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PC Gamer
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

Nvidia AMD
Four budget graphics cards from various manufacturers on a wooden desk, with an RGB-lit gaming keyboard and a gamepad visible above.

As PC gaming hardware continues to be ravaged by the ongoing memory crisis, 16 GB budget graphics cards are becoming harder and harder to find for reasonable money. Those of you watching the pennies will likely be considering the 8 GB models instead, but the relative lack of VRAM has certainly caused a lot of noise and bluster in the PC gaming community—with some complaining that 8 GB budget cards are nothing short of abhorrent.

So, the question is: Are 8 GB GPUs still enough for gaming in 2026?

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