Updated at: 24-03-2023 - By: Leo Hall
Is it true that RAM slows down your gaming, or is that just a myth? The shortest solution to this frequent query is right here!

RAM (Random Access Memory) is typically one of the least expensive and most easily upgraded components.

Without a doubt, it is an essential part of any computer. The question is, how crucial is it for gaming.

What is it?

What is the Purpose of RAM for Gaming?

There are many uses for RAM in fields like multitasking, but it also has relevance in gaming because it is where the game’s variables and content are stored. When you fire up your gaming PC, the RAM becomes an integral part of the action because that’s where the game is stored until you exit the program. RAM is preferred to the hard drive as it is faster and can hold more data temporarily. In order to play games more quickly and enjoy them more, more and faster RAM is preferred. Not only can you temporarily store more data, but the data can also be read and written more quickly.

Keep in mind that vRAM is prioritized over system RAM when playing games, so be sure to read our post on the topic as well.

What Factors Should You Look At?

Here are some specifications to look for in your next desktop computer, whether it’s for work or play.

  • Capacity: 16GB or more of total RAM capacity is recommended, as this is enough for even the largest games. While it would be wise to bump things up here, if you’re using an older pre-built gaming rig, check to make sure it can handle the increase. Check the motherboard manufacturer’s website if you assembled your own gaming rig. If that doesn’t work, visit your current system’s manufacturer’s website.
  • What can be transferred to the stick at once is determined by the frequency. RAM can operate at different speeds, but just like capacity, you’re limited by what your computer can handle. Performance improves with increasing frequency, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the fastest RAM is the best. Overclocking RAM beyond what is supported by the chipset (3600MHz on Z490, for example) can actually cause system instability, canceling out any performance benefits.
  • To minimize lag time between operations, 16 CAS is the sweet spot for RAM latency. Latency is described in four numbers; these reveal the latency of memory clocks for each activity. You can go as crazy as you like with your gaming computer because all motherboards can handle any latency.

The Perfect Amount Of RAM

RAM’s effects on gameplay are bizarre, and the decline is both dramatic and disheartening. Game performance is heavily impacted by RAM, especially on systems with less than, say, 4 GB of RAM. Lower available memory means the game will take longer to load essential game components (engine, textures, levels, lighting, etc.), leading to a choppy and unsatisfying play experience.

Increasing RAM is a quick and easy fix. While more RAM is always better, there is a point beyond which adding more RAM won’t benefit the system. This threshold’s maximum value and its potential range are determined by two independent variables.

How Much Does RAM Affect FPS in Games? (Capacity & RAM Speed)

First, the amount of random access memory (RAM) that a game is designed to use. If a game can only use up to 4 GB of RAM at any given time, then having 8 GB of RAM will result in 4 GB of unused space.

However, games aren’t the only thing using RAM; the other programs you’ll have open in the background while you play are also a consideration. We’re talking about things like Steam, anti-viruses, web browsers, and recording programs that might be running in the background. The operating system also consumes RAM, which must be taken into account at all times.

However, if you’d rather not force your other programs to close every time you launch a game, then having more than the minimum amount of RAM would be beneficial. Those who do a lot of streaming and need to keep multiple programs running in the background for extended periods will find this especially helpful. But it could also be graphic designers or video editors who don’t want to force themselves to close their RAM-intensive professional software every time they want to take a break to play a game.

Eight to sixteen gigabytes of RAM is more than adequate for the majority of games in today’s market. But now that we’re in the year 2020, games are more intensive than ever, and programmers are tapping into ever more RAM to keep up.

Therefore, as time goes on, the minimum recommended amount of RAM found in gaming PCs will increase; however, at the moment, most agree that 16 GB is the sweet spot: you won’t run out of RAM when gaming, and it’s future-proof.

While 8 GB is sufficient and a good option for budget builds, you may have trouble running more resource-intensive games and, depending on the software you run, it could fill up quickly.

How Much Of A Difference Does More RAM Make For Gaming?

Again, you’ll notice a slight but noticeable difference when you go from 4 GB to 16 GB of RAM and run a game that requires at most 8 GB of RAM. It’s possible that the overall performance, frame rate, and load times would all improve slightly.

In contrast, if the game only requires 8 GB of RAM and you upgrade to 16 GB, you won’t notice any noticeable performance drop.

However, depending on the games you play and the programs you use, prioritizing a more powerful CPU or GPU could be a better investment.

What About RAM Clock Speed?

The answer is similar in this case: it depends on the software being used, the amount of RAM being upgraded, and the speed of the existing RAM configuration. With a higher clock speed, the RAM can process data at a faster rate because more operations can be performed per second.

However, in the vast majority of gaming situations, the difference in performance will be undetectable or barely noticeable.

Motherboards and central processing units should be considered as well. While CPU bottlenecking is always a concern, not all motherboards will allow for high RAM speeds or RAM overclocking.

You’ll have a bottleneck and underutilization of the RAM if the CPU can’t keep up with it.

The graphics processing unit (GPU) is, as usual, the most influential component in gaming.

GPU and VRAM Are The Most Important Factors For Gaming

VRAM is short for video RAM and is the internal RAM found in GPUs. Video RAM, or VRAM, is a fast form of flash memory that stores a wide variety of graphics data and makes it instantly accessible to the GPU.

Since games make heavy use of VRAM in comparison to regular system RAM, even a modest increase in VRAM capacity can result in noticeable performance improvements.

Displays with a high number of pixels, such as QHD and UHD, necessitate this more than ever. Currently, 6 or 8 GB of VRAM in a GPU is considered optimal. If you’re on a tight budget but still want to game in 1080p, you can get by with 4 GB of RAM. Contrarily, anything beyond 8 GB may be considered overkill unless you also use a display with a high resolution and/or intend to use the GPU in a workstation.

Optimizing the graphics processing unit (GPU) is a good starting point for enhancing gaming performance. If you’re using a graphics card from the previous generation and it only has 4 GB of VRAM, upgrading to a modern one with 8 GB of VRAM will provide a significant performance boost.

Best gaming RAM: Our top-10 picks

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TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB DDR4 32GB 3600MHz

Fastest RAM for gaming computers.

Four and a half stars out of five on Amazon’s review scale

Price: $147.92

In comparison to other memories of similar speed, it is one of our favorite low-cost options for gaming PCs. In a nutshell, TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta is the best RAM money can buy if you need 32 GB but don’t want to spend more than $150.

DDR4 memory at 3,600 MHz

Latency in CAS: 18

Dates and times: 18:22:22:42

32 GB (2 x 16 GB) storage space.

Pros:

  • An excellent deal for 32 GB of storage space
  • Stunning RGB lighting

Cons:

  • Apparently, it’s not fully illuminating for some people.

TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z DDR4 16GB Kit 3200MHz

Ideal for those who have an ASUS motherboard

On Amazon, it has a 4.7 star rating.

Price: $81.77

This one has been tested and approved by ASUS to work with their motherboards for optimal performance. However, you are not limited to using this RAM with an ASUS PC; feel free to experiment with it on other machines if you so choose. Those who prefer non-RGB solutions will appreciate the sleek design. Therefore, why not give this one a try if you’re looking for the best RAM for a gaming PC?

VULCAN Z DDR4 GAMING MEMORY│TEAMGROUP

DDR4 memory at 3,200 MHz

Time Lag in CAS: 16

Date and time: 16:16:38

16 GB (2 x 8 GB) storage space.

Pros:

  • It’s available in three different hues, with the red and yellow camouflage options being particularly chic.
  • Excellent compatibility with ASUS motherboards

Cons:

  • There have been reports from some customers that the actual performance is slower than promised.

Corsair Vengeance RGB RS 64GB DDR4-3,200

Superior for: top-tier gaming gear

Amazon customers rated it 4.80/5 stars.

Price: $332.84

The Corsair Vengeance RGB RS 64GB is among the best DDR-4 RAMs for gaming if you’re willing to spend more than $300 on great gaming memory hardware. At XMP settings, its performance is superior to that of some faster RAMs at a variety of data rates, making it one of the most impressive options available. Corsair and third-party RGB customization utilities are both supported, and the memory can reach speeds of up to 3,200MHz thanks to the module’s heat spreaders.

DDR4 memory at 3,200 MHz.

Time Lag in CAS: 16

Hours and minutes: 16:20:20:38

The total storage space is 64 GB (2 x 32 GB).

Pros:

  • You can play and stream all the latest PC games with just 64 GB of RAM.
  • According to feedback from users, the RGB lighting is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. If you prefer a non-RGB version, you can get it.

Cons:

  • Inexpensive they are not

Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB DDR4-2,666MHz

Tiny computer cases are the best option.

On Amazon, it has a 4.8 star rating.

Price: $75.24

If the RGB Pro version is too tall for your build (or your taste), this low-profile variant is a fantastic alternative that will work with almost any setup while maintaining the same level of performance. It’s small, but it packs a powerful punch thanks to its dual-rank DIMMs and built-in heatsink. This RAM is also a good option if your motherboard supports no more than a DDR4-2,666 data rate, as is the case with the H370 and B360.

DDR4-2,666MHz is the speed at which this memory can operate.

It takes 15 seconds for CAS to process a request.

Schedule: 15:17:17:35

Storage space: 16 GB (2×8 GB)

Pros:

  • Suits compact computer cases perfectly
  • Using dual-rank DIMMs is a great way to speed up your system.

Cons:

  • The XMP feature must be supported by your motherboard.

G.Skill Ripjaws V 16GB DDR4-2,666

For the best value in low-cost gaming,

Amazon review average: 4.7 stars out of 5.

Price: $81.52

G.Skill’s Ripjaws V is their second generation of DDR4 RAM, and we’re pleased to see that the company learned from the criticisms leveled at their first memory and made the Ripjaws V a vast improvement. The new memory is superior in speed, price, and cooling. Even more so, we consider Ripjaws V to be among the top gaming RAMs for mid-range PCs. It easily outperforms some 2,400MHz kits, and it can be overclocked to 2,800-3,000MHz; you can try to overclock it to 3,200MHz, but you may run into stability issues at that speed and higher.

DDR4-2,666MHz is the speed.

Time Delay for CAS: 15

Periods of 15 seconds, 15 seconds, 15 seconds, and 35 seconds

16 GB (2 x 8 GB) storage space.

Pros:

  • Offering one of the market’s best price-to-quality ratios
  • Confident style

Cons:

  • In the absence of a secondary XMP

Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB DDR4-3,200

Best If Used To Create A Spectacular Effect With RGB Lighting

The Amazon review average is 4.70 stars out of 10.

Price: $211.47

When it came to the Dominator Platinum RGB, Corsair was completely out of their depth. Built into one of the most stylish enclosures available are cutting-edge DHX cooling technology, ultra-bright Capellix LEDs, and the comprehensive iCUE software. If you’re willing to spend over $200, this RAM is among the best options available. In addition to being able to run a wide variety of games, the 32 GB DIMMs in this RAM will also let you take on other tasks that may necessitate a lot of storage space.

DDR4-3,200MHz is the speed at which the memory in your computer can operate.

Latency of the CAS, in seconds: 16

A timing of 16-18-18-36

There are 32 GB available, split between two 16 GB slots.

Pros:

  • The model is special because of the RGB lighting, which looks fantastic.

Cons:

  • Unfortunately, not all of the choices are suitable for Intel processors.
  • As a result of its unique and enticing appearance, it is more expensive than similar hardware that can perform the same function.

HyperX Predator Black 32GB DDR4-3200

Highest quality for: blazing fast overclocking

According to customer ratings on Amazon, this product is 4.7 stars.

Price: $205.70

We can see that this 32 GB set is unique among its peers. Even though the price tag of over $200 for a DDR4-3200 XMP profile may deter casual RAM buyers who prioritize “out of the box” performance, the impressive overclocking potential of this RAM will stun enthusiasts. It’s the best overclockable gaming RAM we’ve tested. All four modules can be synchronized with one another via infrared, allowing for precisely timed color changes.

Ram PC Kingston HyperX Predator RGB 32GB 3200MHz DDR4 (16GBx2) HX432C16PB3AK2/32

DDR4-3200MHz is the speed it operates at.

Time Lag in CAS: 16

Specific Times: 16-18-18-36

The total storage capacity is 32 GB (2×16 GB).

Pros:

  • Black and RGB color modes are available for your selection.
  • Both stability and performance have been praised by users.

Cons:

  • You need RAM setup expertise to get the most out of your RAM.

Kingston HyperX Fury 16GB DDR3-1,866

The optimal choice for DDR3 configurations

Amazon review average: 4.7 stars out of 5.

Price: $78.11

Check out the best DDR3 RAM we’ve found. If you’re upgrading an older system that doesn’t have DDR4 memory slots, then this RAM is a good choice. When compared to the other RAMs on our list, it may seem sluggish. Despite this, it can detect your system’s components automatically and overclock to very respectable speeds without breaking the bank.

DDR3-1,866MHz is the speed at which this memory can be transferred and accessed.

Latency for CAS: 10

The time is now 10:11:10

16 GB (2 x 8 GB) storage space.

Pros:

  • Can be used in computers that lack DDR4 support and are still functioning properly
  • uses less energy than similar devices

Cons:

  • Is not suggested for modern constructions: DDR4 RAM modules cost the same as DDR3 modules but perform much more quickly.

Patriot Viper 4 8GB DDR4-3,000

Ideal for: Consistently Good Results

Amazon review average: 4.7 stars out of 5.

Price: $77.65

Here’s yet another top-notch overclocker, this one sporting a high-basic XMP profile of 3000. It lacks fancy, configurable RGB LEDs everywhere, but it does offer a reasonable price and, thanks to its dual-DIMM configuration and attractive heatsinks, it looks pretty cool inside the case. If you’re a gamer looking to save money without sacrificing performance, and you don’t mind giving up RGB LEDs, then this is the perfect card for you. It has advanced XMP and significant overclocking capabilities, and it can be overclocked to extremes.

DDR4-3000MHz Bandwidth

Latency of the CAS System, 15

The schedule looks like this: 15 15 15 36

8 GB (2 x 4 GB) storage space.

Pros:

  • In all, a reliable option in RAM

Cons:

  • Acceptable manual tuning flexibility
  • For newly released games, 8 GB might not be enough.

Adata Spectrix D80 16GB DDR4-3,200

Liquid cooling with RGB lighting is the top choice.

Amazon customers rated it 4.62 out of 5 stars.

Price: $281.67

There is a wide variety of memory sizes and speeds to choose from, with this model falling somewhere in the middle of the Spectrix D80 lineup. Memory sizes range from DDR4-3,000 to DDR4-4,133, with 8, 16, and 32 GB options. Spectrix D80 is not only a great gaming RAM but also one of the flashiest ones due to its all-in approach to RGB lighting and overall design complexity, setting it apart from the Viper 4 model. You can choose a high-performance 4,133MHz model without worrying about it overheating thanks to the liquid cooling system.

Data Transfer Rate: DDR4 3,200MHz

CAS Delay Time: 16

16:18 18:36

Total storage space of 16 GB is divided between two 8 GB modules.

Pros:

  • This is awesome looking.
  • Possesses exceptional tunability

Cons:

  • As a 16 GB RAM option, it is among the most expensive.

The Bottom Line

Over a certain frame rate, the effect of RAM on gaming is negligible. You won’t waste money on RAM if you remember to factor in the needs of your favorite games.

The article does note, however, that in 2022, 16 GB of RAM is typically the sweet spot for a gaming PC.

When it comes to gaming, a better graphics processing unit (GPU) should be your top priority, but 8 GB of RAM will do in a pinch if you don’t have the cash for more.