
When it comes to gaming, the more power you have under the hood, the better. This is why many gamers are considering upgrading to 16GB or 32GB RAM. But which option is right for you? In this article, we will:
- Compare 16GB vs. 32GB RAM
- Discuss if adding more memory will even affect gaming performance
- Show you the situations when 32GB is worth it
- Tell you if it’s worth making the upgrade
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Should you go for 16GB or 32GB RAM for gaming?
16GB of RAM has been the standard for gaming for a while now. It’s enough to run most games and applications without any issues. If you want to future-proof your gaming rig, 32GB of RAM is the way to go.
Will adding more memory lead to better gaming performance?
No, not necessarily. Adding more RAM to reach the requirements of a game will often increase the game’s FPS. However, once you’ve reached the requirements of the game, adding more memory will not have any significant effect. Instead, focus on getting a faster CPU and graphics card.
Are there games that run better with 32GB RAM?
Almost all games will run without any issues with just 16GB of RAM, but there are a few exceptions.
Detailed flight simulators, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, are best experienced with at least 32GB of memory. Complex simulation games such as Cities Skylines are also better, with more random access memory to handle all the calculations required to keep track of a large city.
The same is true for open-world games that have large maps with many moving parts, such as Star Citizen.
If you’re using a lot of mods for games like Skyrim or Fallout, you may also need 32GB of RAM to keep everything running smoothly.
When is 32GB worth it?
While 16GB should be enough for most gamers, there are some situations where 32GB of RAM can come in handy.
If you do a lot of video editing or work with large files, 32GB will be beneficial. More RAM will allow you to work on larger projects, and once it’s time to render the video, it will do so much faster. If you use your gaming laptop for music production, having 32GB of RAM will help if you use a kot of plugins and instruments.
Another situation where 32GB can be helpful is if you stream your gameplay. When you’re streaming, you’re essentially running two programs simultaneously: the game itself and the streaming software. This can strain your system, and 16GB may not be enough.
The additional RAM will also be helpful if you are a programmer and do a lot of work on virtual machines. More RAM will allow you to have more virtual machines open at the same time without impacting performance.
Lastly, if you plan you plan on using virtual reality, consider getting 32GB of RAM. Most VR headsets recommend at least 16GB of RAM, but 32GB will give you some extra headroom.
Do you need 16GB RAM?
Yes, in order to meet the requirements for most modern games and programs, 16GB is the way to go.
You can get away with 8GB of RAM in many cases, but 16GB will ensure that you have enough memory for both current and upcoming games.
For a more in-depth answer to the question, read our article How Much Ram Does a Gaming Laptop Need?.
Is it worth upgrading?
It depends! There’s no need to upgrade for those of you who already have 16GB RAM and don’t plan on doing anything that would require more.
If you are in a situation where you would benefit from 32GB RAM, then it might be time to upgrade. Adding more memory is a pretty cheap and easy way to give your laptop a little boost.
Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of 16GB or 32Gb ram for gaming. It depends on what you’re using your laptop for and what games you’re playing. However, in general, we recommend 16GB RAM for most gamers. On the other hand, if you need more power, consider upgrading to 32GB RAM.
Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you decide on your next upgrade.
What are your thoughts on 16GB or 32Gb ram for gaming? Let us know in the comments below!