I recently built a new PC featuring a 5080 GPU and a 7800x3d CPU to use with my 1440p monitor. The upgrade has been fantastic – I can run Cyberpunk 2077 with path tracing at solid FPS, which looks amazing! However, I'm not too savvy about the trends in gaming hardware and I've heard mixed opinions about whether 16GB of VRAM is enough for future gaming.
In testing, I've noticed that while playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, I often drop to 45-50 FPS when my VRAM usage hits around 15.5 GB. Cyberpunk uses about 12 GB, so I feel relatively secure about that.
With rumors about upcoming GPUs sporting 20 or 24 GB of VRAM, I can't help but feel a bit anxious. Am I making a mistake with 16GB, or should I be fine for the next three years? Is KCD2 just a poor example in terms of performance, possibly due to memory leaks or texture streaming issues?
3 Answers
I’d say 100% you’re set for a long time! I'm running a 4070 Ti Super with 16GB and easily hit 100 fps on most titles at 1440p. The 5080 is definitely a step up, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it now. That said, if you plan for heavy graphics in the future, consider keeping an eye on VRAM usage!
Honestly, I see 16GB lasting you well beyond three years. While certain heavy path tracing games might test the limits a bit—like the upcoming Indiana Jones game—most titles should work perfectly fine. Just look at the rise in popularity of 1440p; it's a sweet spot for performance and quality!
I think you’ll be just fine! Currently, even a card like the 4080, which is nearly three years old, can handle modern gaming really well. Gaming has plateaued a bit, and most people still get by with cards that are a generation or two old. If you're willing to adjust settings or use upscaling, 16GB should hold up for quite a while!
Yeah, but don't forget to check how developers optimize for new GPUs! They often allow for upscaling and DLSS, which help maintain performance on older cards.