Memory Performance for Gaming in 2024

On this page you'll find the benchmark results and videos that Digital Foundry produced to show the impact memory has on the performance of some of the latest games. From Baldur’s Gate 3 to Microsoft Flight Simulator, consistent improvements can be seen from upgrading your DRAM.

The numbers below were derived from a system running an Intel Core i9-13900K and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 running at the highest settings with Ray Tracing turned on where applicable and DLSS Performance settings for the smoothest possible experience. If you're running a more modest core configuration then you may see even greater improvements.

The graphs below show the average frame rates alongside the 1% minimum frame rate. The two numbers together indicate how smooth the gaming experience will be. In both cases, the higher the better.

Find out more about the Digital Foundry memory testing.

4K, ULTRA, DLSS QUALITY

Starfield is an action role-playing game from the makers of Fallout and Skyrim, namely Bethesda Game Studios. At launch, the PC performance was often CPU-bound, making the memory subsystem critical for a smooth gaming experience. Since then, Bethesda has released numerous patches that have improved performance and made things much more consistent, resulting in a much smoother experience overall. These patches have also made the game much more interesting and fun, but that’s beyond the scope of the testing here.

Importantly, high-performance memory still has an impact on performance, with the likes of VENGEANCE RGB DDR5-6000 C30 representing a 13% improvement to the minimum frame rates and up to 10% in average frame rates when compared to generic, JEDEC-spec DDR5-4800 C40.

4K, MAX SETTINGS, RT ON, DLSS QUALITY

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an action-adventure game set in the Star Wars universe where you play as a Jedi navigating hostile environments, engaging in lightsaber combat, and using the Force to overcome opponents and uncover mysteries of the past. Survivor retains many gameplay mechanics from its predecessor, Fallen Order, but features larger, more expansive maps that are densely populated – posing a challenge even for powerful gaming PCs, especially when settings are maxed out.

Once again, you’ll notice a significant increase in average frame rates when upgrading from DDR5-4800 C40 to DDR5-6000 C30. This time, there’s added incentive to opt for a 64GB kit, as it provides a notable boost in minimum frame rates. A substantial 50% improvement is noteworthy, and the increased memory capacity ensures readiness for handling future games.

4K, MAX SETTINGS, DX11

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a role-playing game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe that has made a significant impact on the PC gaming industry. It was widely praised on release for its impactful narrative and richly realized world full of diverse characters.

For this benchmark, we focused on the more demanding third act, where the character navigates through the bustling lower city. With numerous characters, detailed textures, and complex models, it’s unsurprising to see the minimum frame rates drop significantly. However, investing in a quality DDR5-6000 C30 memory kit can push those minimums above the all-important 60fps barrier.

4K, MAX SETTINGS, DLSS PERFORMANCE

Another action role-playing game, Dragon’s Dogma 2 combines elements of exploration, combat, and character development in a classic fantasy setting. Embark on quests and battle monsters with the assistance of AI-controlled companions who join your party and fight by your side. The game focuses on dynamic combat encounters and offers a rich world to explore, which is four times bigger than the first game.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 maintains a healthy average frame rate that scales well with faster memory. You can expect a 12% improvement when upgrading from DDR5-4800 to DDR5-6000, and around a 16% boost to the minimum frame rates as well.

4K, ULTRA SETTINGS, DLSS QUALITY

Offering a highly realistic flying experience, Microsoft Flight Simulator features a variety of aircraft to pilot and an incredibly detailed and accurate representation of the world to explore. With real-time weather, live air traffic, and stunning graphics, it has quickly become a favorite among aviation enthusiasts.

Those impressive visuals come at a cost, though, and you’ll need a powerful system to get the best performance from this game. You’ll also benefit from running performance memory, with 10% faster frame rates if you upgrade. Once again, higher capacities improve the minimum frame rates, making for a much smoother experience.