How many RAM do you need to play? It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves in the PC ecosystem for a very long time, practically ever since the PC started being used as a gaming platform. However, the answer has changed over time, and right now we are at the point where many gaming PCs have 8 GB memory cards installed but the 16 GB they are becoming the norm, a fact that makes us wonder if 8 GB of RAM is still enough.
Nowadays, practically all manufacturers already sell their RAM memories in 16 GB kits, or even 32 GB in the case of the most modern platforms which use DDR5. However, not too long ago these kits had a standardized size of 8GB, and the problem really lies with those who have a gaming PC a few years old and have 8GB installed… is that Is it worth it ? buy more quantity
8 GB or 16 GB, how much RAM do you need to play?
We wanted to emphasize the word “required” for the simple fact that in the end, it’s the video game developers who tell us how much RAM we need when they publish their minimum and recommended requirements. And, while it’s true that most modern PC games already state in their requirements that 16GB of memory is recommended for the best possible performance, it’s rare to see them go over 8GB of memory. RAM within the minimum requirements.
Take the recently released Spider-Man Remastered for example, an example we’re fine with because the developer has released a full table of requirements which you can see above. As you can see they tell us that the minimum amount of RAM we need to play is 8 GB, but then they recommend 16 GB to be able to enjoy the game at a higher resolution, with better graphics and a rate Higher FPS, reaching up to 32GB recommended for 4K 60 FPS option with Ray Tracing.
Does that mean that if your PC has 8GB of memory, you won’t be able to play 1080p at 60 FPS? For this level, the developer tells us that it would take 16 GB of RAM, but we already tell you the answer: no, you don’t need 16 GB, if your PC has relatively powerful hardware and, above all , a good graphics card, the game will run perfectly at 1080p and even higher resolutions.
Why then does the developer recommend more RAM? For the simple fact that this way the game will have more leeway, so to speak. The PC will operate more comfortably and the RAM memory will not be saturated, allowing the processor in particular to deliver better performance in game.
So if I have 8 GB, should I buy more?
The answer is that it depends. Normally with 8GB of RAM you will have enough to be able to run any modern game without too many hiccups, and the only thing that can happen is that you have a lower performance or on some occasions you experience some temporary blockages of the screen (what in gamer jargon is called “lagazos“).
Now, if you really notice that when gaming on your PC with 8GB of memory, you suffer from constant slowdowns, lags and general performance issues, you should first analyze if the problem is really that your computer is using all available RAM, and if so, it might be worth investing in more memory.
By the way, if you want to upgrade from 8GB to 16GB of RAM, our recommendation is always to buy memory modules that are identical to the ones you have, both brand and model, as well as capacity and speed. , since in this way you will avoid any type of problem.