Nvidia’s assertion that 8GB of VRAM is sufficient for modern gaming is challenged by the performance of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Despite being sponsored by Nvidia and leveraging ray tracing, the game struggles to maintain playable frame rates on cards with less than 12GB of VRAM, even Nvidia’s own high-end offerings.
Computer Base’s testing reveals a clear trend: GPUs with less than 12GB VRAM struggle to achieve 30fps at the highest settings, regardless of resolution. This leads to unexpected results, with the budget-friendly Intel Arc A770 (16GB VRAM) outperforming the RTX 3080 (10GB VRAM), a former 4K champion.
Benchmarks at 1440p for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.Benchmark Comparison at 1440p Resolution (Image Credit: Computer Base)
Nvidia previously defended the 8GB VRAM configuration on cards like the RTX 4060 Ti, arguing that a faster memory interface compensated for the lower capacity. However, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s performance contradicts this claim.
This issue is particularly pronounced at 1080p. Benchmarks show the last-gen RX 6700 XT achieving 60fps, while Nvidia’s RTX 4060, RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 3080, and RTX 3060 Ti barely reach 30fps.
Benchmarks for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle at 1080p.Benchmark Comparison at 1080p Resolution (Image Credit: Computer Base)
This disparity is surprising, given Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s reliance on ray tracing, a technology where Nvidia GPUs traditionally excel. While AMD’s RX 6000 series struggles with ray tracing, the higher VRAM capacity of the RX 6700 XT allows for better performance in this specific title.
While the game reportedly maintains visual appeal at lower settings, the core problem remains VRAM capacity. Owners of a $700 RTX 3080 may need to compromise on visuals even at 1080p, while those with a $400 RX 6700 XT may not. Although the game supports DLSS 3 features like Super Resolution and Frame Generation, these are less effective when hitting VRAM limitations.
Digital Foundry’s analysis confirms that playable performance can be achieved by adjusting texture, shadow, and hair quality, depending on VRAM. These adjustments have a relatively minor impact on overall visual fidelity, primarily affecting distant texture detail and shadows.
While other games like Resident Evil 4, The Last of Us Part One, and Halo Infinite have shown the limitations of 8GB graphics cards, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle exemplifies this issue to a greater extent. This highlights the increasing importance of VRAM in modern gaming and raises hopes for increased VRAM capacity in Nvidia’s upcoming RTX 50-series GPUs.
