32GB dethrones 16GB as top RAM capacity in gaming rigs despite memory shortage
The September 2026 Steam Survey showed a surprising result despite extreme RAM pricing.
Despite a memory chip shortage, gamers continue to invest in their gaming PCs to achieve optimal performance. According to the September 2026 Steam Survey, 42.22% of surveyed units now have 32GB of system RAM, a 4.77% increase from the previous month, while configurations with 16GB have decreased by 3.38%, dropping to 37.82%. Other memory configurations saw growth as well, with 24GB increasing to 2.56% (a 0.34% rise) and 48GB inching up to 1.46% (a 0.26% increase).
This shift in memory preferences is surprising given that some manufacturers have reintroduced laptops with 8GB of RAM, despite Microsoft recommending 16GB as the new "practical starting point" and suggesting 32GB as a future-proof "no worries" configuration for gaming. The company later quietly removed this recommendation after releasing 8GB base models for its Surface laptops.
Memory capacities are likely to continue increasing for gamers as games become increasingly demanding. Even Minecraft, a game that hasn't updated its system requirements in 17 years and is known for being playable on low-spec PCs, increased its recommended memory to 16GB earlier this year. This forced players with older systems to switch to the Java Edition or play retro games instead.
The memory shortage may have only delayed the inevitable dominance of 32GB RAM in gaming PCs. In the survey results, AMD's market share is steadily growing, currently at 48.37% across all platforms, while Intel's share stands at 51.63%. Should AMD continue its current pace, it could potentially overtake Intel within months. When broken down by operating system, 52.59% of Windows users are using Intel, while 47.41% use AMD.
Intel enjoys a slight advantage in this regard, but the trend shows AMD gaining ground month after month. The disparity between Intel and AMD is more pronounced among Linux users, with a significant 66.18% preference for Team Red over Team Blue's 33.71%. Although the Steam Survey is not scientifically rigorous and may not represent the broader PC market, it still provides valuable insights into the current state of gaming PCs.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
