RAM or Random Access Memory, is like a short-term memory of a device. It is a storehouse of the information of your device when it is being used, for quick access.
RAM plays a pivotal role in your daily work on the device. It permits the space for your CPU to read as well as write information directly.
So, whenever someone talks about the server memory of the computer, they are most probably talking about the RAM.
In this article, we will cover three major areas and understand the requirement of RAM in each case.
Areas to cover:
- How much RAM for Gaming
- How much RAM for Web Design
- How much RAM for Web Hosting
Let’s begin by going through the gaming requirements!
How much RAM do I need?
In the world of gaming, speed plays an essential role. Therefore, you may wonder how much RAM do I need for gaming?
First of all, there are several factors that you must keep into account. The most important ones are the system requirements, the games you play, and the memory speeds.
There are ample games that come with several different requirements. Therefore, picking the correct RAM configuration is no piece of cake.
64-bit operating systems are being used that fully utilize a good chunk of the RAM. If you need more, you can always add more RAM than the actual need of your device.
How does RAM play a role in gaming?
RAM stores the fragments of your game in short-term storage for the purpose of easy access. In case you’re playing heavy games or complicated ones, you need a lot of memory!
A lot depends on the kind of gaming you do. For instance, games like counter strike or league of legends ask for lower memory requirements, like, 2 GB RAM or 4 GB RAM.
On the other hand games like PUBG need the storage of a minimum of 6 GB RAM to 8 GB RAM.
But, what does minimum mean?
Minimum means just to give you the basics to provide you with a smooth journey while playing the game.
Going above the minimum provides you with the best gaming experience. Here are some gaming memory recommendations for you.
First of all, most of the games ask for 16 GB of memory. This amount of RAM helps you to bypass some issues like lagging and stuttering.
Moreover, whenever you play a game, mostly all of them require a minimum of 8GB. But, if the game is lagging and your experience is not smooth, it is a clear indication that you need more RAM on your system.
But, the real question is, what is the exact amount of RAM that you need? Take a look:
Presently, most of the devices have three different RAM capacities. 4 GB, 8 GB, and 16 GB. Whereas there are other expensive devices that possess RAM ranging from 32GB to 128GB. Here is a brief explanation for you to understand the usage of different amounts of RAM!
4GB RAM: This configuration can be found in some regular desktops that are running a 32-bit OS. It is not recommended for gaming.
8GB RAM: This amount of RAM is considered as the minimum amount that you must avail for gaming on your device. It guarantees you a smooth experience. But in cases where the game is loaded with heavy graphics, you need more RAM.
16GB RAM: 16GB is recommended as the best and the safest option to pick for gaming. You are free to play any game that you want as you won’t need any additional amount of RAM. Make sure that your device has no applications running in the background that are consuming memory.
32GB RAM: If you are a professional gamer, and play heavy games with strong graphics, you can go for 32GB. This is heavily recommended for future-proofing.
Moreover, as you must know, almost all the games make recommendations regarding the OS, CPU, sound card, graphic cards, etc.
After complete analysis, our recommendation is to avail 16 GB of RAM. Most games do not require more than this! Otherwise, if you have a restricted budget, you can opt for 8 GB too.
The only impediment may be in the field of performance. That again depends on the kind of game you play!
Additionally, if you use your PC as a workstation, you can go for 32 GB of RAM.
Now, let us move to our next segment and understand the requirements of RAM in design.
For an optimal gaming experience, it’s not just about having enough RAM; a powerful CPU can also make a significant difference in performance. Check out our guide on the best gaming CPUs to find the right processor for your setup.
How much RAM do I need for designing?
The more RAM you possess, the more work you can do at once when it comes to graphic design.
But, the minimum requirement is 8 GB. If more is affordable to you and suits your budget, you can increase it further.
Additionally, there are several kinds of RAM. For instance, DDR3 RAM or DDR4 RAM, and many more.
The speed of the RAM plays a significant role. The minimum requirement in terms of the RAM clock speed is at least 1600 MHz.
Moreover, the cheapest RAM for the PC is DDR 4 8GB 2133 or DDR 4 16GB 3000. You can use these two if you are a professional. In the case of a beginner, you can go for DDR 4 6GB RAM.
Now, in the case of Photoshop and Illustrator, the minimum recommendation of RAM is at least 8 GB. If you are going to use it for the long term, you must opt for the 32GB variant. It will support your demands and appointments firmly.
If you avail more RAM, this, in turn, helps both Photoshop and Illustrator to have super fast storage.
Additionally, not just RAM; it is also crucial for you to choose the most appropriate processor according to your requirements. Here is a brief!
How to choose a Processor?
You can make your experience more than relaxed by landing on a good processor. We recommend evaluating the clock speed, generation, as well as cache memory capacity before picking a processor.
Alongside RAM considerations, using CPU benchmark tools can help you assess the processing power you'll need for gaming, design, and hosting, ensuring your setup meets performance demands effectively.
For reasonable efficiency, you can go for an Intel i7-7700k processor. Moreover, if you are a professional, and need the best experience, then you have two options: AMD Ryzen 5 1600K and Intel Core i5 7600. Both of them are the strongest processors available in the market.
You can check out here for other processor options that can work for designing as well as gaming!
On the other hand, if you are a beginner, you can go for AMD Ryzen 3 AMD FX 6300 or Intel Core i5 7400 2.4 GHz. Both these processes guarantee you an adequate speed to work with graphics.
Additionally, a graphic card plays an essential part too. Here is a quick guide on how to choose a graphic card.
Graphics Card
One of the most vital aspects of the PC is to have an excellent graphic card. At present, the NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti is known as the fastest GPU.
In short, when we talk about designing, the more RAM, the smoother your experience will be.
Heading forward, let us talk about the requirement of RAM in hosting!
How much RAM is needed for web hosting?
You may wonder what is the need for RAM when it comes to hosting. Well, it plays a very essential role! Let’s see how.
As you know, memory in a computer is required to handle all files and data required for any application to function properly. Whenever you open a text file in Word, that very programme loads in the RAM with all the information written in the file.
When you edit the text, all the changes are saved in the RAM, but temporarily. To store them permanently on the hard disk, you should click on the SAVE option.
Similarly, the same process takes place on a hosting server. For example, when we talk about WordPress (or any other CMS), the server first loads the service into the memory and then leaves it to your use.
With WordPress, you may wonder how much RAM is needed to run a blog? Let's dive into this.
The amount of RAM that you require to host a WordPress site depends on your needs.
For instance, if you own a small WordPress website or a blog, you just need 256 MB of RAM. In this case, you can opt for a shared hosting plan.
If you wish to keep several open-source elements like plug-ins, page builders or various elements on your WordPress site, then you require more RAM. For this, you can choose a basic VPS hosting plan.
Additionally, if the usage of plug-ins or shortcodes is higher, or the site addresses high traffic regularly, you can pick your RAM ranging up to 2 GB.
Now, if you’re looking to build an e-commerce store, you can opt for a VPS hosting plan instead of a shared hosting plan.
As you understand, in the case of an e-commerce store, online payments take place on a daily basis. Therefore, you need advanced security services. For this to run smoothly, you need at least 2 GB of RAM.
On the other hand, if your site gets millions of views, it is always better to go for a RAM of 4GB. In case you are a novice, you have several options like VPS hosting plan 2. As time passes by and you notice that the site has started to slow down, you can upgrade to the VPS hosting plan 3.
(Here, we are referring to our VPS plans)
It helps you to tackle escalated traffic and transactions easily.
So, whenever a visitor visits your site, the information stored in the memory is used to display the content. Any CMS needs memory to manage different tasks such as downloading, installing any theme, editing a post, uploading pictures or media.
How does having more memory in the hosting benefit you?
As you read above, that memory is required to avail the data for any operation. Hence, we can state that the more RAM you have in a server, the more data availability capacity is.
Here is the summary of the benefits:
- It provides you with more information
- At the time of peak traffic, more memory is required. Hence, it increases the operability
- Concurrent tasks can be performed with ease
Furthermore, when it comes to hosting companies, they consider memory usage differently for different hosting plans that they offer.
Now, there are some basic factors that you need to consider while choosing the right amount of RAM for your server. Take a look:
- Users: In the case of 15 users, for every five additional users, try to add 1 GB or 2 GB of RAM
- Database size: If your database is less than or equal to 50GB, then 16 GB of RAM will work fine for you
- Operating System Requirements: 1 GB of RAM is required for the OS. Moreover, you need an additional 1 GB for each 4 GB in between 4-16 and also another 1 GB for 8 GB above 16 GB.
- Growth Rate: Do not forget to analyse your growth rate per year, as a lot depends on this while you choose your RAM
- Execution packages: The completion of execution packages depends on your RAM. Higher RAM, faster completion.
Ultimately, the requirement of your RAM depends on the needs of your company. For instance, if you have a database of 100 GB, you shall opt for 16-64 GB RAM. If you are running on a budget, then you must make your calculations accordingly!
In a nutshell, The requirement of RAM in the case of a hosting server defines the server performance as well as its ability to respond to several requests.
Before you land on the hosting plan, make sure that you understand your RAM requirement for the website. Check your memory usage meticulously first along with other points like, what kind of applications are you running, or the amount of traffic your site faces. And then land on the decision.
Conclusion
As it is evident that RAM plays a crucial role in your system, we've discussed how much RAM is needed for gaming and reviewed various hosting sites. RAM becomes essential when your website runs multiple processes at once, as it temporarily holds the site’s data, such as scripts and dynamic content.
In scenarios like managing a game VPS or a dedicated game server, the need for sufficient RAM is even more critical. These environments handle high-demand tasks like running multiplayer games, managing user data, and ensuring smooth performance, all of which rely heavily on adequate RAM. Without enough, users may encounter errors like the ‘500 internal server error,’ indicating system overload or insufficient resources.
This article delves into the RAM requirements across different fields, such as gaming, design, and hosting. We hope the information provided helps you make informed decisions and optimize your system for peak performance.
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