Streaming games through services like Google Stadia or your Xbox console to your PC, are ways of playing video games without installing them on your computer.
If you want to install a game but worry that your computer doesn’t have enough RAM to run it, you may be able to stream it instead. How Much RAM Do I Need to Stream Games to My PC? A good internet connection is more important when it comes to watching a stream. If you want to watch a live stream while gaming then you may need more RAM, as most games recommend at least 8GB. This amount lets you watch movies on platforms like Netflix, as well as live streams on websites like Twitch and YouTube.
Watching streams does not require as much memory as broadcasting but you need at least 4GB of RAM to watch at 720p or 1080p with no issues. How Much RAM Do I Need to Watch a Stream?
Paired with a good CPU and GPU, you may even be able to stream in 4K with the correct settings. It is enough to play and stream most games at 720p and 1080p without sacrificing video and sound quality. The majority of modern games recommend at least 8GB, so 16GB of RAM is the ideal amount for gaming and streaming setups. Streaming requires about as much RAM as it takes to run a game so generally you want to use one with double the amount of RAM required for the game.
It gives you enough power to run both the gaming you're playing and your streaming software and other programs. Is 16GB of RAM Enough for Streaming?ġ6GB or RAM is becoming the standard amount for streaming video games. Otherwise, you may experience lags, low FPS, and overall poor streaming quality. This leaves little room for streaming and other tasks in the background.Įven though 8GB of RAM is enough to stream, we recommend you lower the quality of graphics in games that require more than 4GB of RAM to run. Most modern games such as Fortnite, League of Legends, and PUBG, recommend at least 8GB of RAM to run the game. It is possible to stream with 8GB of RAM but it depends on the type of content you want to broadcast. So, you have little to no ability to multitask, limiting your streaming software. That said, most modern games recommend 8GB just to play them. Is 8GB of RAM Enough for Streaming?ĨGB of RAM is usually the bare minimum amount for streaming to Twitch or YouTube. Streaming with 4GB of RAM is possible but it limits which games you can play. Due to typical system requirements, Apex recommends that you avoid streaming while gaming with 4GB of RAM as it puts stress on your hardware. Some games may have less system requirements but this limits your selection of titles because most modern games require more memory just to run.
Streaming software such as OBS recommend at least 4GB and leaves no room for multitasking.
Even then, 4GB is getting less and less viable for streaming as time goes on. Is 4GB of RAM Enough for Streaming?ĤGB of RAM is just barely enough to stream and barely enough for some gaming, but not both. Although it is possible to stream with only 4GB, the video quality would be poor and you run the risk of damaging your PC.
If you purchase a new PC and plan to stream from it, it is better to invest in more RAM to ensure higher quality. The minimum requirement for streaming games on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube is 8GB of RAM but we recommend 16GB as a long-term investment.Įveryone has different needs so it’s important to check the requirements for the games or content you want to stream. If you're not planning on streaming, check out our article on how much RAM you need for your gaming PC. The more there is, the better equipped your PC is to handle multiple tasks. Certain games require less RAM than others but streaming software requires just as much memory to run smoothly. How much RAM you need to stream depends on whether or not you are gaming and what games you want to play. It is the component that allows your computer to perform simple tasks like loading programs and the more you have, the quicker it can switch from one task to another. While it is important to invest in a good CPU and GPU for your custom built gaming PC, RAM plays an important role when it comes to streaming and playing games. If you’re looking to start streaming you want to make sure your PC is capable of running multiple programs at the same time.