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If you’re wondering if 16GB RAM is enough for gaming on PC – we’ve taken a look at what the optimal amount of memory is here.
Modern games are becoming so big, expansive, and deep that the hardware running them needs to run marathons just to catch up. In fact, if you’re running into crashes and frame drops in recent releases like Hogwarts Legacy, there’s a chance it could be related to your memory.
Upgrading your memory is also worth considering if you like to have applications running in the background, like Chrome or Spotify.
Let’s take a look at how much memory you need for gaming, and if 16GB is enough for a gaming PC.
Is 16GB good enough for a gaming PC?
While some PC games are playable with less, we do typically see titles that require above 16GB of RAM to be played. Some older games are fine with less than 16GB, but from what we’ve seen is that the norm tends to be 16GB and above:
- Star Wars: Jedi Survivor System Requirements – Recommended Memory: 8GB
- Dead Space Remake PC System Requirements – Recommended Memory: 16GB
- Hogwarts Legacy PC System Requirements – Recommended Memory: 16GB
However, there are of course exceptions to the rule, such as Hogwarts Legacy, which demands 32GB minimum recommended RAM for 4K Ultra gameplay.
But is 16GB enough for PC gaming? We’d say in most cases it is and is a safe baseline to work from if you’re building a PC or looking for one of the best pre-built gaming PCs for you.
The good news is that if you do need to upgrade your RAM, it’s fairly straight forward – just ask our friends at WePC who have the ultimate step-by-step guide for upgrading your memory.
We’re at the point now where the best gaming phones have up to 16GB DDR5 memory, so that should tell you enough about how much you need for a gaming PC.
We’re going to be keeping an eye out for the latest gaming updates especially relating to memory, so make sure to check back in with us periodically for updates similar to this one, and how to find out what graphics card you have.
Frequently asked questions
Is 16GB of RAM overkill?
We’d say it’s not overkill for gaming, streaming, and design work – however, it may be a little much if you plan on using your PC or laptop for more day-to-day tasks.
More RAM generally means higher cost too, so it’s worth factoring in how much bang you want for your buck when deciding between the more expensive 16GB options and the more affordable 8GB machines.
Will I need 16GB of RAM in the future?
If you’re looking ahead and trying to future-proof your setup, we’d say that having a minimum of 16GB of RAM does seem to be a safe option, especially if you’re gaming on the high settings.
Many games nowadays, like Hogwarts Legacy can demand a whopping 32GB of RAM, and we’re expecting more titles in the future to ask of the same.
Will 16GB improve my gaming experience?
16GB will certainly improve your gaming experience, especially if you like to play modern games and leave other background tasks running.
About the Author
Amaar loves retro hardware and boring games with more words than action. So, he writes about them daily.
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