Not too long ago, 8GB of VRAM was considered more than adequate for graphics cards tailored toward gaming. Before I bought the RTX 3090 in early 2021, I had a GTX 1070 laptop with 8GB of VRAM, which could handle almost any game I threw at it without issues. But that was because I played games at 1080p resolution. While 1080p displays are still pretty common, 1440p and 4K monitors have become very popular among PC enthusiasts in recent years.

Running modern AAA games at higher resolutions, especially when they push the boundaries of visual fidelity with features like ray tracing and path tracing, can be pretty demanding on GPUs with less VRAM. That's why you must be very careful if you're in the market for an entry-level or mid-range graphics card like the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti or even the rumored RTX 5060. Below, we'll discuss why a GPU with 8GB of VRAM is becoming obsolete.

4 More games support ray tracing

It's no longer an enthusiast-only graphics setting

The RTX 20-series, which Nvidia launched in 2018, was the first line of GPUs with support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Back then, we barely had any ray-traced games, with Battlefield V being the very first. Fast forward to 2025, and most modern AAA games support ray tracing as an option. Some games, like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Assassin's Creed Shadows, require ray tracing as standard, meaning you can't completely turn it off.

Ray-traced games simulate realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows to improve photorealism, but that comes at the cost of high VRAM usage. Sure, you won't have any problems running modern AAA games without enabling ray tracing, but the moment you turn it on, that 8GB of VRAM will quickly become a limiting factor. As a result, your GPU may struggle to maintain consistent frame rates, and you'll experience stuttering.

3 High-resolution gaming is becoming the norm

More gamers are upgrading their 1080p monitors

I have no problems recommending a GPU with 8GB of VRAM if you plan to play games exclusively at 1080p resolution. But 1440p and 4K resolutions have become increasingly mainstream in the last couple of years, and more people are upgrading their good old 1080p monitors. At higher resolutions, games use significantly more VRAM, easily pushing past 8GB usage at high or ultra graphics settings.

If you're like me and want the sharpest visuals while gaming, note that a GPU with 8GB of VRAM will often force you to lower your texture quality and shadow resolution to maintain stable frame rates. This compromise negates the very benefit of high-resolution gaming: outstanding visual fidelity. You're pretty much limiting yourself and your computer by pairing an 8GB GPU with a high-resolution monitor. Stick to 1080p if you don't want your GPU's VRAM to be a limiting factor.

2 Modern games are asset-heavy

High-resolution textures demand more VRAM

Many AAA games today feature dense open worlds with rich, detailed textures, vast environments, and extensive character models. Take a look at games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin's Creed Shadows, for example. These games can consistently brush past 8GB of VRAM even at 1440p because of their high-resolution textures. They make a huge difference in visual fidelity, but when your GPU's VRAM falls short, you'll see that your PC frequently streams game assets from slower system RAM, causing performance hitches and texture pop-ins.

You can tell how much texture quality impacts VRAM usage if you've ever played a game that lets you download HD texture packs separately—like Rainbow Six Siege, for example. The moment you install them and monitor your GPU with MSI Afterburner, you'll see that the VRAM usage goes up significantly. In worst-case scenarios, you may experience crashes in asset-heavy open-world games. That's exactly why many developers recommend 12GB and even 16GB VRAM for a smooth gaming experience.

1 Longevity and resale value

They're a terrible long-term investment

Most people don't upgrade their graphics cards nearly as often as they upgrade their smartphones. When you buy a new GPU, you expect solid performance out of it for several years. But unfortunately, a GPU with 8GB of VRAM will show its age sooner rather than later. Just because it works fine with the games you play today doesn't mean it'll be adequate for upcoming AAA titles like GTA VI and Battlefield 6. Newer games will only become more demanding, and your GPU's low VRAM will force you to upgrade earlier than anticipated.

Moreover, you'll have a tough time selling these 8GB GPUs as people become increasingly aware of their shortcomings down the line. So, investing in an 8GB graphics card not only limits your gaming experience but also leads to financial losses down the line. While I'm not a huge fan of "future-proofing" your PC, purchasing a GPU with 12GB VRAM or more will help you avoid buyer's remorse, as it'll remain relevant for the next few years.

It's time to look beyond 8GB graphics cards

We all know how 8GB of VRAM was once the golden standard for gamers, but that's simply not enough to play modern titles at higher resolutions. As of 2025, I'd argue that they've encroached into obsolete territory, limiting your gaming experience and offering poor long-term value. Unless you're certain that you'll play games at 1080p resolution for the next two or three years, I'd stay away from 8GB GPUs at all costs. GPUs with 12GB or 16GB of VRAM are the new standards gamers should aim for, as they'll last you for years. And that's one of the main reasons why you should lean toward AMD instead of Nvidia if you're in the market for a mid-range GPU.