More RAM than a game needs does not raise FPS, but too little makes games stutter and load slowly.
RAM amounts at a glance
| RAM | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 4 GB | Most current games will not start or will be unplayable | Very old or very light games only |
| 8 GB | Light games run; new games stutter or need Low settings | Esports games (Valorant, CS2, LoL), older titles |
| 16 GB | Smooth in almost every game | The standard for a gaming PC |
| 32 GB | Fewer stutters in the heaviest new games; room for Discord, a browser and streaming | New open-world games, streaming, mods |
| 64 GB+ | No gaming benefit over 32 GB | Video editing, 3D work, virtual machines |
Check what a specific game needs on its page in Can I Run It?, which lists the official RAM requirement next to the expected FPS.
RAM vs VRAM: not the same thing
RAM (system memory) is used by the processor and Windows. VRAM (video memory) sits on the graphics card and holds textures. A game can stutter because either one is full. If you have 32 GB of RAM but an 8 GB graphics card, lowering the texture setting helps more than adding RAM. See how to check your graphics card to find your VRAM.
Speed and sticks matter too
- Two sticks beat one. Two matching sticks run in dual channel, which noticeably improves FPS, especially with integrated graphics. 2 × 8 GB is better than 1 × 16 GB.
- Turn on XMP or EXPO. Many PCs run RAM slower than its rating until this BIOS setting is enabled. Our low-end PC guide explains how.
- DDR4 or DDR5. Your motherboard decides which one you can use; they are not interchangeable. DDR5 is standard on new platforms, DDR4 is still fine on older ones.
How to check how much RAM you have
- Windows: press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, go to Performance → Memory. You will see the total, the speed and "Slots used".
- Mac: Apple menu → About This Mac, next to "Memory".
Our guide on how to check your PC specs covers the processor and graphics card too.
Is your RAM the problem?
Open Task Manager while you play. If memory use sits above about 90% and the game stutters, more RAM will help. If it stays well below that, the limit is elsewhere; the bottleneck calculator shows whether your processor or graphics card holds you back.
