Video games have developed tremendously over the past decade with more complex coding and advanced engines. Unfortunately, a by-product is needing better pc components for your computer. RAM is one of those very important parts that is necessary if you want to be able to run the latest AAA titles at the best settings. But how much RAM you actually need depends on what games you generally play and if you like to multitask. But remember each part is important to the overall performance of your pc build.

What is RAM

RAM is short for (Random Access Memory). The main purpose is to keep short-term memory available for fast and easy access by your computer’s processor. Every time you open a program or game, your RAM stores that data for the processor to use whenever you need it.

If you don’t have enough RAM, your processor will have to go to your HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive) for the data needed for that program which inevitably slows down your system.

But the amount of RAM your PC can have is solely dependent on the type of motherboard you buy. Some motherboards will have more storage available per slot.

RAM is short-term data that is needed for fast access and gets replaced with new information once you close the program and open a new one. Your HDD and SSD are long-term memory that does not get replaced and acts as storage.

You can read more about RAM and its function here.

How Much RAM Do I Need For Gaming?

The amount of RAM you need will depend on what types of games you play and what kind of pc you have. The recommended amount of RAM has become 16GB of RAM if you want to be able to run most AAA titles without any problems.

A few years ago, a gamer could get by with only 8GB of RAM but those days are long past. If you’re playing modern games, the recommended specs are usually 16GB if you want a good experience.

Other factors are important to consider when looking for ram such as multitasking. Having multiple browser tabs open can easily take up space when trying to play video games, but if you don’t want to worry about constantly closing tabs, then more RAM might be for you.

Another important factor is streaming. A lot of gamers like to record and or stream their game and that takes up a lot of RAM. So if you want to do it comfortably you may want to consider more RAM.

Is 16GB RAM Enough for Gaming?

16GB is more than enough for the casual gamer to run even the most demanding video games. Will you be able to max out the settings for the best performance possible? Most likely not. But you could certainly play any game out there with ease.

8GB is usually the recommended for older AAA games and indie games, but as mentioned prior, those days are coming to a close and a lot of the newer titles are a little more demanding.

Is 32GB RAM Too Much?

If you are a casual gamer, 32GB is far too much RAM. The extra space is wasted and only serves as future-proofing your gaming computer. Now if you are a content creator, 32GB is good because it allows you to run the game while streaming or recording with no problems.

Assuming you create your own videos, more RAM is needed for video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. So 32GB of RAM is not overkill so long as you actually plan on using that much space.