Buying guides
Published 2026-10-01 · Last reviewed 2026-10-01
How Much VRAM Do You Need in 2026?
VRAM is the graphics card's own memory. It holds the textures, geometry and effects a game is drawing at that moment.
This guide answers one question: how much graphics memory you need for what you play or make. It sits alongside our guide to how much system RAM you need, which is a different part of the computer.
The short answer
| What you do | 8 GB | 16 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming at 1080p and 1440p | Playable in PC Gamer's tests, faster with settings lowered | Usually faster in PC Gamer's tests, most visibly in the slowest moments |
| What you edit in DaVinci Resolve | Graphics memory, at least, per Puget Systems |
|---|---|
| 1080p timelines | 8 GB |
| 4K timelines | 12 GB |
| 6K and 8K timelines | 20 GB or more |
The sections below explain where each line comes from.
What PC Gamer's test of 8 GB and 16 GB cards found
In an article published on 19 March 2026, PC Gamer tested the 8 GB and 16 GB versions of the same two graphics cards, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and the Radeon RX 9060 XT, in five games at 1080p and 1440p: Cyberpunk 2077, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Arc Raiders, Resident Evil Requiem and The Last of Us Part 1. Because each pair is the same chip with different memory, the gap between them is the memory.
Its answer to whether 8 GB cards are good enough for modern gaming: "Absolutely". In Cyberpunk 2077 it found most of the four cards playable with the settings turned up at both resolutions, and it found that lowering the settings "works wonders" for cards with less memory. In one game with the settings dropped to High, even the 16 GB cards used less than 8 GB.
Where 16 GB pulls ahead: the slowest moments
The "1% low" is the frame rate of a game's slowest moments. In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p with ray tracing on Ultra and quality upscaling, the 16 GB RX 9060 XT averaged 86 frames per second with 1% lows of 68; the 8 GB version averaged 68 with 1% lows of 36. For the RTX 5060 Ti the same pair of figures was 84 and 56 with 16 GB, against 78 and 42 with 8 GB.
So the choice is about how you play. If you are happy to turn settings down, PC Gamer's test, published in March 2026, says 8 GB is enough. If you want the top settings, the 16 GB version is the safer buy. PC Gamer's test stopped at 1440p; if you play at 4K, shortlist the larger memory sizes.
Video editing: VRAM follows the timeline resolution
For DaVinci Resolve, Puget Systems, which builds editing workstations, lists at least 8 GB of VRAM for 1080p timelines, 12 GB for 4K and 20 GB or more for 6K and 8K (page updated March 2026).
The same card, two memory sizes
As of October 2026, some graphics cards are sold in more than one memory size under the same model name. The RTX 5060 Ti and RX 9060 XT that PC Gamer tested both come in 8 GB and 16 GB versions. When you compare listings, check the memory size in the product name, not just the model number. Where the store provides it, our listings carry the memory size in the product name.
Before you order
Graphics memory is not the only thing that decides whether a card suits you. Check two more things on the card maker's specification page:
- Length and slot width, against the space in your case.
- The recommended power supply, against the one in your PC.
The bottom line
- 8 GB was enough for gaming at 1080p and 1440p in PC Gamer's test, published in March 2026, with settings lowered where needed.
- 16 GB holds up better at the highest settings, most visibly in the slowest moments.
- Video editing: follow the timeline, from 8 GB for 1080p to 20 GB or more for 6K and 8K.
- When a card comes in two memory sizes, read the size in the listing name.
Sources
- PC Gamer, Andy Edser, My real-world testing shows 8 GB GPUs are still enough for gaming in 2026, but I'm surprised at just how much faster the 16 GB versions are, 2026-03-19 — RTX 5060 Ti and RX 9060 XT, 8 GB vs 16 GB; five games at 1080p and 1440p; Cyberpunk 2077 1080p Ultra RT with quality upscaling, RX 9060 XT 16 GB 86 average / 68 1% low, 8 GB 68 / 36, RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB 84 / 56, 8 GB 78 / 42; "Absolutely"; in the Cyberpunk 2077 section, "most of these budget GPUs deliver playable performance with the settings cranked to 1080p and 1440p resolutions"; lowering the settings "works wonders for significantly boosting the frame rate of VRAM-light cards"; "Even the 16 GB cards use less than 8 GB at these settings" (one game, at High settings). Accessed 2026-10-01.
- Puget Systems, Hardware recommendations for DaVinci Resolve, updated 2026-03-26 — minimum VRAM: 8 GB for 1080p, 12 GB for 4K, 20 GB+ for 6K/8K. Accessed 2026-10-01.
