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
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.
Device | Teraflops |
---|---|
PS4 | 1.84 |
NVIDIA GTX 1650 | 3 |
Xbox Series S | 4 |
PS4 Pro | 4.2 |
NVIDIA GTX 1660 | 5 |
AMD RX 5500XT | 5.2 |
NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti | 5.4 |
AMD RX 6500 XT | 5.76 |
Xbox One X | 6 |
AMD RX 5600 XT | 7.19 |
AMD RX 6600 | 8.93 |
NVIDIA RTX 3050 | 9.1 |
AMD RX 5700 XT | 9.75 |
PS5 | 10.28 |
AMD RX 6600XT | 10.6 |
NVIDIA RTX 2080 | 10.6 |
NVIDIA GTX 1080Ti | 11.3 |
AMD Radeon RX 6700 | 11.29 |
Xbox Series X | 12 |
NVIDIA RTX 3060 | 12.7 |
AMD RX 6700XT | 13.21 |
NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti | 14.2 |
NVIDIA RTX 4060 | 24 |
NVIDIA RTX 3080 | 29.8 |
NVIDIA RTX 4090 | 100 Power Overwhelming |
Xbox Series X vs Xbox Series S RAM
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.
Add comment