In 2022, 16GB is the ideal RAM capacity for gaming . Lower capacities can still reduce it, but you will inevitably run into performance issues. Meanwhile, anything higher is simply overkill unless you're also using your PC to run RAM-intensive professional software.

Putting together a balanced gaming rig is no easy task, especially if you're new to all of this and have to consider the finer details of a build that go beyond the basics.

One such factor to consider is RAM.

There's a lot of variation in terms of memory requirements between different games and a lot of general misconceptions floating around about RAM configurations, so it's easy to understand why this could be a source of confusion for some people.

So how much RAM do you really need to play games in 2022? Are there any additional factors to take into account? Read on and find out!

What is RAM memory?

Let's start with the basics: what is RAM and what role does it play?

Short for Random Access Memory, it's a type of volatile memory that effectively functions as your PC's short-term memory. It's ridiculously fast compared to even the fastest SSDs available today, allowing the CPU to quickly fetch any data that's important to running a program.

That said, in video games, RAM plays a vital role in storing all the relevant game data to ensure a smooth gaming experience. If a PC runs on insufficient RAM, a game will inevitably start to lag, and that's something no one wants.

What are common RAM configurations?

Taking a look at today's PCs, you'll find that most of them have 8, 16, or 32 GB of RAM, most often in dual-channel configurations.

At the low end, we have 8GB configurations, which was the mid-range yesterday. A gaming PC with 8GB of RAM will bring that down in 2022, but you'll have to make some trade-offs and you'll almost certainly face some performance issues when running the most memory-hungry games.

In the mid-range, 16GB is the current standard for gaming. At the moment, no game needs more than 16GB of RAM to run properly, making its setup ideal for most gaming PCs.

And then at the high end, 32GB is usually reserved for enthusiast-level gaming PCs and PCs that aren't designed specifically for gaming. This amount of RAM is simply too much if you intend to use the PC primarily for gaming.

Of course, RAM isn't capped at 32GB, and mainstream motherboards can often support up to 64 or 128GB of RAM, with some large form factor boards also able to support a whopping 256GB. Needless to say, these high-capacity configurations are only really necessary on workstations and servers, and there's little point in having that much RAM on a regular desktop PC.

Meanwhile, 8GB isn't the lower limit either, as PCs with 4GB of RAM (or even less, in some rare cases) aren't extinct yet. However, it also goes without saying that PCs with such limited RAM are simply not good at running any remotely demanding 3D games.

How Much RAM Should You Get?

With all of the above in mind, how much RAM should you ultimately get?

All things considered, we'd say 16GB is the ultimate golden point when it comes to gaming RAM in 2022. It gives you all the RAM you'd need to run the latest games smoothly, while also being easy on the wallet and ensuring you won't have to upgrade anytime soon.

On the other hand, if you're struggling to make your build fit your budget, opting for 8GB of RAM might be a good idea, especially since you can always easily upgrade later. Also, if the games you intend to play don't require more than 8GB of RAM, you might as well save some money and potentially put it toward something more important!

And then 32GB is also viable, whether you have money to spare and care about future-proofing your build, or also intend to use it for memory-intensive tasks like programming or video editing. Otherwise, it makes little sense to invest in such a capable kit.

conclusion

With that, it is time to conclude this article. Hopefully, you have found it useful and informative! Feel free to let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments below.

And if you're building a new PC right now, we suggest you take a look at our gaming PC builds, as we've got a setup to suit just about anyone's requirements across a wide budget spectrum.