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The message “You don’t have enough system and video memory to start the game” is most commonly reported by the PC version of The Last of Us Part I. It does not automatically mean your computer lacks RAM or graphics memory. The warning can indicate hardware below the game’s baseline, a Windows page-file allocation failure, or a known NVIDIA 555.xx driver bug that produced false out-of-video-memory errors.
Check the graphics-driver branch first, then Windows virtual-memory settings, Safe Mode graphics settings, and finally the game installation. NVIDIA documented the specific 555.xx problem and fixed it in driver 556.12, released June 27, 2024. The steps below separate a genuine memory limit from a software fault without pushing you toward an unnecessary upgrade.
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What does “You don’t have enough system and video memory” mean?
The game is reporting that it could not reserve enough memory for launch or shader compilation. “System memory” means your computer’s RAM; “video memory” or VRAM is the dedicated memory on the graphics card. Windows can also use a page file on storage as virtual memory, so a page-file allocation problem may trigger the same wording even when physical RAM and VRAM meet the published requirements.
The message is associated with the PC release of The Last of Us Part I, developed by Naughty Dog LLC and published on PC by PlayStation Publishing LLC. Reports include the warning at startup, during shader compilation, and after a settings change. Users have reported it with 32 GB or 64 GB of RAM and high-end NVIDIA cards, which shows that the text is not conclusive proof of inadequate hardware.
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Think of the error as a diagnostic starting point. The relevant variables are the graphics-driver branch, Windows’ available virtual memory, current RAM and VRAM use, and the graphics settings being loaded during shader building.
What are the PC requirements for The Last of Us Part I?
Steam’s 2023 listing gives 16 GB of RAM as both the minimum and recommended amount, at least 4 GB of graphics memory, 8 GB of graphics memory recommended, and 100 GB of available storage. An SSD is recommended. These figures are baselines for the game; meeting them does not guarantee that every driver, background process, or shader workload will start successfully.
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| Requirement | Steam listing figure | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| System RAM | 16 GB minimum; 16 GB recommended | Below 16 GB can create a genuine capacity problem, while 16 GB or more can still fail because of allocation, drivers, or background use. |
| Graphics memory (VRAM) | 4 GB minimum; 8 GB recommended | A card with less than 4 GB is below the listed baseline. A card with enough VRAM can still encounter a driver-specific false warning. |
| Storage | 100 GB available | This is installation space, not memory. Keep additional free space for Windows, shader caches, updates, and temporary files. |
| Drive type | SSD recommended | An SSD improves loading and shader-workflow responsiveness but does not increase physical RAM or VRAM. |
Use the figures as a check, not as a verdict. A machine can satisfy the table and still fail if the page file is disabled or tiny, another application consumes memory, or an affected driver is installed.
Is the NVIDIA 555.xx driver the cause?
It can be, and this is the first software check for an NVIDIA system. NVIDIA’s 555.85 release notes explicitly warned: “The Last of Us Part I Users may see an out of video memory error message with GRD 555.85 driver [4663766].” NVIDIA’s 556.12 release notes, dated June 27, 2024, list “The Last of Us Part 1 Out of memory error with 555.xx drivers [4663766]” among fixed gaming bugs.
If your installed driver begins with 555, update to a release that contains the fix, such as 556.12 or a later compatible release, or roll back to a known-good version if an update introduces another problem. Restart Windows after changing the driver. A reboot matters because the game, graphics driver, and shader cache must all initialize against the new driver; launching immediately after an installer finishes can leave old components in memory.
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To identify the branch, open the NVIDIA App or NVIDIA Control Panel and view the installed driver version, or use Windows Device Manager: right-click the Start button, choose Device Manager, expand Display adapters, open the graphics card’s Properties, and select the Driver tab. Record the complete version before changing anything. If you use AMD or Intel graphics, the NVIDIA 555.xx diagnosis does not apply; continue with the general memory and settings checks.
How do I check whether my PC actually meets the memory baseline?
Record the machine’s memory and software state before making changes. This prevents a driver update or settings reset from hiding the original condition.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, select Performance, and note the installed Memory amount.
- In Performance, select GPU and record the dedicated GPU memory value. Windows may show dedicated and shared GPU memory separately; shared memory is borrowed system RAM and should not be counted as dedicated VRAM.
- Open Settings > System > About to record the Windows edition and version. Install pending Windows updates only after noting the current state.
- Return to Task Manager’s Processes view and close memory-heavy applications such as browsers with many tabs, video editors, virtual machines, and overlays before launching the game.
- Open File Explorer, right-click the drive containing the game, choose Properties, and confirm at least 100 GB is available for the installation plus room for Windows and caches.
Do not confuse total installed RAM with RAM available to the game. A 16 GB computer may have substantially less free memory after Windows, launchers, recording software, and browser tabs have loaded. Likewise, a GPU can have enough nominal VRAM but run out during a high-resolution texture and shader workload.
Could Windows virtual memory or the page file trigger the error?
Yes. Microsoft explains that applications which frequently allocate memory may experience random “out-of-memory” errors when the automatic page file takes time to grow. Its documented workaround is to configure the page-file size manually. This is a troubleshooting option, not a universal requirement: changing a correctly functioning page file can impose an unnecessary storage or allocation constraint.
When should I inspect the page file?
Check it when Windows reports allocation failures, when the page file is disabled, or when it has been forced to a very small fixed size. It is also reasonable to inspect after a crash that occurs while shaders are compiling, because that phase can request large allocations in bursts. Leave sufficient free space on the selected drive before increasing a page file.
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How do I configure the page file using Microsoft’s procedure?
- Press Win+R, type
sysdm.cpl, and press Enter. - Open the Advanced tab. Under Performance, select Settings.
- In Performance Options, open the Advanced tab and select Change in the Virtual memory section.
- Clear Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
- Select the drive that should host the page file, choose Custom size, and enter an initial size and a maximum size appropriate for the available disk space. Microsoft documents the procedure but does not prescribe one universal number for every PC.
- Select Set, choose OK through the open dialogs, and restart Windows.
If you are unsure which sizes are appropriate, restore automatic management rather than guessing. Never move the page file to a nearly full drive, and do not disable it merely because the computer has a large amount of RAM.
What should I do if the launcher offers Safe Mode?
Accept Safe Mode once when it appears. It resets graphics settings that may be too demanding for the card’s VRAM and can let the game complete its initial shader compilation.
After Safe Mode starts, lower the options that create the largest memory pressure:
- Texture quality, especially at a high display resolution.
- Shadow quality and shadow-map resolution.
- Reflections and reflection quality.
- Ambient occlusion.
Apply the changes, restart the game if prompted, and allow shader compilation to finish without launching other demanding software. The Steam listing confirms that these graphics settings are adjustable on PC, while player reports document Safe Mode prompts and shader-compilation failures. Do not interrupt compilation repeatedly; an incomplete or repeatedly discarded shader cache can make each launch begin the expensive phase again.
What is the correct troubleshooting order?
Use this order so that a driver defect is not mistaken for a hardware shortfall and a file check is not used to treat a problem it cannot repair.
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- Record the baseline. Write down the GPU model, installed RAM, Windows version, free storage, and complete graphics-driver version.
- Resolve the driver branch. On NVIDIA, replace 555.xx with a release containing the fix, such as 556.12 or later, or roll back to a known-good release. Reboot.
- Check virtual memory. Make sure a page file is enabled and that Windows is not reporting allocation failures or using a tiny fixed value. Apply Microsoft’s manual-sizing procedure only when the symptoms justify it, then restart.
- Use Safe Mode. Accept the reset, reduce texture, shadow, reflection, and ambient-occlusion settings, and let shaders compile.
- Compare hardware with the baseline. Confirm 16 GB RAM, at least 4 GB VRAM, 100 GB free storage, and preferably an SSD. Close background applications before testing.
- Verify the installation. Use Steam’s file-verification command only after the driver and page-file checks. Verification can replace damaged or missing game files, but it cannot correct a graphics-driver regression.
- Reinstall as a last resort. Reinstall only if the earlier checks fail and verification identifies persistent corruption or the game still cannot launch.
How do I distinguish a real hardware limit from a software regression?
Compare the circumstances rather than relying on the wording alone.
| Observation | More consistent with | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA driver is 555.xx and the message appeared after that branch was installed | Documented driver regression | Update to a fixed release or roll back, then reboot. |
| Windows logs allocation failures, page file is disabled or tiny, and free disk space is low | Virtual-memory limitation | Restore a usable page file and address storage pressure. |
| RAM is below 16 GB or VRAM below 4 GB | Below the published baseline | Reduce settings if possible; hardware replacement may be required for reliable play. |
| The error appears only with demanding settings and Safe Mode allows launch | Peak VRAM or shader-allocation pressure | Keep lower textures, shadows, reflections, and ambient occlusion. |
| Files fail verification or the game crashes after other fixes | Installation corruption | Verify files, then consider reinstalling. |
| Linux/Proton reports the same text | Platform-specific compatibility or allocation behavior | Use the separate Proton branch below rather than applying Windows-only assumptions. |
This comparison explains why adding RAM is not automatically the right first purchase. The Steam discussion includes users with 32 GB, 64 GB, and high-end NVIDIA GPUs who still received the warning, while NVIDIA separately documented a driver cause.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should Linux and Proton users try?
Linux users should treat the message as a separate compatibility branch. A Proton issue report describes the same wording and says that setting PROTON_DISABLE_NVAPI=1 %command% changes memory allocation behavior. That is a community workaround, not an official universal fix, so test it only if you understand Steam launch options and record the original setting first.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11In Steam, open the game’s Properties, select General, and place the launch option in Launch Options. Remove it if it has no effect or causes another problem. Windows page-file instructions and the NVIDIA 555.xx Windows diagnosis do not directly transfer to Proton; check the Proton version, GPU driver for your Linux distribution, and compatibility reports for your specific hardware.
When is a hardware upgrade justified?
Consider an upgrade only after the software checks are complete and the system remains below the published baseline or repeatedly exhausts memory with reduced settings. Below 16 GB of RAM, below 4 GB of VRAM, or a drive that cannot provide the required 100 GB are objective gaps. If the machine meets those figures, first resolve the driver, page file, background usage, and graphics settings; the documented cases show that an upgrade may not address this particular warning.
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An SSD is recommended for the PC release because it improves loading and asset streaming. It does not substitute for VRAM, and installing the game on an SSD will not repair a 555.xx driver defect or a disabled page file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does having 32 GB of RAM guarantee that The Last of Us Part I will launch?
No. Reports associated with this message include systems with 32 GB and 64 GB of RAM, so total capacity alone is not decisive. Driver state, page-file availability, background processes, VRAM pressure, and shader compilation can still prevent launch.
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Open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc, choose Performance, then GPU, and read the dedicated GPU memory value. Do not add shared GPU memory to dedicated VRAM; shared memory is borrowed from system RAM and does not satisfy the game’s dedicated-memory baseline in the same way.
Should I disable the Windows page file if I have plenty of RAM?
No. Disabling it can remove an allocation path that some applications need, even on high-RAM systems. Leave automatic management enabled unless you have a specific allocation failure or a clearly undersized fixed page file to troubleshoot.
Why does shader compilation keep starting over after every launch?
Compilation can restart when it is interrupted, when graphics settings or drivers change, or when the shader cache is discarded. After fixing the driver and choosing lower settings, let the process finish uninterrupted and avoid changing GPU settings until the game reaches the menu.
Is the Proton NVAPI launch option an official fix?
No. PROTON_DISABLE_NVAPI=1 %command% comes from a community Proton issue report and changes allocation behavior for some Linux configurations. It should be treated as an experiment for Proton users, not as a guaranteed solution or a Windows instruction.
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