Does Higher Resolution Use More RAM?

Resolution is the total number of pixels on your display monitor’s screen. But it is written as 1920 x 1080p to avoid remembering long numbers. Every game, app, GPU, and monitor has its range for handling resolution. RAM stores the graphical data before and after your CPU or GPU processes it.

This article will try our best to explain the relationship between the resolution and RAM. Here, we will discuss different resolutions and their impact on your computer system’s main memory, FPS, and performance. Also, we will discuss the resolution connection with other hardware on your PC.

Does Higher Resolution Use More RAM?

More resolution affects your hardware resources because they are vital in rendering high-resolution images, videos, and games. Higher resolution uses more RAM because it is responsible for holding the graphical data and its processed results. That is why external GPUs have a separate RAM called VRAM.

• Effect on RAM
  Let’s talk about RAM first because it is the first thing to get affected by the higher resolution, especially when no or very small VRAM is installed on your computer or laptop. Additionally, CPUs with integrated graphics also use your computer system memory or RAM because they do not have memory.
• Dedicated GPU
  Even the integrated graphics or built-in graphics processing unit (GPU) in your computer or laptop uses the RAM for storing the graphical data before and after processing it. On the other hand, if you have an external or dedicated graphics card, you don’t need to worry about higher resolution using your RAM. That is because a dedicated GPU (graphics processing unit) has its RAM, known as VRAM (Video Random-Access Memory). It is evident from the name that this VRAM is responsible for storing video-related data and information when playing video games, watching videos, streaming live, or rendering videos.
• Effect o FPS
  Higher resolution uses more RAM and drops the frame rate or FPS. That is because RAM has to store an abundance of graphical data. When it fills up, the operating system creates a virtual memory on your storage, such as an HDD or SSD. As a result, it takes more time to access data, dropping the FPS. 

We recommend installing a sound graphics card if you are worried about more RAM usage because of higher resolution. As a result, most of the RAM will serve other apps and games because the graphical data and information will be in your GPU’s VRAM. It will also increase the FPS and performance.

The higher resolution affects not only your RAM but also your graphics card or GPU and CPU, depending on their type, size, power, usage, etc. Hence, we suggest you increase your RAM size and upgrade your CPU. And if you want a high-end PC, upgrade/install a graphics card.

How Can I Lower The RAM Usage?

The first and foremost thing that causes more RAM usage is background apps, and some of these apps start with the operating system. We recommend you disable the startup of these useless apps in the RAM. The apps you no longer use can be uninstalled from it for good. 

The second thing that uses your RAM is your operating system and its updates. Some services of your OS reside in your RAM until you shut down your computer or laptop. Without these, you can not use most of the functions of your operating system. OS also provides you security from malware and attacks.

In case of the updates, we recommend you uninstall the apps you never use and connect your PC or laptop to a more robust internet network so all the updates will finish soon. It can take minutes to hours, depending on the power of your computer. We recommend you not use your PC or laptop during updates.

The third thing that causes more RAM usage is the smaller size of installed RAM and more software to run. A single RAM can’t store apps and games due to their low storage capacity. Hence, your operating system starts paging, which is a time-consuming process. Increasing RAM size should solve this issue.

Does 4K Screen Need More RAM?

A 4K display screen needs more RAM because this resolution is much more than 1080p. The resolutions of 3840 x 2160 and 4096 x 2160 lie in the category of 4K as they have more or less four thousand pixels only in a single horizontal row. You need at least 16 GB RAM for displaying 4K resolution on a 4K screen.

The 4K apps and games also need more RAM for processing their graphical data with such texture details. It is an enormous amount of data, especially when your CPU has to process it, bringing it in the RAM, which has fewer cores than a GPU. In the case of higher resolution, your overloaded RAM is at risk of burning out.

That is why computer users with 4K resolution have at least one graphics card installed to support this high resolution. It also increases the performance of their computer system because your RAM and CPU don’t have to render 4K images or videos for your display screen, making virtual memory on storage.

How Many GB of RAM Do I Need for 4K Editing?

Editing is a creative and time-consuming task whether you edit still images or videos. No matter what kind of editing you are in, you need at least 32 GB RAM installed on your computer or laptop. It is because 4K or 6K has way more pixels than 1080p, and your RAM stores all this data during editing. 

In addition, a higher resolution of 4K or 6K uses more RAM when you have finished editing, and now it is time for rendering or exporting. That is because, during these tasks, most graphics data is temporarily placed in the RAM until a particular part of the frame is rendered or exported to the secondary storage.

To start 8K editing, you must install at least 64 GB of RAM on your PC or laptop. That is because this much RAM will store your operating system, such as Windows 10/11. Plus, it will hold your image or video editing apps and the graphical data accessed using them.

Does Higher Resolution Use More VRAM?

Higher resolution uses more VRAM because more graphical data can be processed. The VRAM in a dedicated graphics card is responsible for storing such data before and after processing. The same data is stored in the main memory or RAM when the VRAM is absent.

The reason behind higher resolution using more VRAM (video random access memory) is that the operating system and device driver know whether you have a VRAM installed in the computer system. If yes, then the graphics are guided toward the VRAM of the GPU for processing, rendering, exporting, etc.

More VRAM is not only used in the latter case, but it is also used when you have more than one display monitor installed on your graphics card. The data your GPU displays on your dual or multiple monitors is saved in the RAM first. We recommend a GPU with more VRAM or a separate graphics card.

Is 64 GB Good for 4K Gaming?

64 GB RAM is not only good for 4K gaming, but it is overkill. If you have this much main memory installed on your computer or laptop, you can do extreme gaming, 8K editing, live streaming, or recording. Also, 64 GB RAM will also give you the best FPS when playing a game with such a higher resolution.

The reason behind the higher frame rate, even on the higher resolution, is that there will be enough space in the RAM to dynamically store the graphical data and information before and after processing it. As a result, there will be no need for much more virtual memory on your secondary storage that is slower than RAM.

Does 32 GB RAM Increase FPS?

Yes, 32 GB RAM increases FPS; this is why it is more popular among gamers. On the other hand, it is way better than 16 GB RAM. It is because 32 GB memory has more capacity to store the level or part of the game you are playing and the OS and background apps used for streaming, conversation, and recording.

32 GB RAM is more useful when you have a graphics card with 16 GB RAM. In this configuration, your graphics card will handle most of the data related to your game, and your PC or laptop RAM will handle the latter application software. As a result, you will get much more FPS or frame rate and smooth gameplay.

If you have 32 GB RAM installed on your PC or laptop but cannot get enough FPS, check your game settings first. There will be a frame rate option that you should increase to the maximum or unlimited. This way, you will get the maximum FPS that your hardware can provide you collectively as a team.

Is 8 GB RAM Overkill for 1080p?

Your operating system and the necessary background apps use much of your RAM space. If you are dealing with 1080p resolution, remember that higher resolution always needs higher RAM. That is because it has more graphical information to store for processing and calculation, such as rendering or exporting.

Hence, 8 GB RAM is not enough, especially when you want to record your game, converse with your team, and stream your game simultaneously. For these tasks, you need at least 64 GB RAM. But if you do medium-end computer gaming, image or video editing, and 3D modeling, then 16 GB is enough. 

Conclusion

If you buy a high-resolution monitor and GPU to get an ultra-high-definition display, you will need a higher RAM to support the rendering. RAM is necessary for caching and running programs, including the graphics on your computer system.