Is 8GB Ram Enough for Gaming? | Is It Sufficient or Should You Upgrade?
The reason being is that you can get laptops and computers with 4g, 32GB, and even 64GB of memory (as technology becomes more advanced this number will no doubt grow).
Also, many games that are developed these days appear to consume more memory and one may be left wondering if 8GB of RAM is good for gaming or not. In this guide, I will discuss more this subject so you can make a wise decision when shopping for memory for your games. In addition, if you looking for the best DDR3 RAM but don’t know where to begin with, follow this link. Also, take notice of our earlier RAM DDR3 vs DDR4 comparison.
What is RAM?-Everything you Need To Know About RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is the physical memory used by your computer to run programs and applications, as well as store temporary information.
It’s called random access memory because the data can be accessed in any order, unlike ROM, which can only be accessed sequentially.
The more RAM a computer has, the better it performs tasks such as running software and surfing the Internet.
Memory for Gaming
There's nothing worse than watching a very skilled gamer lose to an opponent because their PC isn't good enough. And I know this from experience because it happens all the time. But is 8 GB ram enough? It's an important question - for gamers and those looking to build a gaming computer.
What are your gaming demands? What games do you have in mind? And what is your budget? These are the key questions you need to ask yourself in order to figure out whether 8GB of RAM will be enough for you. Also, read this review to see if a laptop under 500 bucks can fit the bill, or you need to spend considerably more on one of these, for example.
What Are The Most Common RAM Capacities?
8GB OF RAM- MINIMUM RAM FOR GAMING
8GB memory is enough for an operating system, programs, and multitasking. You'll run your favourite game just fine as long as you have quality ram.
If you don’t get quality ram, then 8Gb of ram will cause your computer to run slow and suffer system crashes often. It is better than 4GB of RAM but not recommended to stream a demanding game.
It is Sufficient for Gaming
8 GB of computer memory (RAM) is sufficient for gaming if you are playing at 720p. It will be able to support some titles at 1080p.
I’ve seen some gamers prefer 16GB Ram for gaming because this is what most software and programs require to “run smooth”, but 8GB is enough if you don’t open simultaneously more than 5 apps or software.
16 GB FOR GAMING
16GB of RAM is the sweet spot for gaming-either you have 16GB or you want to get there. This amount will give a smoother multi-tasking experience at moderate resolutions, on AAA titles.
The advantages of acquiring such a huge RAM are:
- More open applications will be accessible without slowing down your system
- Improved efficiency by increasing pagefile size and using as much video RAM as possible
- Higher resolutions with better framerates.
Titles to Play With This Memory
For a better gaming experience, 16GB RAM is recommended. You can definitely run games like Tomb Raider with 16 GB and it's pretty cheap these days.
I'm running 3 different PC on that amount of memory and one gaming PC even has a 4k monitor where I play AC4 and Shadow of Mordor.
32GB OF RAM
Gaming RAM is a necessary requirement if you want to play the most contemporary video game. Just for your information, 32GB of gaming RAM does not get full easily, unless the game is exceptionally demanding.
32GB, for the most part, is overkill. A lot of game consoles, such as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One X, come with 8 GB of RAM, tops so 32GB of RAM is a lot or much ram.
With 32GB of memory on your gaming PC or laptops, you can not only play the most advanced games but also stream them to your friends without any lag or issues running out of memory. However, you won't find such performance in these budget gaming laptop reviews.
What Does RAM do To Gaming?
There are several factors that influence your computer's performance such as GPU, CPU features, and memory. A memory stick is so cheap these days and most people don't give it enough credit.
Games Will Load Quicker
If you’re taking your gaming seriously, you should seriously be concerned about your RAM. Not only does it help with the performance when you are in need of gaming, but it also aids in the stability of your OS.
Having a faster computer with more RAM means your games will load quicker and in this day and age, having a competitive edge matter. More RAM means faster loading times and smoother gameplay.
Have a Competitive Advantage
If your computer calls for more random access memory, it means that it is not performing at an optimal rate. With this, you won’t be able to load games fast enough.
This will make you lose out to other gamers in competitions since the speed of your computer will affect your gaming performance. This is why if you want to have a competitive advantage, invest in more random access memory.
How Much RAM Do You Really Need For Gaming?
A Frequent User
As a regular user of your hardware set up or system, the amount of RAM that you will need is 4 GB. 4GB of ram will enable you to perform essential functions such as browsing the internet, playing low-intensity games, doing Photoshop, just to name a few.
A Gamer or a Heavy User
There are some instances when you may require more RAM or space such as if you play games a lot, run a lot of programs at the same time, watch a lot of videos, deal with complex files, or have a lot of photos stored on your desktop (typically for professional photographers or designers).
At least 8GB and 16GB will be ideal for you. This is enough or much RAM for streaming a game and doing all the tasks that I have mentioned above.
A Professional User
If you’re an all-around computer user, it may be a smart idea to invest in 32 GB of RAM. This much RAM or amount of RAM is great for streaming demanding titles plus great for running anything you want with your motherboard or processor.
Factors Besides RAM That Affect Gaming Performance
Processor
Apart from RAM, there are other factors that will affect your gameplay such as graphics or GPU and processor.
A powerful CPU has good speed to generate data quickly when in need of gaming. With the right processor, you can play your favourite video game without experiencing freezes, lags, and other hardware malfunctions which can ruin it.
It’s a good idea too to get a good monitor in your PC gaming set up in order to enjoy smoother game visuals.
Graphics
One of the most important parts of any gaming rig is the graphic processing unit or GPU. Generally, this is the main component that controls your graphics performance in games and during the gaming experience.
The better the graphics or a graphics card, the more you will be able to stream a game very well. This is why graphics performance dominates market segmentation, causing AMD and Nvidia to release more powerful cards each generation.
What Games Can Run on 8 GB RAM?
Just Cause 3, Mafia 3, Sniper Elite 4, Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds are a few of the games which can run smoothly on 8 GB RAM. Other games that require much RAM include Fortnite Battle Royale, Call of Duty Black Ops iii, and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2.
Is 8 GB of RAM enough for Fortnite?
The Fortnite game developer, Epic Games came out with an announcement that Fortnite will be available to play on Android devices. The game is free, so there aren't any in-app purchases.
As a matter of fact, it is multiplatform which means it can be played on many popular platforms like PC, PS4, Xbox One, and now, Android.
System Requirements for Fortnite on PC
However, Fortnite is notorious for its graphics and system requirements that are often more demanding than titles like PUBG or Rainbow Six Siege.
The system requirements for this game are 8GB to 16GB RAM, Core i5 2.8GHz processor or higher, and a 2GB video card. So, yes, 8GB of memory is enough for this game.
Wrapping UP
If you’re a gamer, it means more frames per second (FPS), higher quality settings, and more. 8GB of RAM is sufficient for most gaming hardware (the exception being 4K resolution).
It is pretty good RAM for gaming. It’s good to go if you play titles like League of Legends, DOTA 2, or Counter-Strike. But when it comes to newer and more demanding games, it may not be enough if you’re using ultra-high quality settings.
Recent research shows that almost 5 out of 6 gamers want a computer with at least 8GB, and it’s not hard to see why. As more and more demanding titles reach the market, more RAM means you can play longer, without risking being kicked from an online game due to a lack of available resources on your computer.