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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsNot necessarily. Roberts Space Industries (RSI) recommends 32 GB of DDR4 memory for Star Citizen; it does not require or recommend 64 GB. The available test evidence compares 16 GB with 32 GB, not 32 GB with 64 GB, so it does not show that upgrading from 32 GB will raise frame rates or eliminate stutter. For a 32 GB PC that runs short on memory during normal play, 64 GB may provide useful capacity headroom—especially with other demanding apps open.
What RSI recommends—and what it doesn’t
RSI’s Star Citizen Minimum System Requirements, updated September 23, 2026, list 16 GB as the minimum and 32 GB DDR4 as the recommendation. They do not list 64 GB as either required or recommended. RSI cautions that the game is in development and its specifications may change.
A separate RSI Game and Launcher Requirements page, updated December 17, 2025, says 16 GB or more. For the current recommended capacity, the newer dedicated system-requirements page is the more relevant reference.
What the available memory measurements show
PC Gamer’s 2026 test reports average memory use in two configurations: its 32 GB setup averaged 29,300 MB of system RAM use and 19,800 MB of process RAM use; its 16 GB setup averaged 13,700 MB of system RAM use and 7,200 MB of process RAM use. These are measurements from that test, not universal usage figures or official requirements.
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The test does not include a 64 GB configuration, so it cannot establish whether 64 GB performs better than 32 GB. PC Gamer describes capturing much of its Star Citizen performance on a route from the starting room in Area 18 to a hangar. It attempted to use the same server at the same time for runs, but notes that MMO activity could still vary. Its results should not be treated as a promise of particular frame rates or smoothness in other locations or sessions. See PC Gamer’s Star Citizen test and methodology.
When 64 GB may be useful
Consider 64 GB as extra capacity, not a guaranteed Star Citizen performance upgrade. It may make sense if monitoring during your usual sessions shows total system memory repeatedly approaching the installed capacity, particularly when you also keep memory-heavy software open.
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- Playing with other apps: Browsers, voice chat, recording or streaming software, and other workloads share system memory. RSI identifies background applications as one factor that can affect performance.
- Already at 32 GB without memory pressure: If your normal sessions leave enough memory for the game and your other apps, the cited evidence gives no reason to expect a specific benefit from moving to 64 GB. Check your own usage rather than inferring need from one test.
- Still on 16 GB: Moving to at least 32 GB aligns with RSI’s recommendation. Its listed 16 GB capacity is the minimum, not the recommended amount.
RAM capacity is not the same as graphics memory
System RAM and a graphics card’s VRAM are separate resources. RSI explains in its graphics settings guidance that if VRAM runs out, the computer’s RAM has to make up the deficit, potentially at a performance cost. Adding system RAM does not add VRAM, so 64 GB is not a substitute for a graphics card with more video memory. RSI’s graphics guidance also advises leaving room in the VRAM estimate for other software, such as recording or streaming apps.
Memory capacity is only one possible factor in a session’s performance. RSI notes that location, server population, background applications, and network conditions can affect performance, frame rates, and stability; graphics settings and system configuration also matter.
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- Easy Installation: Upgrade your desktop RAM with ease—no computer skills required Follow step-by-step how-to guides available at Crucial for a smooth, worry-free installation
- Compatibility Guaranteed: Ensure seamless compatibility with your desktop by using the Crucial System Scanner or Crucial Upgrade Selector—get accurate recommendations for your specific device
- Trusted Micron Quality: Backed by 42 years of memory expertise, this DDR4 RAM is rigorously tested at both component and module levels, ensuring top performance and reliability
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How to decide whether to upgrade
- If you have 16 GB: Consider upgrading to at least 32 GB to meet RSI’s published recommendation.
- If you have 32 GB: Check total system memory use during your usual Star Citizen sessions, including the other apps you normally run. If capacity is not being crowded, the available sources do not establish that 64 GB will improve FPS or remove stutter.
- If 32 GB is repeatedly crowded: A 64 GB kit may give the game, Windows, and concurrent workloads more room. Treat that as a capacity benefit, not a guaranteed game-specific performance gain.
- Before buying: Confirm that your motherboard and CPU support the memory generation, total capacity, speeds, and kit configuration you intend to use. RSI lists DDR4 in its recommendation, but your own platform determines compatibility; no particular kit is universally suitable.
What about Vulkan?
A third-party guide, Can Your Computer Run Star Citizen? (2026, 4.10), calls 32 GB ideal and recommends 64 GB for Vulkan, saying the game can use more than 30 GB. That is the guide’s advice, not an RSI requirement or a 64 GB-versus-32 GB benchmark. RSI’s own graphics guidance discusses DirectX and Vulkan and says its testing found CPU performance should be better under Vulkan; it does not state that Vulkan requires 64 GB of system RAM.
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