Quite a bit has been mentioned about 8GB graphics playing cards over the previous 12 months, and far of that dialogue was sparked by our 8GB vs. 16GB VRAM comparability, which seemed on the Radeon RX 6800 and GeForce RTX 3070. When you’re , we advise checking it out. In abstract, we discovered quite a few cases the place the 16GB RX 6800 outperformed the RTX 3070 in fashionable video games, a distinction straight tied to the bigger 16GB VRAM buffer.
Since then, we now have discovered further instances the place video games carry out higher with 16GB of VRAM in comparison with simply 8GB, both by delivering smoother body charges or offering greater picture high quality by rendering all textures at full decision.
The aim of that characteristic was to boost consciousness amongst avid gamers of the significance of VRAM. And armed with that information, avid gamers may start to push AMD and Nvidia to incorporate extra VRAM in future GPU generations. Traditionally, we have seen fashions just like the RTX 3070 and 3070 Ti launch with insufficient VRAM capacities, regardless of their excessive costs.
Additionally learn: Why Are Modern PC Games Using So Much VRAM? Explained.
Sadly, this technology has seen a product priced at $400 providing simply 8GB of VRAM within the RTX 4060 Ti, although a 16GB model is now out there for $450.
The truth is that, quickly, 8GB of VRAM shall be insufficient for a lot of new video games, a state of affairs we have already begun to witness. Thus, we strongly advise buying the 16GB model of the RTX 4060 Ti, for those who’re contemplating an RTX 4060 Ti, because it represents a small 13% premium to keep away from potential efficiency or visible points down the monitor.
Extra not too long ago, we have additionally seen the arrival of the 16GB Radeon RX 7600 XT – primarily a 16GB variant of the RX 7600 which solely got here with 8GB of VRAM. On this case, avid gamers are taking a look at a 22% premium for the 16GB mannequin, making it a more durable purchase, although nonetheless inspired for a similar causes.
Curiously, when the 16GB RTX 4060 Ti was launched, we noticed lots of people claiming that the 16GB buffer was pointless for such a product. The argument was the cardboard was too gradual, and that the 128-bit vast reminiscence bus resulted in bandwidth of simply 288 GB/s, which might forestall efficient use of the bigger buffer. Nevertheless, we proved in our overview of the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB that it was certainly helpful, displaying examples the place efficiency and or picture high quality was considerably higher.
Related skepticism was directed on the Radeon RX 7600 XT, given its slower velocity in comparison with the RTX 4060 Ti. Right here, we’re additionally taking a look at a 128-bit reminiscence bus with a bandwidth of 288 GB/s. To validate such claims would recommend that GPUs just like the Radeon RX 6500 XT cannot successfully make the most of an 8GB buffer, given its narrower 64-bit reminiscence bus and half the bandwidth of the 7600 XT.
Because it so occurs, we now have each the 4GB and 8GB variations of the Radeon 6500 XT, and except for reminiscence capability, each variations are an identical. Just like the Radeon 7600 XT and 16GB RTX 4060 Ti, the 8GB 6500 XT doubles the variety of GDDR6 chips used, attaching further chips to the bottom of the PCB utilizing the clamshell technique.
This makes the 6500 XT the latest and most potent GPU out there in each 4GB and 8GB configurations. Regardless of the Radeon 6500 XT being a weaker GPU, that is advantageous for our testing, offering perception into how much less highly effective GPUs make the most of bigger reminiscence buffers. The comparability between 4GB and 8GB also can give us a glimpse into the longer term dynamics between 8GB and 16GB configurations.
For our testing, we’ll look at over a dozen video games, all examined at 1080p utilizing a wide range of high quality settings. The check system is constructed across the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, with DDR5-6000 CL30 reminiscence, and we’ll use PCIe 4.0 with the 6500 XT to make sure most efficiency. Let’s check out the outcomes…
Gaming Benchmarks
First up, we now have Baldur’s Gate 3, which could not be the primary sport you consider when contemplating heavy VRAM utilization. By right this moment’s requirements, it is not significantly demanding, however it might nonetheless totally make the most of an 8GB buffer, posing a problem for 4GB graphics playing cards. Using the ultra-quality preset, we noticed a 27% enhance within the common body fee and a major 44% enchancment within the 1% lows with the 8GB 6500 XT.
Moreover, as a result of knowledge designated for native video reminiscence did not overflow into system reminiscence, RAM utilization decreased by 26% with the 8GB 6500 XT configuration.
Subsequent, we examined Cyberpunk 2077, utilizing the medium high quality preset on the native 1080p decision. It is necessary to notice that every one testing for this text prevented any form of upscaling.
With a 4GB VRAM buffer on the 6500 XT, we recorded 46 fps on common. The 8GB mannequin was 17% quicker. Nevertheless, essentially the most notable enhance was within the 1% lows, enhancing by 34% on this case. Reminiscence utilization rose to six.8GB, and RAM utilization decreased by 17% to 10.9GB, underscoring the significance of enough VRAM for efficiency.
Dying Gentle 2 was examined utilizing the ‘excessive preset,’ enabling 60 fps gameplay. These high quality settings don’t exceed a 4GB VRAM buffer, so each the 4GB and 8GB variations of the 6500 XT delivered an identical efficiency ranges. When 8GB graphics playing cards have been initially launched, most outcomes resembled this state of affairs, main avid gamers to consider buying a 4GB model of a product just like the RX 480 was wise.
In Forza Motorsport, utilizing a mixture of excessive and extremely settings, we discovered that the sport may make the most of as much as 6.4GB of VRAM at 1080p. This led to a 35% enhance in common efficiency for the 8GB mannequin.
Immortals of Aveum, a visually gorgeous title, demonstrated that with sufficient VRAM, enabling the high-quality preset and manually adjusting the feel high quality to extremely nonetheless yielded over 30 fps on common. Whereas not distinctive efficiency, particularly for a 6500 XT, the important thing level is that with out enough VRAM, the sport turns into utterly unplayable. Even on the bottom high quality settings, the 4GB 6500 XT struggled, reaching solely 9 fps on common, making the sport unplayable. The efficiency distinction right here, utilizing the identical GPU however with various VRAM capacities, is outstanding.
One other sport that calls for substantial VRAM is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside. Testing at 1080p utilizing the bottom doable high quality preset resulted within the 4GB mannequin reaching solely 44 fps on common. In distinction, the 8GB model was 45% quicker, or an unbelievable 108% quicker when evaluating 1% lows. That is attributed to the sport requiring at the least 8GB of VRAM, utilizing 7.3GB in our exams. Moreover, having sufficient VRAM on the 8GB card lowered system reminiscence utilization by 32% in comparison with the 4GB mannequin.
Lastly, we examined Spider-Man Remastered, enabling the very best high quality preset, labeled ‘very excessive’. With 8GB of VRAM, the 6500 XT managed to render over 60 fps, marking it 26% quicker than the 4GB model. This was as a result of the sport consumed as much as 6.8GB of VRAM in our check scene, and having enough VRAM with the 8GB mannequin decreased RAM utilization by 24%.
Extremely vs. Low Benchmarks and Visible Comparisons
Murderer’s Creed Mirage
On this subsequent part, we’ll make a number of comparisons, many accompanied by picture high quality comparisons. There’s loads to cowl, however we consider there’s content material right here that you could be not have seen earlier than. We’ll begin with Murderer’s Creed Mirage.
Utilizing the low-quality preset, the 8GB mannequin was nonetheless 8% quicker as the sport used as much as 5.7GB of VRAM.
For these outcomes, we stored the low-quality preset enabled however manually elevated the feel high quality to ultra-high. Consequently, the 8GB configuration noticed a 7% discount in efficiency, however the 4GB mannequin skilled an enormous 42% lower, or a 75% lower when wanting on the 1% lows. The sport is now near maxing out the 8GB buffer, which is why the 8GB mannequin noticed a slight lower in efficiency and a slight enhance in RAM utilization.
The top end result was a playable 66 fps on common for the 8GB card, making it 74% quicker than the 4GB mannequin, or 338% when evaluating 1% lows.
Basically, which means that for roughly the identical stage of efficiency, you’ll be able to allow ultra-high textures with the 8GB mannequin, whereas 4GB playing cards are restricted to low texture high quality. Even then, we’re nonetheless observing a rise in RAM utilization for the 4GB mannequin.
Visible Comparability
Having seen the numbers, let us take a look at how this interprets visually. On the left, we now have ultra-high textures, and on the proper, low textures. At a look, they seem very comparable, however as you pay extra consideration whereas taking part in, you will discover variations. It is necessary to recollect we’re utilizing the bottom high quality settings, so facets like stage of element, shadows, lighting, and different visuals are compromised right here. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to clearly see distant components rendering at a better high quality with ultra-high textures.
The brickwork on the bottom, for instance, is noticeably higher, and this distinction turns into obvious when taking part in the sport. We hope YouTube compression hasn’t diminished the standard of those visible comparisons. It is difficult to discern on this check, however the foliage on bushes, as an example, seems to be higher, though, on this title, the variations are sometimes delicate. The important thing level is that with the 8GB mannequin, you obtain the visible upgrades with none efficiency penalty.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden requires greater than 4GB of VRAM at 1080p, even utilizing the bottom high quality preset. The 8GB 6500 XT was an enormous 35% quicker when evaluating the typical body fee and 64% quicker for the 1% lows. That is because of the sport utilizing 4.7GB of VRAM, barely over the 4GB buffer, however clearly sufficient to considerably affect efficiency.
Sustaining the low-quality settings and adjusting the feel high quality to very excessive, we noticed VRAM utilization enhance to five.8GB on the 8GB mannequin. This resulted in virtually no efficiency loss, making it 67% quicker than the 4GB model and 122% quicker when evaluating 1% lows.
This implies you’ll be able to maximize the feel high quality on the 8GB card and nonetheless obtain as much as 58% higher efficiency than the 4GB mannequin, which used low-quality textures. Thus, you are getting considerably higher efficiency with enhanced visible high quality.
Cranium & Bones
Cranium & Bones, one other latest buy which we now have examined utilizing the built-in benchmark, at the least initially. With the low-quality settings enabled, the 8GB mannequin was 11% quicker on common and 26% quicker when evaluating 1% lows as the sport used as much as 5.1GB of VRAM.
Growing the setting particulars from low to ultra-high, VRAM utilization elevated to 7.2GB on the 8GB mannequin, giving it virtually a 30% efficiency benefit when evaluating the typical body fee.
Which means for the same stage of efficiency, the 8GB mannequin can run with the setting particulars setting maxed out, whereas the 4GB mannequin is proscribed to the low setting.
Hogwarts Legacy
Subsequent, we now have Hogwarts Legacy, not essentially the most optimized fashionable triple-A title, however a particularly widespread sport nonetheless. Utilizing the bottom doable high quality settings, the 4GB 6500 XT managed simply 71 fps on common, which appears first rate till you uncover that with 8GB of VRAM, it is able to 81 fps, a 14% enchancment although it is the 24% enchancment in 1% lows that you will discover essentially the most.
The sport certainly requires greater than 4GB of VRAM. Even utilizing the bottom doable settings at 1080p, we’re not removed from maxing out the 8GB buffer with 6.8GB used. We even noticed a 52% enhance in RAM utilization for the 4GB configuration as knowledge supposed for the video reminiscence overflowed into system reminiscence.
In fact, if we allow ultra-quality textures, the scenario worsens for the 4GB mannequin, with system reminiscence utilization rising to 17.7GB, whereas body charges drop by 33%. This made the 8GB mannequin 70% quicker on common as the sport was now utilizing 7.1GB of VRAM.
This implies you’ll be able to play Hogwarts Legacy on the 8GB 6500 XT utilizing ultra-quality textures and, actually, with 80 fps, you can enhance the standard of some different settings. However for the sake of this comparability, the 8GB mannequin was 13% quicker when utilizing extremely textures vs. the 4GB mannequin with low textures.
Visible Comparability
The visible distinction between the low-quality preset utilizing low textures vs. extremely textures is evening and day, very noticeable when gaming. Even in these static scenes, you’ll be able to see the distinction. We selected to check Hogwarts Legacy this fashion because it was extraordinarily troublesome to get precise matching scenes when transferring.
You’ll be able to see it right here: the stack of pots on the proper of the display screen options a lot greater element when utilizing extremely textures. Trying on the A-frame constructing within the distance, you’ll be able to see that the bricks making up the facade are rendered at a lot greater high quality.
On this scene on the meals cart, merely rising texture high quality leads to considerably greater picture high quality. The form of the greens seems to be extra reasonable, and the textures, floor texture, and even the crates on the cart look worlds higher.
One other problem we discovered with the 4GB mannequin was texture popping, and it wasn’t simply slow-loading textures. Reasonably, textures would consistently de-spawn, even when standing nonetheless. An excellent instance of that is most notable with the bricks on the right-hand facet of the scene. It is outstanding that the comparability on the left facet of the display screen, which seems to be worlds higher, additionally resulted in considerably higher efficiency for the 8GB model of the 6500 XT.
Even the hair high quality of this bull seems to be significantly better. One thing else that can stand out when taking part in is textual content high quality. For instance, it is virtually not possible to learn this relatively massive signal when utilizing low-quality textures.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Shifting on to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, right here we’re utilizing the very low-quality preset, which continues to be very heavy on VRAM utilization. Though the typical fps efficiency is far the identical, the 8GB mannequin supplied significantly better 1% lows, enhancing efficiency by 23%.
Then, if we allow epic high quality textures whereas conserving all the things else on low, the 8GB mannequin solely drops a couple of frames, whereas the 4GB mannequin noticed a 24% decline, rendering simply 35 fps.
This meant it was doable to attain higher efficiency with the 8GB mannequin utilizing epic high quality textures in comparison with the 4GB mannequin with all the things set to low, together with textures.
Visible Comparability
Visually, this did not at all times make a giant distinction, although admittedly, I did not look at a lot of the sport. However even right here, you’ll be able to see that distant texture high quality is far greater when utilizing the epic textures settings, and these visible enhancements do not come at a efficiency price, at the least relative to the 4GB mannequin.
Issues that stood out included the standard of those crates; the epic texture model seemed significantly better, and any distant textures appeared a lot clearer. Total, it is truthful to say that the epic texture model seemed significantly better general.
The Final of Us Half 1
Subsequent up, we now have The Last of Us Part 1, a title recognized for its heavy VRAM utilization. Even after a number of updates, it might max out 8GB buffers. Probably the most vital optimization enhancements have been in texture high quality for the low and medium settings.
Even with the low-quality settings, the 8GB card continues to be 11% quicker, which is a notable enhance. We attribute this uplift to the sport utilizing greater than 4GB of VRAM, because the 4GB mannequin skilled a 1GB enhance in RAM utilization.
Growing the feel setting to excessive, we have been in a position to max out the 8GB 6500 XT at 1080p, with utilization hitting 7.9GB. That mentioned, fps efficiency remained unchanged, whereas the 4GB mannequin noticed a 33% lower, dropping to 31 fps on common.
Then, enabling ultra-quality textures, the 8GB mannequin does run out of VRAM, leading to a 24% efficiency lower. Nevertheless, 38 fps on common continues to be considerably higher than the 28 fps noticed from the 4GB mannequin.
Evaluating their most optimum configurations, the 8GB mannequin with excessive textures and the 4GB mannequin with low, we discover that the 8GB model continues to be a considerable 61% quicker. Efficiency apart, the visible improve is kind of vital.
Visible Comparability
Excessive-quality textures supply a number of visible enhancements. From the opening cutscene, one noticeable enchancment is on Sarah’s t-shirt. Textual content high quality is a major problem with low-quality textures. With high-quality textures, you’ll be able to really learn the names, whereas it is not possible with low. The entrance of her t-shirt and the field she arms Joel characteristic noticeably greater textures as effectively.
The eagle-eyed amongst you might need observed that even the hair on Joel’s arm seems to be significantly better utilizing the upper textures. Taking part in the sport, you’ll discover the characters’ faces, for instance, Sara’s freckles, are much more noticeable utilizing the upper textures.
On this scene, the bedside desk, in addition to Sarah’s face and arms, look considerably higher utilizing excessive textures. In-game, the distinction is much more noticeable; character fashions look much more detailed, and the bottom textures actually stand out, providing a considerably higher expertise with the 8GB mannequin.
Complete Struggle: Warhammer III
The final sport we’ll take a look at is Complete Struggle: Warhammer III. It is necessary to notice that each preset applies Extremely Texture high quality however will routinely scale back texture high quality if there’s inadequate VRAM except the ‘limitless VRAM’ choice is chosen. Subsequently, we have ticked the limitless VRAM field for all our testing.
Beginning with the medium high quality preset and textures, each fashions delivered the identical stage of efficiency, so 71 fps on common, which is passable.
Nevertheless, if you wish to allow the excessive preset with excessive textures, the 4GB mannequin will battle, dropping to 33 fps on common. This makes the 8GB card virtually 40% quicker as VRAM utilization hits 6.1GB.
Then, with the extremely preset and textures, the 8GB mannequin drops to 38 fps on common, which continues to be 36% quicker than the 4GB mannequin, with VRAM utilization reaching 6.9GB.
This implies the 8GB mannequin utilizing extremely settings continues to be quicker than the 4GB mannequin utilizing excessive settings, by 15% actually.
Visible Comparability
Given we’re solely going from excessive to extremely, the visible distinction is not huge, however noticeable variations embrace improved shadow element, greater high quality foliage on bushes, and extra visible results.
The sport definitely seems to be higher utilizing the extremely settings, and 38 fps on common might be enough for this title. Nevertheless, for those who need over 60 fps, you will have to make use of the medium settings with the 6500 XT, which solely requires a 4GB buffer.
What’s Not Reducing It Anymore?
It is no shock that 4GB of VRAM is not enough in 2024; the information will not shock anybody. Nevertheless, simply how inadequately it performs might shock you, particularly contemplating that in virtually all cases, we have been utilizing the bottom doable visible high quality settings.
For us, this comparability was enlightening because it supplied a transparent view of what occurs whenever you run out of VRAM, not simply in a couple of edge instances, however virtually universally. This could give us some clear indications of the place 8GB graphics playing cards are heading. It wasn’t way back that 8GB of VRAM was thought of pointless and even overkill.
Trying again, the primary Radeon GPU to supply an 8GB VRAM buffer was the RX 390 and 390X in mid-2015, which on the time, was primarily a refreshed 290 and 290X mannequin with a worth hike. Then there was the RX 590, technically the primary AMD GPU to make use of 8GB of VRAM completely in late 2018, although it was actually simply an overclocked RX 580 on a barely newer course of node.
Vega 56 and 64 have been actually AMD’s first new GPUs to undertake an 8GB VRAM buffer with out the choice of a 4GB mannequin, which occurred in late 2017. Mainstream inexpensive 8GB AMD graphics playing cards did not arrive till late 2021 with the Radeon RX 6600 collection.
On the Nvidia camp, the primary GeForce GPU to exceed 6GB of VRAM was the GTX Titan X in early 2015. The cardboard packed a 12 GB buffer however price $1,000, which again then was insane, so undecided we will depend that one. Mainstream fashions arrived in mid-2016 with the Pascal-based GTX 1070 and GTX 1080, priced at $380 and $600, respectively. Then we noticed the RTX 2070 in late 2018 for $500, Nvidia’s most inexpensive 8GB mannequin till the RTX 2060 Super arrived the next 12 months for $400.
We did not see a less expensive GeForce GPU till the crappy RTX 3050 in early 2022 for $250, although it used to price much more than that, nevertheless it was the primary inexpensive 8GB mannequin from Nvidia because the RTX 3060 Ti nonetheless price $400.
So, in brief, we first encountered 8GB-enabled GPUs again in 2015, and on the time, they have been deemed pointless, a sentiment I admittedly shared, which in hindsight was short-sighted, although I feel I cherished simply how inexpensive the R9 290 had change into again then.
Even with the discharge of the Radeon RX 480 in mid-2016, the 8GB buffer nonetheless appeared largely pointless, regardless of the 8GB choice costing simply $40 extra. We recall being barely aggravated that AMD solely sampled 8GB variations of the RX 480 to reviewers, because the 4GB mannequin provided significantly better worth when it comes to price per body.
By the point the RX 580 rolled round, not a lot had modified, although for simply $30 extra, we have been recommending you to go for the 8GB mannequin. Then, in late 2019, after evaluating the 4GB and 8GB variations of the Radeon 5500 XT, we concluded that for those who’re a single-player gamer who prioritizes visible high quality, you will need to keep away from 4GB graphics playing cards just like the plague.
Primarily based on that timeline, by 2017, when the RX 580 and Nvidia’s Pascal GPUs have been on the scene, we have been recommending 8GB choices when out there. By 2019, we strongly suggested in opposition to GPUs with lower than 4GB, funds allowing. That is a comparatively fast turnaround. We went from contemplating 8GB in 2015 as pointless to seeing indicators by 2017 that investing in an 8GB mannequin could be smart, and by 2019, it was a powerful advice earlier than 4GB turned virtually unusable for contemporary gaming by 2022.
Subsequently, it is smart that right this moment, you’d need to keep away from 8GB GPUs, particularly when spending $300 or extra. This was the purpose we have been making an attempt to make final 12 months in our 8GB vs 16GB VRAM overview. We have seen quite a few examples the place 8GB GPUs simply aren’t enough, even at decrease resolutions reminiscent of 1080p and 1440p. So, if we’re seeing a number of examples now, historical past suggests it will not be too many extra years earlier than 8GB GPUs change into virtually unusable outdoors of the very lowest high quality settings.
This text additionally highlights the significance of VRAM. With 4GB, the Radeon 6500 XT is a steaming pile, however with 8GB it really turns into usable. Sadly although, the 8GB fashions aren’t priced at $140, they usually aren’t straightforward to search out. In addition they undergo from the identical shortcomings because the 4GB fashions, reminiscent of PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth, simply two show outputs, and no {hardware} encoding. However I inform you what, with 8GB of VRAM, it is worlds higher.
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