Is 8GB RAM Enough For Gaming? - Complete Guide 2023

So you just bought a new gaming laptop with 8GB of RAM. You open up your favorite game and start playing, but quickly notice that your performance is not as good as you expected. You might be wondering if 8GB is really enough for gaming. In this post, we’ll take a look at how much RAM you really need for gaming and discuss some factors to consider when deciding on the right amount of RAM for your needs.

What is RAM?

RAM is short for Random Access Memory. It’s a type of memory that your computer uses to store data that it needs to access quickly. When you open a program, it loads into RAM so the CPU can access it quickly.

Is More RAM Better for Gaming?

The more RAM you have, the better the game will run, but it is not always a significant improvement in game performance. The amount of RAM you need for gaming really depends on the resolution you’re playing at and the graphics settings you’re using.

If you’re playing at a lower resolution or with lower graphics settings, you won’t need as much RAM. For example, you might be able to get away with 4GB of RAM if you’re playing at a resolution of 720p with low settings.

If you’re playing at a higher resolution or with higher graphics settings, you’ll need more RAM. For example, if you’re playing at a resolution of 1080p with high settings, you might need 8GB of RAM or more.

Is 8GB RAM Enough For Gaming? 

1. Most games will run fine with 8GB of RAM. 

Games have become increasingly demanding over the years. However, most games will still run fine with 8GB of RAM. For example, the minimum system requirement for the popular game Fortnite is 8GB of RAM.

2. You can get by with less than 8GB of RAM for some games.

If you’re willing to lower some graphics settings or play at a lower resolution, you can get by with less than 8GB of RAM for some games. For example, you might be able to play Overwatch with 6GB of RAM.

3. You might need more than 8GB of RAM for some games. 

If you want to play at the highest settings and resolutions with the most demanding games, you might need more than 8GB of RAM. For example, the recommended system requirement for the popular game Witcher 3 is 8GB of RAM.

4. Improve game performance. 

More RAM can help improve game performance, but it’s not always a significant boost. The amount of RAM you need for gaming really depends on the resolution you’re playing at and the graphics settings you’re using.

5.  Having more RAM can be helpful if you have a lot of programs open.

If you tend to have a lot of programs open at the same time, having more RAM can be helpful. This is because each program takes up a certain amount of RAM. So, if you have a lot of programs open, you might see a performance decrease.

6.  Multitasking can be easier with more RAM. 

If you like to multitask while you’re gaming, having more RAM can be helpful. For example, if you’re playing a game and streaming it at the same time, you might need more RAM so both tasks don’t slow each other down.

7. Improve game load times with more RAM.

If you’re tired of waiting for games to load, having more RAM can help improve game load times. This is because the game will load into RAM, which is much faster than loading from a hard drive or solid-state drive.

8. Modding can require more RAM.

If you’re into modding games, you might need more RAM. This is because mods can sometimes be quite large and demanding. For example, the popular mod Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic - The Sith Lords Restored Content Mod requires 4GB of RAM.

9. 4K gaming.

If you’re planning on gaming at 4K resolution, you might need more than 8GB of RAM. This is because 4K games can be quite demanding and require a lot of resources.

10.  Future-proof your RAM.

If you want to future-proof your gaming rig, you might want to get more than 8GB of RAM. This is because games are only going to become more demanding in the future and having more RAM now will ensure that your rig can handle anything that’s thrown at it.

Above are 10 detailed reasons why you might need more than 8GB of RAM for gaming. If you’re planning on gaming at 4K or higher resolutions, modding games, or just want to future-proof your rig, you might need more than 8GB of RAM. Otherwise, 8GB of RAM should be enough for most games.

What Is The Minimum Amount Of RAM Needed For Gaming?

The minimum amount of RAM needed for gaming is 4GB. However, this is only for very old or low-end games. For most games, 8GB of RAM is the minimum you’ll need. However, some games might require more than 8GB of RAM.

Conclusion

So, is 8GB RAM enough for gaming? It depends on the games you want to play and your hardware. If you have a powerful graphics card and CPU, then 8GB may be plenty. However, if you are looking to future-proof your PC or play more demanding games, we recommend 16GB of RAM or more. Let us know in the comments what kind of gaming rig you have and how much RAM it has. Thanks for reading.