Is 8GB RAM enough memory for PC gaming in 2023?

Is 8GB RAM enough memory for PC gaming in 2023?
Romilly Cotta Updated on by

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If you’re wondering if 8GB RAM is enough memory for PC gaming, we’ve taken a look at what the optimal amount of memory is right here.

It’s no secret that modern games are growing to be so big that PC hardware is running marathons to keep up. If you’ve been encountering stuttering with 2023 releases like Hogwarts Legacy or Sons of the Forest, there’s a decent chance it could be related to your memory.

While the PC requirements of modern games will likely demand more than 8GB RAM, it’s also worth upgrading your memory if you like to have applications running in the background, like Chrome or Spotify.

Let’s take a look at how much memory you need for gaming, and if 8GB is enough for PC gaming in 2023.

Is 8GB good enough for a gaming PC?

While there are PC games that only require 8GB of memory, we’re seeing fewer and fewer titles that do so. Many titles nowadays require 16GB of RAM and above to be played:

And then there’s the question of gaming in 4K resolution. If you want to enjoy Hogwarts Legacy in 4K, you’ll need a hefty 32GB minimum recommended RAM. In other words, 8GB RAM probably isn’t good enough in 2023. The norm is now shifting to 16GB RAM as the safe baseline to work from if you’re building a PC, or looking for one of the best pre-built gaming PCs.

Is it possible to upgrade 8GB RAM to 16GB RAM?

Yes – the good news is that it’s possible to upgrade 8GB RAM to 16GB RAM, and that the process is fairly straightforward. Just ask our friends over at WePC who have the ultimate step-by-step guide for upgrading your memory.

We’re at the point now where the best gaming phones have up to 16GB DDR5 memory, so that should tell you enough about how much you need for a gaming PC.

We’re going to be keeping an eye out for the latest gaming updates especially relating to memory, so make sure to check back in with us periodically for updates similar to this one, and how to find out what graphics card you have.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need 16GB of RAM in the future?

If you’d like to future-proof your gaming set-up, it’s definitely worth having 16GB RAM if you want to minimize running into annoying problems like stuttering and crashing.

Is upgrading to 8GB RAM worth it?

If you’re using your PC for gaming, or other GPU intensive tasks, it’s probably worth upgrading to 16GB RAM to keep up with the demands of modern games.