Does increasing RAM increase FPS?

[Mani_kun]

Just while ago, I have encountered a question whether increasing RAM will improve FPS in games. Since, RAM is constantly being used to store game information such as textures, maps, animations and more. The more RAM the system has, the more information it can store, resulting in better performance.

So, does it translate to an increase in FPS?

Opinions are welcome.

[Gany · Accepted solution]

Hi @Mani_kun 

Being straightforwardly, increasing RAM will not directly increase FPS, but it can indirectly contribute to BETTER FPS. Having more RAM means the system can store and access larger gaming file and data quickly, reducing lag and stutter in games.

This post explained this process more precisely here

https://computermesh.com/what-does-ram-do-for-gaming/

Also, if RAM can significantly increase FPS then what GPU memory do? GPU memory is specifically designed to handle graphics-related tasks like in Gaming.

If your system has insufficient RAM and is experiencing slowdowns due to memory constraints, upgrading to more RAM can help. However, if your system already has an adequate amount of RAM, increasing it further is unlikely to have a significant impact on FPS.

To improve FPS which is primarily influenced by the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU), the CPU, and optimizing in-game settings.

So, increasing RAM can improve overall system performance, but it's hardly responsible for increasing FPS in games.

[Mani_kun]

That makes sense @Gany. I think it's clear that while RAM plays a role in gaming performance, it's not the most significant factor. Other components such as the CPU and GPU have a more direct impact on FPS.

I also agree that optimising in-game settings and having a powerful GPU are crucial factors in achieving higher FPS in games

Thanks for being straightforward!

[Robot_Sonic]

Hey,

After all these years of gaming, I can't confirm that RAM participates to increasing FPS. As Gany mentioned, it provides better frames per second. I second that. 

[Silent_Scone]

Hello @Manu,

The impact of DRAM on gaming performance wildly depends on the platform in question and the comparisons being made. DRAM timings and frequency are intrinsically related. There are plenty of articles and videos already posted online that show the benefits of increasing these things, but increasing capacity normally comes with some concessions to both. 

Unless the game is bottlenecked by lack of physical DRAM and having to page file swap, there's often little to no benefit from increasing capacity. However, increasing the number of ranks by adding modules to the system can aid performance due to a process known as interleaving. This also very much depends on the platform in question and how the comparisons are being made.

I would advise that you watch/read various benchmarks already conducted online to make an informed decision on the benefits and drawbacks.

[Mani_kun]

Thank you for the input, @Silent_Scone .

It's true that there are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to improving performance through increasing RAM. As you mentioned, timing and frequency play a crucial role in this matter.

It's also interesting to know that increasing the number of ranks by adding modules can aid in performance due to interleaving. This further emphasises the importance of choosing the right type and amount of RAM for specific system.

In addition, while increasing capacity may not always directly result in better gaming performance, having enough physical DRAM can prevent page file swapping which can greatly impact FPS.

Overall, it's clear that upgrading RAM requires careful consideration to ensure performance for gaming.