Gaming Console 101

How Much RAM Does Xbox Series X Have?

When we want to judge a specific gaming hardware, we tend to look at its core hardware. While CPU and GPU are the primary components in question, RAM also plays a very crucial role in determining what overall prowess of the gaming machine.

There are, as a gamer would know, two types of RAM. The system RAM, which we refer to simply as RAM, and the Video RAM or VRAM that is associated with the graphics card.

While both play an essential role, as gamers we are interested in the VRAM of the system as it determines the overall graphics processing capability.

In this article, we’ll zero in on one specific topic – how much RAM does Xbox Series X have?

But in short, Xbox Series X offers 16 GB of GDDR6. This is divided into 10 GB as VRAM and 6 GB as the system RAM.

The following text will help you better understand the Xbox Series X system memory and its allocation.

So How Much RAM Does Xbox Series X Have?

The Xbox Series X, Microsoft’s flagship gaming console, is outfitted with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM.

The 16GB of GDDR6 RAM in Xbox Series X is not used entirely for gaming. The allocation is more complex and involves separating RAM for different functions within the console.

With PCs, you have a separate set of memory sticks for the system and a separate VRAM that is dedicated to the graphics card.

With Xbox Series X|S, however, you have a total of 16 GB GDDR6 RAM but with a separate allocation.

Breaking Down the RAM Allocation

How Much RAM Does Xbox Series X Have
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The RAM is split into two portions. 10GB is reserved for GPU and acts as the VRAM and is thus for rendering games at the highest possible settings and resolutions. This segment of the RAM provides a bandwidth of 560GB/s.

The remaining 6GB is standard memory, reserved for less intensive tasks, with a bandwidth of 336GB/s.

The 10 GB of RAM used by the graphics card is referred to GPU optimal memory by Microsoft.

Comparing Xbox Series X with PC GPU Equivalent RAM

When comparing the GPU optimal memory or VRAM in Xbox Series X with that in its PC equivalent GPU, Xbox Series X is almost on par.

Considering the Teraflops, the two PC GPU equivalent for Xbox Series X are the AMD RX 6700 and the NVIDIA RTX 3060 which have a VRAM of 10 GB and 12 GB GDDR6 respectively.

DeviceTeraflops
PS41.84
NVIDIA GTX 16503
Xbox Series S4
PS4 Pro4.2
NVIDIA GTX 16605
AMD RX 5500XT5.2
NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti5.4
AMD RX 6500 XT5.76
Xbox One X6
AMD RX 5600 XT7.19
AMD RX 66008.93
NVIDIA RTX 30509.1
AMD RX 5700 XT9.75
PS510.28
AMD RX 6600XT10.6
NVIDIA RTX 208010.6
NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti11.3
AMD Radeon RX 670011.29
Xbox Series X12
NVIDIA RTX 306012.7
AMD RX 6700XT13.21
NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti14.2
NVIDIA RTX 406024
NVIDIA RTX 308029.8
NVIDIA RTX 4090100
Power Overwhelming

Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S RAM

Xbox Series S RAM specs
Source: Xbox.com

Xbox Series X is far more advanced than its Series S counterpart in terms of how its memory is designed.

Xbox Series S ONLY offers 10 GB of DDR6 RAM with 8 GB allocated for GPU and 2 GB for the system.

Not only does the Xbox Series S have a lower memory, it is also slower.

The GPU optimal memory only works at 224 GB/s (as compared to 560 GB/s on Series X) and the system memory works at 56 GB/s (as compared to 336 GB/s on Series X).

Also Read: What is Xbox Series X PC Equivalent?

Why Does RAM Matter?

Random Access Memory, or RAM, serves as a form of temporary storage that your gaming console’s processor can access quickly.

The more RAM available, the more information your console can process simultaneously. This results in smoother gameplay, quicker load times, and the ability to handle complex and detailed game environments.

But it is important to note that when it comes to gaming quality, it is the VRAM that matters more.

Basically, as discussed earlier, system RAM holds the data that the console’s central processing unit (CPU) needs to access quickly.

Video RAM (VRAM), on the other hand, is a type of RAM that is used exclusively by the console’s graphics processing unit (GPU). It is used to store and quickly access data related to rendering graphics, such as textures, shading, and other graphical data.

The term VRAM is often used interchangeably with GPU memory.

So the higher the VRAM, the higher the resolution and more complex the frames the GPU will be able to render quickly.

The Final Verdict

While RAM is just one piece of the puzzle in gaming performance, it’s a significant one, and the Series X offers at best the RAM of a mid-range PC.

The simple answer to the question “how much RAM does Xbox Series X Have?” is 16GB GDDR6. It is divided into two segments: 10 GB for the GPU and 6 GB for the rest of the system.

Atif Qazi

Atif Qazi is the founder of GamingConsole101.com and a huge gaming nerd. Thanks to the vast gaming experience under his belt, you can often find him writing detailed pieces of content on gaming hardware and console. But in all honesty, nothing gives him more pleasure than 'one-shotting' everyone as a stealth archer in ESO: Skyrim.

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