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- Official system requirements of newer titles don’t require more than 12GB VRAM to run at 1080p 60 FPS at medium to high settings.
- When buying a new GPU, there are many things to consider aside from just the VRAM. Otherwise, the RTX 2060 performing better than the GTX 1060 6GB wouldn’t make much sense.
- If you’re only going to play games at 1080p 60 FPS at medium to high settings, an 8GB VRAM GPU might suffice. They are not future-proof anymore, though.
NVIDIA and AMD have been on each other’s throats for the past year, and a few recent GPU releases have sparked controversy in the gaming industry. NVIDIA initially released the RTX 5060 Ti with an 8GB and 16GB variant. A month later, we got the RTX 5060 with 8GB VRAM.
NVIDIA’s moves were criticized by both gamers and AMD. However, AMD has also announced an 8GB variant of the RX 9060 XT, with a 16GB VRAM variant. The question now stands: are 8GB VRAM GPUs enough for today’s gaming standards? Let’s look at the nitty-gritty of it.
System Requirements Of Newer Titles
Before we push the VRAM issue further, what are the system requirements of some newer games? I have created a small table featuring a few recent and popular titles, along with their respective VRAM requirements. Let’s see how many games are asking for 12GB or more VRAM:
| Game Name | Minimum VRAM Required | Recommended VRAM Required |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty | 6-8GB | 8GB |
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | 8GB | 8GB (16GB AMD) |
| Assassin's Creed Shadows | 8GB | 12GB |
| Final Fantasy VII Remake: Rebirth | 8GB | 12GB |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 4GB | 8GB |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 2GB | 6GB |
| Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 | 8GB | 16GB |
| Marvel Rivals | 6GB | 8GB |
That’s an interesting chart, don’t you think? I need to mention, though, that the recommended VRAM requirements for most of these games allow you to play at 1080p 60 FPS. In some titles (like Red Dead Redemption 2), using the recommended GPU won’t let you get all the eye candy through ray tracing.
Anyway, back to the main question: is an 8GB VRAM GPU relevant? Perhaps for 1080p 60 FPS gaming at low to medium settings, yes. At that point, AMD’s recent statement stays true. But what about games that are releasing in 2026? GTA VI, for example? I’m tempted to say that an 8GB VRAM GPU won’t be enough to run that kind of game, but no official system requirements have dropped so far to solidify that statement.
Is VRAM All That Matters In GPUs?
Honestly, when I started seeing the controversy everywhere, I was almost astounded. It’s 2025, and companies are still promoting this gimmick. Yes, VRAM is important. No, it’s not everything in a GPU. Don’t believe me? The GTX 1060 is a 6GB VRAM GPU released in 2016. Similarly, the RTX 2060 is also a 6GB VRAM GPU, released in 2019. Does that mean both provide the same performance? No. The RTX 2060 is much better than the GTX 1060.
The bottom line is that only looking at the GPU’s VRAM is wrong. There are a bajillion other things you must consider. Yes, VRAM is important. It’s essential for gaming, it’s crucial for AI workload tasks, but it’s not everything. I believe it’s about time we stop glazing over VRAM.
How Does VRAM Help In Games?
VRAM is just RAM, but for the graphics card. Essentially, data related to graphics processing is temporarily stored there for the GPU to render it quickly without having to access slower storage. VRAM wasn’t a significant issue until recently, when higher resolutions became more popular. So, if you’re using a 1440p monitor, there’s a higher chance you’ll need a GPU with more than 8GB or even 12GB of VRAM.
Why is that, though? Sure, there are more graphics to render, but the main culprit is the higher texture resolution. Games typically save textures in a higher resolution than the actual resolution. For example, if you’re using a 1920x1080p monitor, the game will save each texture for 2048×2048 pixels. This keeps increasing as you increase your actual monitor resolution. Hence, for modern games, higher resolution typically means higher VRAM requirements.
Can Lower VRAM GPUs Still Be Future Proof?
As much as I’d love to say yes, 8GB VRAM GPUs at 1080p are about to become void. Heck, even my RTX 3060, a 12GB GPU, struggles to run a few titles at the highest settings in 1080p. On the other hand, the RX 9060 XT 16GB has 14% worse performance than the RX 7700 XT, which has 12GB VRAM.
Still, depending on your budget and use case scenario, you may want to get a GPU with higher VRAM and better overall performance. After all, higher resolution equates to higher VRAM requirements. So, if you’re not planning to go over 1080p 60 FPS for a couple of years, you might be fine with a lower VRAM GPU, but if that’s not the case, it may be better to invest slightly more in a higher-tier GPU.
We Need To Look Beyond Simple Numbers
The bottom line from all of this is that we need to look beyond simple numbers. Official system requirements can be off-putting at times. Sometimes you need stronger hardware than required; at other times, weaker hardware works fine too. Even so, are 8GB VRAM GPUs enough for today’s gaming standards? Perhaps, if you’re on a lower 1080p 60Hz panel, a weaker GPU may still be worthwhile.
The only reason 1080p 60 FPS remains the standard is that companies haven’t made 1440p accessible for budget gaming. Once we reach that threshold, 8GB GPUs won’t be as viable as they are today. I’ve been using computers since the days of CRT monitors, and I’d love to see 1440p become the official trend for budget gaming soon.
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[Comparisons Expert]
Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.
Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.
As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.
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