01At a glance
- 8 GB
- Native resolution, Stable titles
- 12 GB
- Beta open worlds, higher resolutions
- 16+ GB
- 4K reference configs with headroom
- Rule
- VRAM first, GPU speed second
| VRAM | Resolution | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 8 GB | Native | Stable titles, capped |
| 12 GB | Raised | Beta open worlds |
| 16+ GB | 4K reference | Quality modes with margin |
02Why VRAM decides first
Translated titles hold console-sized texture working sets plus pipeline overhead. When VRAM exhausts, the driver pages to system RAM and frame times collapse regardless of GPU speed. That is why Marvel's Spider-Man 2 dips downtown on 8 GB cards while lighter titles hold.
Size the tier first: pick resolution by VRAM, then tune quality by GPU speed. The envelope is in Minimum and recommended.
03Tier guidance
- 8 GB: native resolution, Stable titles, frame cap on. Start with Stable titles.
- 12 GB: Beta open worlds at raised resolutions; downtown districts and dense effects hold.
- 16+ GB: 4K reference configs such as Demon's Souls quality mode with margin.
All tiers need current drivers and a passing Vulkan check. Build: Download Meridian.
04Questions
Q.01Why does resolution hurt more than quality settings?
Resolution scales the VRAM working set directly. Quality settings scale GPU math. Exhausted VRAM pages; slow math just slows.
Q.02Can system RAM substitute for VRAM?
No. Paged VRAM collapses frame times. Size resolution to physical VRAM.
Q.03Which title tests VRAM best?
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 downtown traversal — two passes, second is the measurement.