Will RAM Affect Gaming Performance and FPS?

RAM is a vital aspect of any computer, but does it play a role in streamlining your gaming performance and FPS?

In this blog post, we’ll be answering the question, does RAM affect FPS? Highlighting why RAM is important for gaming, how it can influence your FPS, and of course sharing some top RAM kits for those looking to upgrade.

What is RAM?

RAM, or Random Access Memory, is a type of volatile memory, responsible for temporarily storing and processing data as and when requested by your processor. As RAM is volatile, any data that is stored on your memory is only kept there when your PC is turned on. When you shut down your computer, the data is lost.

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If you want to take a closer look at what computer RAM is, check out our ultimate guide to PC memory.

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Why is RAM Important for Gaming?

RAM is vitally important for gaming since it allows your PC to quickly access and process your game’s data, along with preventing any unwanted bottlenecks. This results in improved responsiveness, faster load times, minimal stutter, and even smoother gameplay.

The minimum for gaming is between 8GB and 16GB. What capacity of RAM you choose depends on what games you want to play. Casual gamers, with 8GB of RAM, can easily enjoy playing titles such as Fortnite or Stardew Valley at up to 1080p. However, if you wish to play anything a bit more intensive or a higher resolution, 16GB is the sweet spot.

With a 16GB RAM kit, you’ll be able to enjoy quick loading times, no input lag, smoother performance, and even more efficient multitasking allowing you to game, watch, and chat all at the same time.

Does RAM Affect FPS?

In short – yes. RAM can affect your FPS, especially if you don’t have a high enough capacity or you’re trying to play a more memory-intensive game. If you don’t have enough RAM, your performance can start to stutter, lag, or possibly even crash as it struggles to access data from your storage drives.

RAM speed is another important factor when it comes to your FPS. Faster RAM can notably improve your overall performance, delivering smoother gameplay and even a higher FPS. The ideal combination is a RAM kit that boasts a high speed but low CAS timings and latency, as this will help you achieve that sweet spot balancing between performance and efficiency. Especially if you wish to play titles with complex and large open worlds, such as Cyberpunk 2077 or inZOI.

In Need of a RAM Upgrade?

Are you struggling with poor in-game performance? Is your FPS limited by your RAM? Why not treat yourself to an upgrade with one of the great memory kits that you can find at Overclockers UK?

We’ve three of our top picks showcased below, but if these aren’t enough to handle your in-game demands, you can also shop our entire collection with the click of a button.

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