A Reddit post has sparked a storm by calling out how absurd it is that 8GB graphics cards are still priced above €500 in 2025: “This is bordering on ridiculous.” Users are voicing frustration as prices climb while the 8GB memory standard—long outdated, is increasingly unable to keep up with modern games.

Just a few weeks ago, a benchmark tested the real-world viability of 8GB VRAM GPUs in 2025. The outcome was telling: graphically intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Dragon’s Dogma 2 expose the hard limit of 8GB memory, which can’t fully support features like ray tracing or DLSS. Against all expectations, after years of declining prices, 8GB models are now getting more expensive again.

One Reddit user documented their surprise when searching for a GPU, only to find several 8GB models selling for over €500. “What are we doing? The RX 580 already had 8GB in 2017.” The post resonated widely and ignited a debate around the viability of 8GB VRAM today. Many users agree: in 2025, the memory size is insufficient, and prices that high are impossible to justify.

The real state of 8GB VRAM in gaming today

Currently, 8GB of VRAM is the bare minimum for running modern AAA games, and performance from 1080p to 1440p heavily depends on game optimization. Often, the higher resolution requires reduced settings. Games like Hogwarts Legacy and The Last of Us: Part II typically force users to lower both texture detail and resolution. Add to that the growing system strain from generative AI and large language models, and it’s clear: while 8GB cards still work, their memory capacity belongs to a different era of gaming technology.

Back in 2014, when AMD’s Radeon R9 290X came out, 8GB VRAM was a breakthrough, powerful enough to run the biggest games for years. That era lasted about five years, but as game demands and newer hardware evolved, 8GB quickly became a bottleneck. Despite this, prices are surging, and users are stunned that they’re being asked to pay over €500 for cards whose limiting factor is the very VRAM that now holds them back.

Source: 3djuegos