I'm thinking about upgrading my graphics card to an RTX 4060 since my RX580 is getting old. The 4060 has 8GB of VRAM, which is a bit concerning, especially since I want a card that will last a few years. My system has 32GB of RAM, but can that RAM somehow help with the VRAM situation? I noticed the 16GB options are out of my budget right now, so I'm looking for advice on whether this VRAM amount is sufficient.
4 Answers
I get that, but can you even use system RAM to help when VRAM runs low?
Honestly, I think you'll regret going with an 8GB GPU in a couple of years. Even games at 1080p are starting to struggle with that much VRAM. If you're looking for longevity, I suggest checking out the RX 7700 XT instead; it’s a better option for your needs.
VRAM can't really be supplemented by regular RAM. They're not interchangeable, and having a lot of system RAM won't help if your GPU runs out of VRAM during games. I'd steer clear of the 4060 and look for something with at least 12GB if you're serious about future-proofing.
Technically, yes, but the speed difference is vast. System RAM is much slower compared to VRAM, so it's only a stopgap measure. If you can avoid it, definitely go for more dedicated VRAM instead.