will usually need more RAM.
You can always check how much memory is required to run a specific video game on the game developers’ site.
RAM requirements differ from game to game so if you are planning on upgrading to more RAM or buying a new PC, make sure to check the requirements on your favorite games before you make a purchase.
4GB RAM
4GB of RAM is currently enough memory for gaming on most PCs if you are only looking to play older games like League of Legends, CS:GO, Minecraft, and GTA.
Be aware that a low amount of memory means that you can’t run the game with a super high fps which may give a worse gaming experience.
8GB RAM
If you are a casual gamer, 8GB of ram might be all the RAM you need for gaming. It allows you to play most games that aren’t too graphic-heavy and has been the go-to amount of RAM for a couple of years back.
With a lot of new games, this might not be enough RAM if you want to play the newest games.
16GB RAM
This is the sweet spot for a great gaming setup. 16 GB of RAM is recommended to play most games at fairly higher frame rates. Upgrading to 16 GB of RAM will definitely improve game performance of your PC. You do need a good graphics card and a motherboard that fits to fully unlock the potential of your PC.
32GB RAM
32GB RAM is amazing in a PC. It gives your computer a lot of power and also makes your computer more future-proof. Some might think it’s too much RAM for gaming but it is nice to have the extra memory if you are playing a lot of different games.
64GB RAM
This may be a bit overkill. You don’t see many gaming computers with 64 GB of RAM because it is not needed. Are you a really serious gamer or do you plan on streaming on Twitch? Then it could be a way of helping your system to cope with all the apps you need to have open at the same time.
How Much RAM Do Modern Games Need?
The truth is that there are a lot of different factors that can affect how much RAM a game needs. The size and scope of the game, the number of players, the graphics settings, and even the platform it’s being played on can all influence RAM requirements.
That said, as a general rule, most modern games will benefit from having at least 16GB of RAM. 32GB is even better, but it’s not always necessary.
Of course, if you’re a power user with an ultra-high-end rig, you may need even more RAM to keep everything running smoothly. But for the vast majority of gamers, 16-32GB will be more than enough.
Important Factors When Looking For RAM
There are a couple of important factors to look at when you are trying to find new RAMs for your gaming setup. It is crucial to consider all the factors before you are making a purchase. It can make all the difference for your computer’s gaming performance.
Compatibility
It is important to see if your new RAM is compatible with your motherboard model. New motherboards aren’t compatible with older generations of DDR RAM. Always check your motherboard before upgrading.
Number Of DIMM Slots
The RAM capacity is also important. Your motherboard only has a specific number of DIMM Slots. It is usually two or four modules. Smaller motherboard only has 2 DIMM slots which means that you can only fit 2 RAM sticks into the motherboard. A newer motherboard will have at least 4 DIMM slots available.
Frequency
The frequency of RAM has a lot to do with memory speeds. The faster your RAM modules are the faster performance your computer will have.
But the frequency has to fit your motherboard too. If you buy high-performance RAM and place it in an old motherboard, your system won’t be able to utilize the potential.
You usually want to look for a RAM with at least 3.000 in frequency for a decent PC for gaming. This is also what is referred to as clock speed and it’s a good idea to have the same speed on all RAMs.
Latency
Latency, or memory timings, also affects the performance of your operating system. This refers to the amount of time for a command to be entered into the system and for it to be executed by your system.
Voltage
Some RAMs need a different amount of voltage to run properly. You need to make sure your power supply and motherboard can provide that amount of voltage.
Price
The price is an obvious factor. I still wanted to mention it here. Because RAM is some of the easiest components to upgrade in your gaming operating system. Don’t go overkill on the amount of RAM speed for your PC. You can always upgrade in the future.
How Much RAM Do You Need?
How much memory you need for gaming comes down to your current setup, what games you want to play, and how much money you are willing to spend. There are tons of great options in the market and RAM is an easy upgrade.
So if you want a bit of extra power in your rig, RAM is a great place to start. Make sure that other components like graphics card, CPU, cooling, etc. also are getting an upgrade along the way.
More memory won’t be enough if you want to play games with high quality in the future. It’s also essential to look at the RAM if you want to get a new gaming laptop. Gaming laptops tend to have lower amounts of RAM but you can easily find a great and cheap gaming laptop with lots of RAM.
How Much RAM Does My Gaming PC Have?
Before you start looking for future upgrades for your PC, you should start by checking what kind of RAM and how much RAM you have in your current setup.
If you go to your search bar, you can search for “System Information” and click on the first thing that pops up. This will tell you exactly what kind of RAM you have installed right now.
You can either buy similar ones if you have enough DIMM slots or completely change them by upgrading RAM.
FAQ
Is 32GB RAM Overkill For Gaming?
No, 32GB RAM for gaming is great and is a good future-proofing for the next big game title of two. If you are looking for a good gaming rig, 32GB of RAM is just what you need.
Is 16GB RAM Enough For Gaming In 2023?
Yes, you will be able to play most games with 16GB RAM. It can be tougher to play the newest games on high settings but most gamers should be good with just 16GB of memory.
How Much RAM Do You Need For 4K Gaming?
16GB RAM should be enough to play games on 4K. If you have a good enough CPU, then 8GB RAM could also be enough.
How Much RAM Do You Need For A Gaming PC?
It depends on what you want to play and how fast you want your computer to be. If you are just gaming once in a while then 8GB is enough. Otherwise, I would say at least 16GB.
Conclusion
So now you know exactly what Random Access Memory is doing for your computer setup. I would recommend having 16GB as a minimum in your PC to make sure that you can play most games on good graphics and frame rates.
Make sure that you consider all the factors in the article before choosing RAM in the future. Extra RAM and more memory can make a huge difference in performance but if the components don’t fit with the rest of your computer, you won’t get much out of them.
