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How to Choose the Right RAM for Your Gaming PC

About 03 billion people around the globe are gamers, and 48% of all gaming happens on Personal Computers.

So if you think you are addicted to Forza, Doom Eternal, or Valorant, trust me, you are not the only one.

As a gamer, you would want to enjoy a seamless, stutter-free gaming experience … and for that, the foremost requirement is the right RAM. But you may often find yourself asking, “how much RAM is good for me?”

Well, it all relies on the kind of PC you have and what is your day-to-day usage of it. We are here to solve the “right RAM” dilemma for you. So without further ado, let’s begin:

What RAM Suits Best for Your PC?

RAM plays an integral role when playing games because the RAM size can improve frame pacing and frame rates. So when choosing a gaming PC, RAM is crucial. Let’s break down the question of what RAM suits your requirement best.

  • Video Editing/ Graphics Design: At least 16GB
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Video Editing/ Graphics Design: At least 16GB - Image credit: Unsplash

RAM plays an integral role when playing games because the RAM size can improve frame pacing and frame rates. So when choosing a gaming PC, RAM is crucial. Let’s break down the question of what RAM suits your requirement best.

  • Gaming PC: At least 16GB

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GTA V - Image credit: rockstargames

For a gaming PC, you need at least 16GB. Now, I know that 8 GB is the minimum requirement for most games. But it does not bring you a seamless gaming experience or high-quality performance.

For example, when you are playing Grand Theft Auto V, the requirement is an 8 GB RAM minimum. But the visual settings take up to 7 GB of the RAM when you set to maximum visual settings. That leaves you with only 1 GB for background processes, thereby leaving you with certainly-unwelcomed lags and stutters in your game.

Similarly, games like Horizon: Forbidden West, Dying Light 2, and DOOM Eternal also ask for at least 8GB of RAM to run well. But guess what? It doesn’t provide a seamless experience either. Hence, you absolutely need at least 16 GBs here.

  • Solid-gaming PC system: 32GB

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How to Improve Your Gaming PC’s Airflow? - Image credit: voltapc.sg

Now let’s talk about solid, hard-core gaming. For memory-intensive tasks, such as rendering big files, you need a RAM of 32 GB. This RAM is specifically for users who need to run multiple memory-heavy programs and/or super-heavy games like Metro Exodus, Forza, and Assassin’s Creed.

Apart from current games, it would help if you prepared your PC for future-proofing. The Microsoft Flight Simulator, one of the most popular games of 2022, requires a minimum of 8GB of RAM, recommends 16GB, and ranks 32GB as desirable. This is because 32GB RAM noticeably increases the performance of your game and helps with the most micro stutters that you are facing in the game otherwise.

For example, when you are playing Grand Theft Auto V, the requirement is an 8 GB RAM minimum. But the visual settings take up to 7 GB of the RAM when you set to maximum visual settings. That leaves you with only 1 GB for background processes, thereby leaving you with certainly-unwelcomed lags and stutters in your game.

Similarly, games like Horizon: Forbidden West, Dying Light 2, and DOOM Eternal also ask for at least 8GB of RAM to run well. But guess what? It doesn’t provide a seamless experience either. Hence, you absolutely need at least 16 GBs here.

Not all RAM is Compatible with Every System

Hear, Hear. Not all RAM is compatible with every system. If the RAM and motherboard are incompatible, your computer doesn’t boot. So, when assessing the compatibility of a memory kit with your other components, consider the following:

  • DDR Generation: Your system’s motherboard has any of the four DDR (Double Data Rate) generations; DDR 1, DDR 2, DDR 3, and DDR 4. DDRs are not cross-compatible with RAMs, which means that it is physically impossible to fit RAM into the DDR of your motherboard if it is not particularly designed for the specified version.
  • DIMM Slot: DDR and DIMM are essentially the same things; DDR is basically a type of DDR, so DIMM (dual in-line memory module) slots are the location on which your RAM is installed. Your motherboard comes with 1-8 DIMM slots, and as is the case of DDR generation, you cannot physically fit a RAM unless it is designed for the specified version.
  • CPU Heatsink Clearance: A CPU heatsink is basically the block of metal that sits on top of your CPU. Its purpose is to wick away the heat from your CPU and take it to the fan or radiator. You need to have at least 1mm heatsink clearance for the RAM to work smoothly.
  • Form Factor: The form factor encompasses all the physical specifications of your PC’s hardware components. RAM comes with two types of form factors; large DDR stick RAM and low profile RAM (LP DDR). The former works for most full-sized PCs, while the latter comes in laptops and smaller motherboards. Nowadays, Small Form Factor (SFF) computers are all the rage, and certain motherboards for SFF computers require low profile RAM, so when choosing the RAM, you need to keep check of the form factor you are dealing with.

Conclusion

Are you looking for a gaming PC to run all AAA titles without breaking a sweat? In that case, your primary focus would be finding the correct PC components for a seamless experience. The number 1 factor contributing to your stutter-free gaming is the RAM. We are here to help you pick and choose the right RAM for your PC. So go through our article and see what RAM suits your needs best.

Got all the information but are still confused about where to purchase your gaming PC from? Well, you are in luck! All VOLTA prebuilt gaming PCs give you various choices to enjoy the best gaming experience.

Best Part: VOLTA PC come with different models built for different requirements.

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The Model A comes with 16 GB is decent for an overall good gaming experience, while Model V and T, with the highest configurations that come with 32GB of memory. Whichever model you go for, VOLTA ensures that your games don’t stutter at any critical moment.

So what are you waiting for? Purchase your dream gaming PC today!

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