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Apr 2025
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How much memory do you need for gaming?

Close-up of a hand holding a Kingston FURY Beast DDR5 RGB memory module, above a desk with PC cooling fans

In the world of gaming, performance is everything, and having the right amount of memory is key to a smooth, responsive experience.

Whether you're diving into the latest AAA titles or using multiple applications, sufficient RAM not only improves gaming performance but also supports multitasking and future-proofs your system for more demanding titles.

With modern game engines and increasing background app requirements, 32GB is becoming the minimum recommended amount for you to get the most out of your PC gaming experience.

What is RAM?

Memory, also referred to as RAM (Random Access Memory), is the computer’s short-term, fast-access storage that temporarily holds data between the processor and long-term storage devices like SSDs and HDDs, where information is stored more permanently.

RAM is essential for allowing a computer to quickly access and process the data needed to run applications and perform tasks – especially for gaming PCs that demand fast and smooth performance for an optimal gaming experience.

How does RAM work?

When you launch a game on a PC, all the relevant data that your PC needs to access during gameplay is loaded into RAM for quick access. Without this, your system would have to constantly pull information from the SSD or HDD, which would make your computer so slow it would be unusable.

If your PC glitches and experiences slow response times during gameplay, it might be a sign that you need more memory.

For any gamer who wants to improve their gaming experience, having more than the minimum required memory for the titles that you want to play is recommended. Extra RAM reduces the constant back and forth swapping of data that happens with storage, making games and applications respond faster.

Will extra RAM deliver a better gaming performance?

The amount of RAM required for gaming really depends on the specific games that you play, as RAM requirements vary for each game title and format. For specific games, it’s important to check the game developers’ minimum and recommended system requirements.

As modern games become increasingly demanding, the days of 16GB of RAM being enough for gaming are coming to an end. With large open-world environments, advanced AI and complex physics engines, today's AAA titles are pushing hardware to its limits. If you're serious about gaming, having 32GB or more of RAM is becoming essential – not just for better performance, but also for a smoother overall experience.

However, meeting the minimum requirements doesn’t guarantee optimal performance. Even with 32GB of RAM installed, some games may still experience frame rate drops or overall poor performance. Game developers usually have RAM capacity listed for "recommended requirements” and some may even list “high” or “ultra-high” capacities.

It's also important to check your specific computer’s upgrade options. Most PCs and laptops use RAM installed in identical pairs, and feature either two or four memory sockets. So, choose the compatible memory modules as a set or kit to get the best performance.

Over-the-shoulder shot of a young man playing a shooting game on his computer in a dimly lit room

Is 32GB of memory essential for modern PC gaming?

As the years go by, the games that we play become more demanding on our PCs from a performance aspect. To get the most out of the latest releases, we need the hardware to support them, and a large part of that comes from our RAM.

While many of these games are available on consoles, gaming PCs allow us to push the limits of these games. This is where 32GB of RAM can make all the difference.

Modern games can be taxing on hardware resources; some examples include RPG, simulator and open-world games. We have listed some games below for which we recommend using a minimum of 32GB of RAM.

GamePerformance & system demands
Call of Duty: Warzone Large-scale battle royale with high-resolution textures and constant online processing.
Civilization VII Strategy games require significant RAM for AI calculations, especially in late-game scenarios.
Baldur’s Gate 3 A massive RPG with complex interactions and cinematic-level graphics.
Helldivers 2 Intense cooperative gameplay with high enemy density and physics-based destruction.
Cyberpunk 2077 Open-world RPG with extensive NPC AI, real-time rendering and high-res textures.
Space Marine 2 Fast-paced action game with large battle sequences and cinematic graphics.
Microsoft Flight Simulator The ultimate test for any PC, utilising enormous world data and real-time weather rendering.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance A detailed, historically accurate RPG requiring heavy system resources.
Path of Exile Constant online elements and detailed skill animations demand significant memory.
F1 2024 High-fidelity racing sim with real-time physics and detailed car models.

How more RAM improves multitasking performance

More RAM doesn't only help you when you're enjoying the latest title, but also with multi-tasking and bottlenecks:

  1. Eliminates performance bottlenecks – Games can use more RAM for faster data access, reducing reliance on slower storage solutions.
  2. Room for background apps – If you are running Discord, Chrome, OBS, RGB control software and game launchers while playing, these applications can easily eat up several GBs of memory.
  3. Future-proofing – With game sizes and complexity increasing, planning for tomorrow’s memory needs (32GB+) ensures you won’t need to upgrade again anytime soon and can get the most out of your current games.
  4. Better multitasking – Whether alt-tabbing to check guides, watching streams or recording gameplay, extra RAM ensures smooth transitions without crashing.
  5. Windows 11 – 32GB of RAM is an ideal base amount for Windows 11, particularly with the 24H2 update that incorporates AI PC capabilities. 32GB provides ample memory for multitasking, smooth performance when using demanding applications, and futureproofing for gaming and content creation.

32GB of RAM: the new gaming standard

The amount of memory you need for gaming doesn't just depend on what games you want to play, but also how many other applications you have open in the background.

For years, 16GB of RAM was the sweet spot for your gaming needs, but as times have changed with game engines, AI processing and background apps demanding more memory, 32GB of RAM has become the new baseline for a smooth gaming experience.

If you want to enjoy smooth gameplay for the big games that we looked at earlier while keeping your system ready for future releases, investing in 32GB of high-speed RAM is a smart move.

While 32GB of RAM may sound like a lot, having a surplus of available RAM capacity can make a huge difference in performance and proves why so many gaming enthusiasts add 32GB, 48GB or even 64GB of RAM to their systems.

Don’t let outdated hardware limit your gaming experience. Upgrade today and unlock the full potential of your gaming PC!

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