There are many specs to contemplate when trying into shopping for a graphics card however VRAM is among the most necessary. Right here’s our clear and concise introduction to the important thing GPU specification.
For those who’re up on the graphics card discourse, you might have seen dialogue over the quantity of VRAM included on Nvidia’s just lately launched GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4060, with a discount on some fashions from the earlier technology. We’ll must see how this performs out in our overview testing however, for these not sure of simply what VRAM is and why it issues, we’ve put collectively this easy information.
Whether or not you understand your CUDA cores out of your RT cores or your MHz out of your cache (and even when you simply had no thought what that every one meant), we’re right here to offer you all the important thing need-to-knows on VRAM, a spec that may have a big effect in your gaming efficiency.
What’s VRAM?
VRAM stands for video random entry reminiscence and is the dynamic storing of high-speed picture knowledge for exhibiting on a show. VRAM is sometimes called GPU reminiscence, as you discover it on graphics chips, and fashionable fashions are sometimes of the GDDR6 customary (with GDDR5 and GDDR4 previous it). The quantity of VRAM you have got can tremendously have an effect on the capabilities of your PC, particularly for graphically intensive duties like video video games and inventive work.
For instance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 options 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. Having 8GB VRAM signifies that the RTX 4060 can quickly retailer 8GB value of reminiscence to then use to render imagery. In easy phrases, extra VRAM equals the flexibility to show extra complicated pictures. Nonetheless, plenty of various factors past VRAM can impression the standard of pictures proven, from the graphics card structure and its wider specs to different elements in your system, such because the CPU, customary RAM (random entry reminiscence) and storage pace.
When what graphics card to purchase, as a normal guideline, you’ll be able to take into account 4GB VRAM at the least for 1080p gaming, 6GB for 1440p and 8GB for 4K. Nonetheless, once more, your wider system tremendously impacts this in addition to different components of the GPU too, so simply take into account this a baseline.
