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How Much RAM Does Ark Need? A Comprehensive Guide

For aspiring survivors diving into the prehistoric world of ARK: Survival Evolved, understanding the game’s resource requirements is paramount for a smooth and enjoyable experience. The burning question for many potential players is, “How much RAM does Ark need?” The answer isn’t as simple as a single number, as several factors impact RAM usage. However, as a general rule, you should aim for at least 8GB of RAM for decent performance on the base game. However, 16GB is highly recommended to ensure smoother gameplay. Below, we’ll explore why and what other factors influence this essential component.

The Basics: Minimum and Recommended RAM

Let’s begin with the fundamentals. The game’s developers and most experienced players agree on the following:

Minimum RAM: While 6GB of RAM will allow you to launch the game, performance will likely be poor, with lag and stutters. This is generally not recommended for a good gaming experience.
Recommended RAM: 8GB of RAM provides a playable experience, allowing you to explore the ARK world and build bases. However, you might encounter lag and frame rate drops, especially with more complex structures or multiple players on a server.
Optimal RAM: 16GB of RAM offers the most comfortable gameplay for single-player and online multiplayer servers. It allows the game to run smoother, especially in resource-intensive scenarios like large bases, heavily populated servers, and areas with many creatures. This is especially true when combined with the right CPU and GPU, helping to achieve higher consistent frame rates.

Why Does Ark Need So Much RAM?

Ark is a highly complex game with a lot of moving parts, both literally and figuratively. Here’s why it demands a good chunk of RAM:

Dynamic World: Ark features a large, dynamic, and persistent world filled with complex AI creatures, structures, and environmental effects. All of these require RAM to be rendered and managed in real-time.
Object Creation: As you play, build, and interact with the environment, the game creates new objects and instances which increases the memory usage. This is especially noticeable over long playthroughs, on servers, and as a result of the game’s save progresses.
Mod Support: Mods and plugins greatly enhance the Ark experience, but they also increase RAM consumption. Heavier mods and more of them will increase your game’s RAM requirements
Multiplayer Servers: The more players on a server, the more information your system needs to process, including player locations, actions, and building activities. This puts higher demand on the game’s resources.
Visual Complexity: ARK features detailed textures, high-poly models, and complex rendering systems that significantly impact RAM usage.

Impact of Settings and Mods

Beyond the base game itself, several factors can affect how much RAM Ark uses:

Graphics Settings

Lowering in-game graphic settings, such as view distance and shadow detail, can help reduce the amount of RAM needed. ARK also has a low memory launch mode designed for systems with lower than 4GB of ram, however it comes with significant visual reduction.

Mods & Plugins

Mods dramatically enhance the ARK experience, but they also add to RAM usage. Heavier mods or a large number of them will greatly increase the required RAM for the game. If you are playing on a server with mods, you will also need to be aware of the server’s specs.

Server Population

The more players that are on a server, the more RAM that is required for the game to function properly. This is because the game needs to keep track of player actions and positions on the map.

Base Size & Complexity

As you progress through the game, you are likely to build bases. As your bases become larger and more complex, the game will use more RAM to load these structures.

RAM and Server Hosting

If you’re planning to host your own Ark server, RAM becomes even more crucial. The following guidelines are helpful:

Vanilla Server: A basic ARK server with a few players typically needs at least 8GB of RAM, but 16GB is ideal for smoother performance with more players.
Modded Server: Modded servers require substantially more RAM to run correctly, and 32GB or 64GB of RAM is recommended depending on the mods and the number of players.
Primal Fear Server: Specifically, servers running the Primal Fear mod, known for its complexity and resource demand, typically require a minimum of 128GB of RAM to operate smoothly.

Final Thoughts on RAM for Ark

To recap, 8GB of RAM is the absolute minimum for running Ark, while 16GB of RAM is the recommended target for a seamless gaming experience. For servers, especially heavily modded ones, having 32GB or more is recommended. Keep in mind that having too much RAM is not detrimental to server performance unless the hardware can’t handle the load. Consider these points and adjust accordingly to enjoy everything Ark has to offer without performance issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I run Ark on 4GB of RAM?

While technically possible with the “Extremely Low Memory” launch option, it’s not recommended. Expect significant performance issues, including lag, low frame rates, and greatly reduced visual fidelity.

2. Is 16GB of RAM enough for Ark?

Yes, 16GB of RAM is generally sufficient for a good ARK experience. It provides a significant improvement in stability and performance compared to 8GB and allows you to run the game smoothly, even with some mods.

3. What happens if I don’t have enough RAM for Ark?

Not having enough RAM can result in several problems, including: lag, low frame rates, stuttering, texture pop-in, and the game possibly crashing and can severely affect the game’s playability.

4. Does having more RAM make Ark run better?

Yes, to a certain extent. More RAM can improve performance by allowing the game to store more data in memory for faster access. 16GB of RAM will make a noticeable difference compared to 8GB. Going beyond 16GB can also improve performance, but with diminishing returns unless you are running heavy mods and a large player server.

5. How much RAM does a modded Ark server need?

Modded ARK servers require significantly more RAM. A good rule of thumb is 16GB to 32GB for moderately modded servers and 64GB or more for heavily modded servers. The RAM requirements depends heavily on the number of mods, their complexity, and the number of players on the server.

6. Why is Ark so RAM intensive?

Ark is RAM-intensive due to its large and dynamic world, detailed graphics, numerous objects, and complex AI systems which needs RAM to run the game. These complex systems all require a considerable amount of memory to function correctly.

7. What’s the difference between RAM and VRAM for Ark?

RAM (Random Access Memory) is your system’s general-purpose memory and it is used by the CPU. VRAM (Video RAM), on the other hand, is used by the GPU to store graphics data, like textures and model information. You need both for playing games like Ark, but RAM primarily handles game logic and general data.

8. How can I check my RAM usage while playing Ark?

You can use the Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) or the Resource Monitor to monitor your system’s RAM usage while playing the game. This can be useful to assess your RAM’s need for the game.

9. Can adding a RAM card improve Ark’s performance?

Yes, adding more RAM can improve Ark’s performance, especially if your system is using the hard drive as an additional memory resource, due to the computer running out of RAM. Adding more RAM can greatly reduce this issue.

10. What other hardware affects Ark’s performance?

Besides RAM, other hardware components affecting Ark’s performance include: the CPU, the GPU, and the storage device (SSD vs HDD). An imbalance between these components can cause bottlenecks.

11. How does server population affect RAM usage?

The more players are on an Ark server, the higher the RAM usage will be. The server needs to keep track of player actions, locations, and base buildings, and all of this requires memory. More players on a server will result in a larger RAM footprint.

12. Does the Ark map affect RAM usage?

Yes, larger and more complex maps with more details and features will increase RAM usage. A map with more complex AI and rendering will also impact RAM usage.

13. Can I use a RAM disk for Ark?

Yes, you can utilize a RAM disk to speed up some parts of the game, but this is often for loading times. You’d load some of the game into the RAM disk, which is much faster than even an SSD. This only affects loading times and does not impact in-game RAM usage.

14. What is the impact of running other applications while playing Ark?

Running other applications while playing Ark can impact performance, as they compete for system resources, including RAM. It’s recommended to close unnecessary applications while playing ARK.

15. What type of RAM should I use for Ark?

DDR4 RAM with a speed of at least 2800MHz is recommended for Ark, but DDR5 ram is the new standard. Faster RAM can provide a small performance boost but ensure it’s compatible with your motherboard.