You are very fond of playing games, and when a new game is released, you are interested in playing that game, but does your computer have enough RAM to play this game? I am asking this question because RAM is an essential component of a computer, and today, in this article, I will discuss with you how RAM affects gaming.
Before proceeding, let me tell you what RAM is. RAM (Random Access Memory) is a volatile memory that requires power to save data. So when you turn on your computer, data is temporarily stored in RAM. But when you shut down the computer, the data is erased from the RAM.
RAM Specification and How Does RAM Affect Gaming?
When playing a game on your laptop or computer, more or less RAM affects the game’s performance. If you want to increase the performance, you should increase the RAM in your PC.
Understanding specific factors that make particular RAM more suitable for your requirements is essential.
Every RAM stick released on the market is equipped with specifications designed to fit specific situations. Below, I mentioned certain specifications you should consider while selecting RAM for your computer or laptop.
Capacity:
If you increase the RAM, you will get a better gaming experience. This point is generally true to some extent, but it is not entirely accurate. Why?
If you upgrade your PC RAM from small capacity to large, for example, from 4GB of RAM to 16GB of RAM, you will experience a significant improvement in your gaming experience. But if you have a considerable amount of RAM, i.e. 32GB of RAM, and you upgrade it to 64GB of RAM, then it is hard to notice the improvement because the extra RAM does not provide any benefit.
Double Data Rate (DDR):
Double Data Rate reads data twice per clock cycle. Almost every RAM stick has a Double Data Rate. DDR technology has progressed with time, leading to the development of DDR2 and newer versions of DDR.
In practical terms, when deciding between DDR3 and DDR4, the difference in performance is not very significant. However, you can select either DDR3 or DDR4 based on your budget.
After choosing, check if RAM is compatible with your motherboard. You cannot install a DDR4 stick of RAM into a motherboard designed for DDR3, as these different RAM generations are incompatible. So before buying, ensure your RAM is compatible with your PC’s motherboard.
Clock speed:
Along with Double Data Rate, there is another thing: how RAM speed affects gaming.
Clock speed, measured in megahertz, tells you how many cycles the RAM can complete in one second. Higher clock cycles result in smooth and fast performance of your PC or laptop.
There is a connection between DDR generation and clock cycles. New DDR generations have fast clock cycles, while old DDR2 RAM cannot support fast clock cycles. Keep in mind that motherboards do not support high-speed RAM overclocking. So, if your motherboard does not support RAM’s full capacity, you will not get the best gaming experience. So always check the compatibility of the RAM stick with your motherboard to avoid issues.
You can find the clock speed of the RAM stick on its product page or through an online search.
Quantity of RAM sticks:
While purchasing RAM, you should consider the number of RAM slots on your motherboard. Most motherboards support dual-channel RAM. Your PC’s performance improved by using two RAM sticks simultaneously. Suppose you want to enhance your system’s performance with 16GB of RAM. Buying two 8GB sticks instead of one 16GB stick is advisable to take advantage of dual-channel memory. Ensure you follow the handbook’s instructions when installing RAM sticks, particularly if your motherboard has more than two slots to utilize its potential.
The amount of CPU consumption is primarily impacted by the type of memory channel you are using. When you are using single-channel memory, the CPU is used frequently because single-channel memory has lower bandwidth. In contrast, dual-channel memory has increased memory bandwidth, which reduces CPU consumption by 10% to 20%.
GPU and VRAM are the most critical factors for gaming:
Just as RAM plays a vital role in running heavy games in a system, VRAM also plays an important role. GPU has built-in RAM called VRAM, an abbreviation for Video Random Access Memory. VRAM stores all graphics data, allowing the GPU to access it instantaneously. VRAM is vital in video games in high-resolution displays like QHD (Quad High Definition) and UHD (Ultra High Definition). Minor increases in VRAM capacity create notable performance improvements.
VRAM and RAM work together to provide the best gaming experience.
In GPU, 6GB or 8GB is the ideal amount of VRAM. It is okay if you are gaming in 1080p with 4GB, but it is not a future-proof solution. In general, prioritize upgrading your GPU to improve a game’s performance.
Transitioning from a previous-generation 4GB graphics card to a current-generation 8GB graphic card will likely result in a significant performance in a game with the best display.
Gamers Demand for RAM:
For today’s modern games, RAM between 8GB and 16GB is more than enough, and you can play games between these GB of RAM comfortably. It is 2023, and games are now becoming more demanding. Over time, the minimum recommended RAM amount for gaming PCs will increase.
16GB of RAM is a sweet spot for best gaming experience. You won’t run out of memory while gaming; it is future-proof.
8GB of RAM is also excellent RAM, but you can face difficulty while playing heavy games.
Does more amount of RAM mean more FPS?
Various standards regarding RAM have been established, indicating that simply adding more RAM to a system will not increase the game’s performance. In this case, many ask whether the maximum amount of RAM increases the FPS (Frames per second).
On the contrary, the question should have been: “If the PC has less RAM, then adding more RAM, can I increase the FPS within the gaming performance?”
The answer is that adding more RAM can enhance gaming performance and FPS in certain situations.
There are different types of games, and every game has different RAM requirements. Some games require much memory, while others require less memory. RAM in gaming isn’t limited to just running the game itself but also depends upon the settings you made to play the games. If you are a new player, let me tell you what game settings mean. Settings in games include graphic quality, resolution, texture, anti-aliasing, etc.
If you set the game at high settings, you need more RAM. But if you play the game on low settings, it requires less RAM and the amount of RAM available in your system gives you optimal performance.
Ultimately, increasing your system’s RAM will improve your gaming performance and increase FPS.
Does faster RAM equal to more FPS?
Just as adding more RAM within certain limits increases FPS, increasing the speed of RAM increases the game’s performance in some cases. You can see different types of RAM. It includes lower clock speeds and higher clock speeds.
If you are considering buying RAM with a higher clock speed, it might cost you a bit more. In brief, the conclusion is this: if you are installing faster and more RAM, it may equal more FPS.
Top of Form
What difference does having more RAM make in gaming performance?
Suppose you play a game on your system that requires 8GB of RAM; if you upgrade your system from 4GB of RAM to 16GB of RAM, there will be a slight but noticeable effect on performance. After upgrading your system, you will get benefits of different types. Thus, a game that runs on 8GB of RAM will deliver outstanding performance when running on a system equipped with 16GB of RAM.
Along with the best performance, you can also see extra FPS inside the game, resulting in a slightly improved overall performance as it lessens the load on your PC.
Moreover, if you prefer RAM for best gaming performance, then you should not only focus on RAM, but you should also prefer CPU or GPU for best gaming performance.
The Bottom Line:
In today’s article, I discussed in detail how RAM affects gaming, so I hope your confusion is cleared after reading it. RAM plays a critical role in your gaming. It provides a better gaming experience. Some games require more RAM, while some games do not need more RAM. Another thing is that if you play a game in low settings, you need less RAM, but if you play a game in high settings, you need more RAM.
Adding more RAM and increasing the speed of RAM will increase the FPS. 8GB of RAM is best for a better gaming experience, but 16GB of RAM is a sweet spot as games are becoming more demanding, and 16GB of RAM is also future-proof. Remember that whenever you buy a RAM stick, always check it should be compatible with your motherboard.
Besides RAM, GPU and VRAM are crucial in providing better performance.
