4GB GPUs can nonetheless recreation even when builders can have you consider in any other case

I lately picked up two GPUs: an Nvidia GTX 1650 Super and an AMD RX 5500 XT. Both of those playing cards, by present requirements, are nothing greater than “e-waste.” However, since I deliberate to make use of them for a secondary streaming setup, these GPUs felt good. Not to say, I snagged each GPUs at an extremely good worth. However, as a enjoyable experiment, I attempted utilizing these dated playing cards to check some latest Triple-A releases.

To my shock, each GPUs nonetheless delivered “acceptable” gaming efficiency, regardless of the intense VRAM limitations. This obtained me pondering: maybe 4GB VRAM is not outdated simply but, regardless of what most PC system necessities can have you consider these days.

My check setup for the 4GB GPUs

The Ryzen 5 5600X makes certain there isn’t any CPU-related bottlenecks

For this experiment, I plugged the GTX 1650 Super and RX 5500 XT into my foremost PC (one by one), which is powered by a Ryzen 5 5600X and 16GB DDR4 reminiscence. I additionally did a recent set up of the video drivers to get rid of any attainable driver-related points. Since each GPUs had been purchased second-hand, I wasn’t anticipating them to carry out at their finest. However, the common efficiency of each playing cards held up fairly nicely.

The Ryzen 5 5600X, regardless of its age, continues to be a relatively competent CPU for gaming. This goes for your entire 5600 lineup of CPUs from AMD. You may even pair the Ryzen 5 5600G with AMD’s newer GPUs like the RX 9070, albeit with some compromises.

As for the video games, I intentionally selected titles that had been launched in the previous few years. I even examined out video games like Onimusha: Way of the Sword and Control Resonant​​​​, each of which had been launched in September 2026. Apart from these video games, I additionally examined:

• Cyberpunk 2077
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
• Mortal Shell 2
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Black Myth Wukong
• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• Resident Evil Requiem
• Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• Final Fantasy XVI

While I used to be shocked {that a} good chunk of the video games I examined did work on the 4GB playing cards, some nonetheless crashed on the shader compilation step.

Titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Dragon’s Dogma 2 didn’t even attain the title display. This wasn’t stunning contemplating each these video games are extensively thought of among the worst-optimized PC releases in latest reminiscence. While latest updates to those two video games improved efficiency, they did not scale back their minimal VRAM requirement.

That stated, not all RE Engine video games confronted an identical destiny. To my shock, Resident Evil Requiem did launch on the GTX 1650. However, it didn’t work on the RX 5500 XT.

Similarly, I could not get Black Myth Wukong operating on the Nvidia card. However, it did work on the AMD RX 5500 XT, after main decision compromises.

4GB VRAM nonetheless works like a appeal for many video games

Only due to AMD’s FSR

Both the GTX 1650 Super and RX 5500 XT ended up performing significantly better than I anticipated at 1080p. However, the efficiency did come at a value: decision. It’s no shock that the majority fashionable video games closely depend on upscaling. While I normally favor to play video games at native decision, upscaling helps loads when VRAM is the bottleneck. Although neither of the 2 playing cards I examined helps DLSS, they do work with FSR 3 and XeSS.

In my checks, I did find yourself utilizing FSR 3, which felt necessary to maintain body charges within the “playable” territory. I began with the FSR Balanced preset. However, for video games like Mortal Shell 2, Resident Evil Requiem, and Black Myth Wukong, I finally needed to accept the Performance preset for a extra secure body price.

AMD’s FSR 3 did many of the heavy lifting on the subject of efficiency.

Now, AMD’s FSR 3 actually does not look as clear and sharp as DLSS 4.5. However, it does provide a considerable efficiency enhance over native rendering. It’s additionally far much less taxing than each DLSS and XeSS. And the very best half: it is supported by nearly each GPU beneath the solar.

I used to be additionally very shocked to see that each Onimusha and Control Resonant did work on the 4GB playing cards. This is particularly true with Control Resonant, because it makes use of the identical engine as Alan Wake 2, i.e., Northlight. Furthermore, Alan Wake 2, very like Monster Hunter Wilds, didn’t even boot up on the 4GB GPUs.

I additionally tried to check ray-tracing efficiency on the 4GB playing cards, out of sheer hubris, clearly. But to nobody’s shock, RT was utterly off the desk, even at resolutions as little as 540p.

Yet, it was actually spectacular that video games like Resident Evil Requiem and Mortal Shell 2 did find yourself engaged on 4GB GPUs. This places into perspective how “deceptive” system necessities may be, even for the most important Triple-A releases. That stated, I can even perceive why builders are shifting away from decrease VRAM GPUs.

Despite the proof, I nonetheless would not advocate utilizing 4GB GPUs

As video games get increasingly formidable in graphical constancy, VRAM necessities are sure to rise. This is particularly true for video games utilizing Unreal Engine 5.1 or proprietary engines that utterly ditch conventional rasterized lighting for methods like RTGI. Even the internet’s most notorious GPU, the RTX 4060, with 8GB of video reminiscence, struggles with some newer releases due to its VRAM.

While I may run video games like Resident Evil Requiem and Black Myth Wukong on the 4GB GPUs, I needed to rely closely on upscaling and switch the settings right down to the lowest attainable presets. At that time, I used to be basically operating these video games at round 540p internally, upscaled to 1080p.

That is much from the best means of experiencing these video games. And as such, I simply can not advocate 4GB graphics playing cards as a every day driver for gaming.