What Does RAM Do For Gaming And How Much RAM Do I Need?
When it comes to Computers, many components play a vital role in performing certain tasks, and neglecting one can lead to poor efficiency. Each of these components is linked and works together to run applications. So let’s read more about What Does RAM Do For Gaming And How Much RAM Do I Need?
RAM, which is an essential component, helps in speeding up the process when you are playing games or running various applications in your system. But how does it work? And, how much RAM does one need to avoid overkill?
If these questions pop up in your mind frequently, then this is the place where you will get all the answers. Also, we will discuss some similar topics such as RAM specs, RAM terminology, general RAM capabilities, etc. Hence, we suggest that you read the complete article to gain maximum knowledge about this important ingredient.
What Is RAM?
Before we get into its applications and features, an introduction to RAM is of utmost importance. So, here’s a quick definition:
RAM or Random Access Memory is nothing but the internal memory of the CPU that temporarily stores the data that your PC needs to access.
This means, when you operate your PC or any application, your OS sends data to RAM and once you shut down your PC or application, all the data is cleared.
RAM is used for everyday computer tasks, from browsing the Internet to running high-end games. It allows the user to switch between any number of applications, and the speed at which applications are switched depends on how much RAM your OS has.
Less RAM means your PC will slow down if you have many applications open. This is why enough RAM is needed if you need to perform intensive creative tasks like video editing, rendering, and of course gaming.
When it comes to games, RAM is a major topic of discussion in the gaming community, so let us dig deeper and know the importance of RAM while playing games. So let’s read more about What Does RAM Do For Gaming And How Much RAM Do I Need?
How Does RAM Play In Gaming?
What RAM does when you play a game is to temporarily store content and variables in its memory so that it can quickly transfer information from the main storage device to the CPU.
Think of it this way – when you launch a game on your PC, RAM becomes an active participant in this process as it receives data or information from the running game.
Your game data is stored either on an SSD or hard drive, but constantly pulling data from there can slow down the process. This is where RAM comes in to help as it is fast and scores the game’s data temporarily.
If your OS has less RAM, it means that temporary data storage will be less, thus data transfer will be poor. This can result in lower frame rates, choppier textures, longer loading times, and a poor gaming experience.
That being said, it is not only the RAM that can affect your gaming experience. Any malfunction in other components such as CPU, GPU, or hardware or software can result in poor data transfer, thus leading to a poor gaming experience. So let’s read more about What Does RAM Do For Gaming And How Much RAM Do I Need?
RAM Terminology
Here are three RAM terms you should know:
Memory
A computer uses different data storage technologies like RAM (temporary) and ROM (permanent) and this is called memory. RAM memory is a dedicated area where data from your system is loaded for a short period of time to access it quickly.
RAM
RAM is the physical component of a computer system that is designed to temporarily store the computer’s memory. Larger RAM will allow your OS to store and process more data, thus your PC will be efficient if you are playing high-end games or running multiple applications at once.
GB
Gigabytes or GB is the term used to measure the data storage of gaming consoles, computers, smartphones, tablets, or other such devices. The more GB a computing device has, the more it is able to store data.
Is More RAM Better?
There’s a fine line between overcharging and being underpowered by your PC. If you have applications and games that require 8GB of RAM memory to function smoothly, installing 32GB of RAM memory is simply a waste because most of the RAM will go unused.
Here is an example – suppose you want to fill 100 liters of water in a 50-liter container without wastage, the water will run out and you will not be able to achieve the target. But, if you have a 500-liter container to store 100 liters of water, most of the space in that container will be wasted.
Most enthusiastic gamers and hobbyist editors prefer to install more RAM memory than required in their OS. While it is a good idea to have extra RAM for a long period of time, in many cases most of the RAM memory goes to waste. So let’s read more about What Does RAM For Gaming And How Much RAM Do I Need?
How Much RAM Do I Need For Gaming?
In today’s time, most of the newly launched games demand high RAM memory. Here is a list of some of the high-end PC games of recent years and their RAM requirement.
High-end PC Games RAM Requirements
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare – (8 GB)
- The Witcher 3 – (6 GB)
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – (8 GB)
- red dead redemption 2 – (8 GB)
- Hitman 2 6 – (8 GB)
- Forza horizon 4 – (8 GB)
The table of contents above clearly shows that 8GB is the baseline for most PC games. As per the various tests done by the developer teams, the upcoming games will require 8GB – 16GB of typical RAM.
This is because PC games are becoming more advanced and complex, thus they will require larger RAM memory to run smoothly.
What Are The Most Common RAM Capabilities?
Most home computers today are loaded with 4 or 8 GB of RAM memory. However, some high-end PCs come with 16, 32, or sometimes even 128 GB of RAM. Let us break down some unremarkably used RAM and see how much capability they hold.
1. 4GB RAM
This can be unremarkably utilized in domestic and industrial sectors that support 32-bit OS. In 2021, unless you’re playing older games, it’s not enough to run a game.
2. 8GB of RAM
As discussed earlier, 8GB of RAM is the baseline set for computer gaming. It can easily run almost every game launched to date; However, if you have a highly memory-intensive project to take care of, you’ll need to upgrade.
3. 16GB RAM
This is the most compatible RAM memory in today’s time. 16GB is more than enough if you want to run high-end games, edit videos, or perform memory-hungry tasks.
4. 32GB RAM
In most cases, 32GB of RAM can be overkill. However, people, especially competitive gamers, are upgrading to 32GB in order to have a future-proof OS.
Single Module vs Multiple Module
RAM comes in three variants – single-channel, dual-channel and multi-channel modules. A multiple-channel module is better than a single-channel module as it provides better performance.
That being said, the performance you expect after using both modules will not be drastic. This is because, like other essential components, it comes down to what you are using your PC for.
If you are using your PC to browse the internet, use Microsoft Office, watch movies, etc., you will not feel much difference between single and multiple-channel modules.
However, if you are a graphic designer, gamer, or video editor who uses a PC for an intensive project, you will feel the difference. So let’s read more about What Does RAM For Gaming And How Much RAM Do I Need?
Understanding RAM Specs For Gaming
It is not only the RAM memory that determines whether you will get a smooth FPS rate or not, the RAM speed also plays a similar role. But, what exactly is RAM speed?
RAM speed is a measure of data transfer from RAM to other components. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) i.e. mega transfers per second. RAM speed is determined by a standard set by an organization called JEDEC.
According to JEDEC, 16GHz DDR4 is the optimal choice if you want to play high-end PC games at 1080p x 60fps or above.
That being said, there are many scenarios where RAM speed will not affect your gaming performance immensely. Let’s investigate a number of these scenarios.
- Games that are sensitive to RAM speed.
- If your OS has an RYZEN processor installed.
- Shared memory pool on the console.
- If you play games on integrated graphics.
DDR Designation
Every stick of RAM comes with 2 things – version range and DDR. DDR (Double Data Rate) transfers data twice as fast as compared to regular RAM chips.
This technology (DDR) has gone through progress and has different generations. DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, DDR5. DDR2 is not being used in this generation, only DDR3 and DDR4 are common. DDR4 is the current standard and DDR5 isn’t commercially available within the market.
Since these technologies belong to different generations, they are not compatible with each other. This means that if you have a motherboard with a DDR3 slot, you cannot plug DDR4 into the board. If you are planning to upgrade your system, it is advisable to stick to DDR4 as they are standard at the moment. So let’s read more about What Does RAM For Gaming And How Much RAM I Need?
Clock Speed
Clock speed is nothing but a measure of the time per second that a RAM can access its memory. Clock speed is measured in megahertz. There is a common misconception that faster clock speeds can greatly improve the performance of your PC, it may be, but you will not get a noticeable difference.
It is important to note that the clock speeds of RAM and DDR are correlated. You won’t get many numbers on DDR2. This means you will get an optimum speed if you stick to the standard stick of RAM (DDR4). Mixing sticks of RAM with different clock cycles will eventually degrade performance.
Number Of Sticks
A RAM plugs into a PC’s mainboard for integrating other components and transferring data quickly. To further speed up the process, most motherboards come with dual-channel memory slots. This configuration lets you attach two RAM sticks at once. So let’s read more about What Does RAM For Gaming And How Much RAM Do I Need?
Let’s say, you want to install 8GB of RAM in your OS, and you already have a dual-channel one, now, to take advantage of dual-channel memory, two 4GB RAM sticks with the same clock speed and DDR install instead of installing. Single 8GB stick of RAM.
Some motherboards come with quad-channel memory, so if you want to install 8GB of RAM, it’s recommended to install 4 sticks of 2GB of RAM. This will not only use up channel memory but will also make it easier to replace the RAM stick if it goes bad.
Conclusion
Let us recap what we have learned in this article – RAM is an important component that temporarily stores data in order to access the PC. This is commonly discussed in the gaming community or where intensive tasks are conducted.
Here below are some basic ideas of how much RAM you need for your day-to-day work.
4GB
This memory is good for a smartphone or tablet, but for a PC, 4GB isn’t going to cut it anymore. As there are a lot of advanced games in development it will demand higher RAM memory.
8GB
According to developers and tech geniuses, 8GB of RAM is the standard requirement for a PC as it can run high-end games smoothly, plus, all your casual applications can run simultaneously.
16GB
If you have a good budget and want to experience gaming even better, then 16GB is optimal for you. Upcoming games will call for more than 8GB of RAM memory, so if you’re planning on upgrading your OS, 16GB of RAM is the best bet.
32GB
To future-proof your OS, 32GB of RAM is the right choice. However, this may not be suitable for all users, as this amount of RAM may be high.
So this post concluded the topic for What Does RAM Do For Gaming And How Much RAM Do I Need? In the end, the decision is all yours. Many brands in the market can provide the desired amount of RAM. Good luck!
