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Buying advice
An 8 GB card in 2026 — when it still makes sense
Eight gigabytes is the floor today, but not an automatic disqualification. We set out the cases where such a card is still a sensible buy.
1 min readPublished July 22, 2026Dawid Olko
A lot of heat has built up around 8 GB cards, and the answer is more nuanced than "do not buy". It depends on what you play and at what resolution.
When 8 GB is enough
- Multiplayer and esports titles — CS2, Valorant, League of Legends, Dota. These are designed for broad hardware and rarely exceed 6 GB.
- Gaming at 1080p on medium and high settings, without ray tracing.
- Older titles from a back catalogue — anything before 2022 fits comfortably.
- A machine used mainly for work, where gaming is occasional.
When it is a bad idea
- New AAA titles on high textures — this is where 8 GB turns into stutter.
- Ray tracing in anything newer than 2023.
- Resolutions of 1440p and above at settings past medium.
- Modding, texture packs especially — they can double the requirement.
- Buying with several years in mind. The trend runs one way.