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What hardware are you running?
- Thread starter dmccloud
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Since RAM has, inevitably, cropped up in the discussion: I’m completely fascinated by those whose 100% gaming rigs have more than 32GB of RAM. As I understand it the vast majority of games, even most released in 2025, don’t benefit from more than 16GB system RAM and none benefit from more than 32GB. Future proofing? My rigs have 32GB RAM because I figured I’d keep them long enough for that to impact my gaming. I keep track of my RAM use and I have benefited zero times from having more than 16GB… my GPU’s VRAM (12GB), however is likely to cause problems long before system RAM does, since I game in 4K +/-.
Are there people who have 100% gaming rigs where they don't use the computers for anything else but gaming?
Back when I built my PC, ram was cheap, it was a no brainer to go straight to 64GB. Imo, it was a different mindset on the PC side, given the relatively low cost. Apple users always paid a premium for ram, so I can see the need to justify the ram upgrade. Now in 2025, things have changed, and its more likely most people will not be looking to over build their machines
Me. I couldn't tell you the reason I went with 48GB instead of 32/64. It seemed like an interesting choice at the time.
I have a gaming PC (i9 10900K/32GB/RTX 3080 (that I exchanged temporarily with my sister's RX6800 to test hackintosh on this rig), but I have to say that I almost only play on my Switch these days
Games definitely do benefit from more than 16GB RAM. Gamers have been moving over to 32GB for a while now. At 4K the 12GB VRAM is definitely holding you back if you're playing recent titles. 32GB RAM is probably also holding you back. Whether you notice or care is another story.
According to Steam hardware stats:
16GB - 40.94% users (going down)
32GB - 37% users (going up)
64GB - 4.4% users (going up)
I have 64GB and admit it is overkill for gaming but my previous PC had 32GB RAM and i didn't like how close some games were cutting it. I've saw some games at 20-26GB RAM. Off the top of my head that was Flight Simulator 2020 and Fortnite (seriously). This was almost 3 years ago by the way.
The only time I really make full use of my 64GB is when doing other stuff like video editing or AI stuff. At one point I considered upgrading to 96 or 128GB RAM.
As for VRAM... no games so far really makes use of the 32GB VRAM on my 5090. If I'm doing AI stuff then 32GB simply isn't enough. I was thinking about getting an RTX Pro 6000 with 96GB VRAM and even that would struggle to load many local models.
Looking at Steam stats again for VRAM:
6GB is at 10% (going down)
8GB is at 33% (going down)
12GB is at 19% (going up)
16GB is at 8% (going up)
24GB is at 2.2% (going down)
32GB is at 0.59% (going up)
Personally, if I was building a new gaming PC today I wouldn't go any lower than 16GB.
And I don't even play at 4K. I have a 1440p 360Hz monitor.
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I have a Nintendo Switch 2 and two PCs capable of gaming. RTX cards and stuff. I pretty much don't play PC-games anymore though outside of some WoW Classic.
Friend of mine has a gaming laptop with 16GB RAM. She's always running out! Discord + web browser and some Unreal 5 game and you're suddenly on the very brink. Too bad we kept delaying buying an extra kit.
For me, its why not, its not like I'm dropping a large amount of money - at least that was the logic back in the day when I last built my PC.
I didn't intend it for just gaming, but it sort of turned out that way. My MBA is my daily driver.
99% Steam Deck was my summary ... not quite accurate because I have done a little on the Switch (currently playing Legend of Heroes Trails From Zero), but basically entirely handheld and more than 95% Steam Deck.
I refuse to game on my Apple products. I only game on my PlayStation and Windows desktop. Maybe one day I will replace Windows with SteamOS.
To be accurate, Micron (the owner of the Crucial) is discontinuing the brand and shifting all focus from the consumer market to business (e.g., AI), so Crucial RAM, SSDs, and external storage will all be gone by February 2026.
At current RAM pricing, going with 64GB of RAM makes no sense for 99.9% of PC users (not just gamers). 16GB RAM with a 16GB videocard will be the sweet spot for most gamers, especially those playing at 1080p 0r 1440p. 32 GB might become the new floor if Microsoft keeps pushing their Copilot AI slop on the Windows userbase, but there are still options such as Cachy OS and Bazzite on the Linux side which would not require as much RAM.
Right now I'm bumping:
Xbox Series X
iPad Pro M2 (with controller)
MacBook Pro M3 Max 32 GB RAM (with Studio Display)
Xbox Series X
iPad Pro M2 (with controller)
MacBook Pro M3 Max 32 GB RAM (with Studio Display)
32GB RAM for the bigger notebooks, not had a desktop in years. I tend to look at the planned usage and spec accordingly. Latest has 32GB, Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, 5070Ti. Plays everything I can throw at it with ease, max settings at 2.5K as that's what it was bought for 
It can push over 200 FPS on the Cyberpunk 2077 bench test on raytracing ultra. The AMD HX3D CPU is really helping the GPU thx to it's very significant cache.
New Honor tablet is also very competent, having Snapdragon SOC, 16GB RAM & 1TB storage with the latest silicon based battery technology. Makes macOS & W11 feel like something from the past how it leverages HW & SW. Battery life is spectacular, basic use only need to charge once, maybe twice a week. Sporadic use a month easy, it's AI monitors performance & use. Most of all with the keyboard cover, it's a full-on PC as it multitasks with ease, can run multiple desktops.
Biggest takeaway for me is there is zero requirement to have an online account to use the device. You want to create an account is completely optional, So Honor will be seeing more coin from me...
Q-6
It can push over 200 FPS on the Cyberpunk 2077 bench test on raytracing ultra. The AMD HX3D CPU is really helping the GPU thx to it's very significant cache.New Honor tablet is also very competent, having Snapdragon SOC, 16GB RAM & 1TB storage with the latest silicon based battery technology. Makes macOS & W11 feel like something from the past how it leverages HW & SW. Battery life is spectacular, basic use only need to charge once, maybe twice a week. Sporadic use a month easy, it's AI monitors performance & use. Most of all with the keyboard cover, it's a full-on PC as it multitasks with ease, can run multiple desktops.
Biggest takeaway for me is there is zero requirement to have an online account to use the device. You want to create an account is completely optional, So Honor will be seeing more coin from me...
Q-6
What's Honor tablet model? It runs full fat Linux or Android? I have a SP11 and it's greatest weakness is that all it can run is Windows 11 for better or worse...32GB RAM for the bigger notebooks, not had a desktop in years. I tend to look at the planned usage and spec accordingly. Latest has 32GB, Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, 5070Ti. Plays everything I can throw at it with ease, max settings at 2.5K as that's what it was bought for
New Honor tablet is also very competent, having Snapdragon SOC, 16GB RAM & 1TB storage with the latest silicon based battery technology. Makes macOS & W11 feel like something from the past how it leverages HW & SW. Battery life is spectacular, basic use only need to charge once, maybe twice a week. Sporadic use a month easy, it's AI monitors performance & use. Most of all with the keyboard cover, it's a full-on PC as it multitasks with ease, can run multiple desktops.
Biggest takeaway for me is there is zero requirement to have an online account to use the device. You want to create an account is completely optional, So Honor will be seeing more coin from me...
Q-6
AMD Ryzen™ 9 9950X3D ProcessorGeForce RTX™ 5090 32GB GDDR7 Video Card32GB (16GBx2) DDR5/6400MHz MemoryASUS PRIME B850-PLUS WIFI ATX Motherboard2TB WD Green SN3000 (PCIe Gen4) NVMe M.2 SSD