How Much VRAM Do I Need for Gaming?
Not sure how much video memory you need? In this guide, we will explain how much VRAM you will need to play the game. The question that many gamers have when choosing a video card is: “How much video memory do I need?” The reality is that there is no right answer to how much VRAM you might need.
The amount of video random access memory (VRAM) required depends on various factors. And in this guide, we’ll break down what those factors are, explain what VRAM is, and give you a ballpark estimate of how much you’ll need based on the games, resolution, and settings you’re playing.
What is VRAM?
Just like your PC’s RAM gives your CPU quick access to the important data it needs to run processes. VRAM essentially works the same way in that it gives your GPU quick access to the data it needs to run processes related to graphics. Because video memory is built into the graphics card. The GPU can access the data it contains much faster than if the GPU were accessing the same data from system memory or the computer’s SSD/HDD.
However, unlike RAM, you cannot install multiple VRAM modules in a system or graphics card. Again, VRAM is integrated directly into the graphics card. So your graphics card’s VRAM is the amount of VRAM your GPU and system will need to use until you upgrade your graphics card.
How Much VRAM Do I Have?
An integrated graphics solution means that the GPU is on the same die as the CPU and uses regular system RAM instead of using its own dedicated video memory. When the graphics card runs out of video memory, data that needs to be loaded into graphics memory is loaded into system memory (RAM) if supported by the software/game. If you want to play modern games at 4K resolution, your best bet is to have a GPU with at least 8GB of VRAM. Buy a card with this amount of video memory only if you want to play older games that won`t work with integrated graphics.
Unless game developers/artists enforce certain texture settings that require a higher VRAM card, 8GB will probably be enough when running 1440p-4k with medium to high textures for the next 2-3 years, but 12-16 would be preferable GB for 3-5 years, assuming your GPU is powerful enough to last through that time until August 12, 2021. If you want to play the latest games at 4K resolution, you’ll need a card with more video memory.
Then click the Graphics tab to view GPU information, including the amount of dedicated video memory or video memory on your computer. In the window that appears, in the Adapters tab, next to Dedicated Video Memory, the amount of video memory for your graphics card and its characteristics are displayed. The Adapter tab on this window defines the GPU’s video memory as dedicated video memory.
Your GPU memory is displayed next to the “Memory Size” entry in the “Adapter Information” section. On a Mac, you’ll go to the System Information panel and find the VRAM data in the Hardware -> Graphics/Display settings. However, if you don’t know the model, you can check the amount of video memory in your PC’s display settings.
The easiest way to check how much video memory your graphics card has in Windows 10 is to access your system’s display settings. If your PC has dual GPUs, the VRAM information for the dedicated graphics card can be found in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool window. In Windows 10, a user can check how much VRAM he has on his computer in two different ways, one is a fairly simple process that requires nothing more than the built-in system utilities, and the other uses a third-party software application that can do much more than just telling you how much video memory your graphics card has. we’ll give you a rough estimate of how much you’ll need based on the games, resolution, and settings you’re playing.
What Factors Impact/Utilize VRAM?
The more VRAM you have, the more important graphics data your GPU will have quick access to, which in turn will help it send frames to your monitor faster. But, depending on how you use your computer, your system may need more or less video memory. Simply put, the higher the resolution of the monitor, the more VRAM is used to process one frame.
As you can see, 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution is significantly higher than 1080P (1920 x 1080). This image was created to illustrate the number of pixels at each common monitor resolution, but it also does a good job of showing how tedious it is to render frames at higher resolutions. One 1920 x 1080 (1080P) frame will take up less space than one 2560 x 1440 (1440P) frame. In addition, a single frame at 2560 x 1440 takes up less space than a single frame at 3840 x 2160 (4K).
How the Games You Are Playing Will Impact VRAM
So gaming on a 4K monitor will use more VRAM than gaming on a 1080P monitor. Just as the higher the resolution of a monitor, the more VRAM it will use, the more detailed and rich graphics a game has, the more VRAM it will use. So, for example, games like Team Fortress 2 and Minecraft won’t use the same amount of video memory as games like Middle Earth: Shadow of War or Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds.
The former games are not known for the quality and detail of the graphics, while the latter offers much more advanced scenarios and graphics detail.
How Your Game’s Settings Will Impact VRAM
Because Minecraft isn’t a very detailed game, it won’t use the same amount of video memory as a more complex game like Middle Earth: Shadow of War. And, in fact, since better graphics actually means more data, this means that one frame in a game that requires more graphics will process more data than one frame in a less demanding game. So while games like Minecraft don’t have a lot of detail and as a result won’t use much VRAM even at higher resolutions, other games like Shadow of War will use much more VRAM.
We know from the above that the overall graphics quality of a game will determine how much VRAM the GPU uses when running that game. However, the settings in which you launch the game also determine the amount of video memory used by the GPU when rendering frames for that game. The higher the settings you run your games on, the more data will be required to render each frame and therefore the more VRAM will be used.
The reverse is also true. You can reduce the amount of video memory used by your game by lowering your graphics settings. And it’s something that many gamers with legacy systems have to deal with new games in order to run them at playable frame rates. We now know that your monitor resolution, the games you play, and the settings you play will affect the amount of VRAM required to achieve acceptable frame rates in those games.
How Much VRAM Do You Need?
Again, this is a general summary. The games you play and the settings you run them in also matter. For example, at 1080P resolution, you can run less demanding games like TF2, League of Legends, Dota 2, Minecraft, etc.
Also, as your monitor resolution increases, so does the amount of VRAM required to play your favorite games at higher settings and acceptable frame rates. If you are looking for a new graphics card, the above list will give you a general idea of how much video memory your chosen graphics card should have. If you play more demanding games, you should try to stick to the higher VRAM range listed above. If you play less demanding games, you can choose a graphics card with less video memory. However, if you decide to purchase a more demanding game in the future, you may have to play it at lower settings due to the lower video memory capacity of your graphics card.
The Amount of VRAM You Will Need Depends on the Games You Play and the Resolution You Play At
In my opinion, at the time of writing this guide, it would be a good idea to choose a GPU with at least 4 GB of VRAM if your budget allows it. Currently available budget graphics cards with 2 GB of VRAM are still suitable for entry-level gaming at 1080P resolution. However, they will find it difficult to play today’s (and tomorrow’s) best games at maximum settings.
Hence, they should only be considered as temporary fixes or options for players who only play less demanding games.
Ultimately, the above information should help you find the right amount of video memory for your needs. If you need help choosing a video card, let us know your questions below!
How much VRAM do I need for gaming 2021?
There is no right or wrong answer for this. But, the recommended amount of VRAM needed for gaming in 2021 is 6GB to 8GB.
Is 6GB of VRAM enough 2021?
6GB of VRAM is going to be a decent amount, to begin with. But, with the content and games available these days this is the minimum amount I personally would want. Buy yes 6GB of VRAM is enough for 2021.
Is 16GB VRAM enough for gaming?
Yes, 16GB is going to be way more than you need for gaming. 90% of the popular games out there would even need this much to run even on 4k screens.
How much does VRAM matter for gaming?
VRAM matters a lot for gaming when it comes down to what resolution you want to play in. But the amount your going to need depends a lot on the game and the resolution you play at. Typically 4GB is good enough for 1080p gaming and 6GB+ is good enough for playing at 2k or higher resolution.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Random_Access_Memory
