Do I really need more than 12gb VRAM for 4k?
Posted by Miracle_Bean@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 57 comments
With DLSS, frame gen, maybe RT?
Posted by Miracle_Bean@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 57 comments
With DLSS, frame gen, maybe RT?
Curun@reddit
if you drop textures off the highest setting, down to med or so, 4k can work quite well on 12gb vram. Today.
but tomorrow? eh
NikaNika19191991@reddit
Bufdy most of the game engine is explored we wont see graphic improovment overtime gta 5 is 23 years old game and beat most of the today game in graphic
DoctorYasu@reddit
Tomorrow 16 may work great.
But next week? Eh
RBisoldandtired@reddit
Depends on many factors. What games? What card? What frame rate?
But aye best practice is 16gb minimum card if you’re buying a card in 2025 and aiming for modern games at 4k 60fps.
Some 12gb cards like a 6750xt (what I have) for example can play some games in 4k with some RT even without frame gen needed (Indiana jones for example). But this will also depend to an extent your cpu and RAM.
boddle88@reddit
My 9070xt needs FSr quality to hit 60 at 1440p with medium RT in that game - how are you running 4k??
RBisoldandtired@reddit
Medium detail, low RT are my settings.
I genuinely can’t see any difference when I’m just casually gaming on my tv to ever bother with a higher RT level.
boddle88@reddit
Ah ok yeah I am on supreme
I agree with RT - this game is best with sunlight and ambient RT - reflections add little for me
Jaba01@reddit
Even 16 GB is too little for certain games already, so yes.
NightingaleVDVD@reddit
dlss, fg, rt all need to use vram no? 12gb in some rare cases isn't enough for 2k
Einherier96@reddit
Recently played a game on 1440p native, ray tracing enabled. Used 15gb of vram
onkelken@reddit
Not used necessarily. 15GB was allocated. It does not mean the game needs that to run well. The resources are there. So the software will allocate it and fill it with data ”just in case”. It will prevent popins etc, but we cannot tell if we would’ve had the same result if only 10GB was allocated.
Windows does the same with RAM. People who have upgraded from 16 to 32 GB for instance can testify that their RAM ”usage” immediately went up.
Einherier96@reddit
Considering that it managed to make other programs crash due to a lack of available vram, nope, that was all in use
onkelken@reddit
Yes it may have been the case which is why I made sure to include the term ”necessarily”.
You can use all your allocated VRAM. But VRAM can also be allocated without being used.
VRAM’s importance is growing faster than they extend it to new graphics cards. This is an issue we agree on. But your conclusion on usage will still not always apply.
tyezwyldadvntrz@reddit
can i ask what game
Einherier96@reddit
Valor mortis.
Scanoe@reddit
I play Atlas, a Steam game, it uses 15gb Vram at 1440p and it doesn't even have Ray Tracing. Rare Case = Indy Jones Great Circle, very vram intensive.
mashdpotatogaming@reddit
If you have more than 12gbs games will use for than 12gbs. It's the same with ram. The more you have the more will be allocated.
kuroyume_cl@reddit
I use more than 12gb at 1440p in some games
Itzkibblez@reddit
DLSS 4 and frame gen decrease vram usage while rt does increase it
Desperate-Steak-6425@reddit
frame gen increases vram usage
Itzkibblez@reddit
No DLSS 4 frame gen decreases vram usage it’s more efficient than older models
Desperate-Steak-6425@reddit
It uses marginally less VRAM than older versions, but increases the total usage anyway.
Itzkibblez@reddit
Oh ok but because it’s a lot more efficient will it even use a noticeable difference with it off
Desperate-Steak-6425@reddit
In most games yes, in some of the more demanding ones, you'll need to drop settings.
digital_n01se_@reddit
absolutely yes.
12 GB is well suited for 1080p, 16 GB is well suited for 1440p and 4K
Desperate-Steak-6425@reddit
8GB cards struggle in 1080p in some cases, but 12GB cards have no issues in the same games in 1440p.
Mozail2@reddit
8gb is enough for 1080p.
digital_n01se_@reddit
8 GB is the soft lower bound, is enough if you don't max out the settings, it's the official minimum for games like doom: the dark ages
6 GB is the hard lower bound, is the minimum for games like BF6
12 GB is a comfortable ceiling and you can max out the settings if your GPU has enough processing power and memory bandwidth
Cake_and_Coffee_@reddit
in like 5-10 games yeah
althaz@reddit
If you're playing at 4k it's more like 50-100 games.
althaz@reddit
Yeah, you absolutely do. 12Gb is really only appropriate for 1080p going forward.
My RTX3080's 10Gb of VRAM is its biggest detraction in modern games at 1440p.
DLSS and Frame Gen both add to the VRAM burden, but the biggest thing that'll kill you is RT. RT is *heavy* on the VRAM.
LanceIoT79@reddit
To be honest I play at 4K on 4070S with DLSS set to performance, and I have never ever ran out of VRAM.
d_class_rugs@reddit
Battlefield uses 15gb @ 1440p
Desperate-Steak-6425@reddit
It doesn't, it can allocate 15GB, but it will never use this much.
Dimo145@reddit
No, 12gb also means a 4070super/4070/5070 and those do not bring the appropriate juice level, for 4k. Sure, they can work alright, but it's mismatched to not be at 1440p with them.
LanceIoT79@reddit
1440 Loooks way worse than 4K DLSS performance.
horizon936@reddit
Yes, you do. Some people even argue than 16 isn't enough, but with DLSS Performance and a reduction of texture pool size in-game with no quality detriment, it usually suffices, even for the heaviest games.
However, if you want to max out everything 12gb is definitely not enough.
Unlike 8gb, there won't be a game you won't be able to run at all, but compromises with settings will surely have to be done.
SchmeppieGang1899@reddit
Most 4K capable cards have more than 12 anyways, so its not really something to think about, unless its 5070
Delicious_Profit_972@reddit
Yes. I am maxing my 12GB in 2k, without max settings
Scanoe@reddit
In my opinion, I would not buy a card with less than 12gb Vram for 1080p.
I was running a 4070 when Indy Jones Great Circle launched, I play at 1440p, I had a couple out-of-vram errors when turning up all the settings in Great Circle. The Path Tracing simply required more than 12gb Vram at 1440p, turning on Dlss solved that problem, but my opinion now is minimum 16gb Vram for 1440p.
Needless to say, I've since upgraded from my 4070 to a 9070xt back in March when they launched.
Apprehensive-Read989@reddit
What GPU would you want to use at 4k that has less than 12GB of VRAM?
onkelken@reddit
Valid question! But it could be old games I guess. Or OP is fine with low fps.
ADo_9000@reddit
Do you need it? No.
Do you need it for an acceptable experience? yes.
Do you need more if you want a good experience at 4k. yes?
Keep in mind that a powerful enough GPU is required. A 3060 12gb won't be usable at 4k even though it has 12gb of vram.
Mr_Bridges@reddit
Game dependent, most recently MHW and BF6 maxed out use about 14-15 gigs of vram at 2k highest settings
Eren69@reddit
All use extra vram get a 5070 TI or a 9070XT
Elitefuture@reddit
Plenty of games use more than 12gb already, so if I were to buy a card for 4k, I'd get a 16gb card
TrollCannon377@reddit
Yes you do, 12 GB is basically the new absolute minimum if you want to play above 1080p at all and even if you want to play 1080 maxed settings you need at least 12GB theirs a reason that both Nvidia and AMD got a lot of flak for even releasing an 8GB version of the 5060 and 9060
Mozail2@reddit
No
Durfael@reddit
it can "work" but will not be the best indeed, my advice is going for a 9070xt or a 5070 ti or even a 4070 ti super (but 5070ti super definitively it's almost the same price for better), 5080/5090 are overpriced and too powerful for anyone's need (except for professionals so like 0.05% people)
Dry-Influence9@reddit
I have seen 20-25gb usage on flight sim 4k.
-WLR@reddit
i play on 4070s 12GB and it’s fine with DLSS. On a budget it’s perfect and runs great. Most advices are from people who don’t even play in 4k
IWillAssFuckYou@reddit
Could it be in some games? Absolutely, but if you're looking to play 4k in all titles and keep doing so for the next 3-4 years, absolutely not! Hopefully those 5000 series Super cards do eventually come out as a 24 GB 5070 Ti/4080 would be essential for 4k gaming.
Quiet_Try5111@reddit
DLSS reduces vram since you are rendering from a lower resolution. but frame gen and RT adds more vram. if you adjust your settings properly, it’s definitely playable in 12gb. the safer recommended option would be 16gb.
qdubbya@reddit
Depends on the game, really.
If you’re going to utilize DLSS and frame gen you should be fine on less demanding games.
Native and utilizing DLAA - I’m hitting over 15gb of VRAM on my 3090. Hence - why I’m waiting for decent deal on 5090 or the 5080 Super (if it’s confirmed 24gb) to provide some future proofing.
Plane-Produce-7820@reddit
12gb is enough until it’s not. Most of my games at 4K use 11.8gb without DLSS and frame gen. Granted my latest AAA game is shadow of war.
Reggitor360@reddit
Yes you do.
theCaffeinatedOwl22@reddit
Yes. 12 is enough for a good chunk of games rn but not all of them. New titles in the next few years will for sure exceed 12.