This year's installment to the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops III, has just hit stores, and is predictably flying off shelves. As with every ceremonial annual release, Black Ops III raises the visual presentation standards for the franchise. There is, however, one hitch with the way the game deals with system memory amounts as high as 12 GB and video memory amounts as high as 8 GB. This hitch could possibly be the reason behind the stuttering issues many users are reporting.In our first play-through of the game with its highest possible settings on our personal gaming machines - equipped with a 2560 x 1600 pixels display, Core i7 "Haswell" quad-core CPU, 12 GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 980 Ti graphics card, NVIDIA's latest Black Ops III Game Ready driver 385.87, and Windows 7 64-bit to top it all off, we noticed that the game was running out of memory. Taking a peek at Task Manager revealed that in "Ultra" settings (and 2560 x 1600 resolution), the game was maxing out memory usage within our 12 GB, not counting the 1.5-2 GB used up by the OS and essential lightweight tasks (such as antivirus).We also noticed game crashes as little as 10 seconds into gameplay, on a machine with 8 GB of system memory and a GTX 980 Ti.What's even more interesting is its video memory behavior. The GTX 980 Ti, with its 6 GB video memory, was developing a noticeable stutter. This stutter disappeared on the GTX TITAN X, with its 12 GB video memory, in which memory load shot up from maxed out 6 GB on the GTX 980 Ti, to 8.4 GB on the video memory. What's more, system memory usage dropped with the GTX TITAN X, down to 8.3 GB.On Steam Forums, users report performance issues that don't necessarily point at low FPS (frames per second), but stuttering, especially at high settings. Perhaps the game needs better memory management. Once we installed 16 GB RAM in the system, the game ran buttery-smooth with our GTX 980 Ti.

168 Comments on Black Ops III: 12 GB RAM and GTX 980 Ti Not Enough

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#1 TheDeeGee

Didn't know the CoD Series was still a thing. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:39 Reply

#2 GhostRyder

Are you serious??? There is no way they need that much Vram to run that game realistically... Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:42 Reply

#3 Jborg

TheDeeGee Didn't know the CoD Series was still a thing. Its not really, its just a money grab at this point.



Definitely not even thinking about picking this game up, especially after seeing this crap lol.



Certainly not upgrading anything in my system to play a new call of duty game.



The originals were amazing games. But like I said, its just a money grab now.



I would like to see a remake of a WW2 game, only problem is they will never make another call of duty with the COD2 layout. I WANT a custom server browser..... Not some lame matchmaking non-sense. GhostRyder Are you serious??? There is no way they need that much Vram to run that game realistically for that game... Agreed, this is just absurd. Its not really, its just a money grab at this point.Definitely not even thinking about picking this game up, especially after seeing this crap lol.Certainly not upgrading anything in my system to play a new call of duty game.The originals were amazing games. But like I said, its just a money grab now.I would like to see a remake of a WW2 game, only problem is they will never make another call of duty with the COD2 layout. I WANT a custom server browser..... Not some lame matchmaking non-sense.Agreed, this is just absurd. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:43 Reply

#4 Szaby59

Activision must be jealous to the "attention" what WB got with Batman: AK if they allowed to release this... :wtf: Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:47 Reply

#5 TheDeeGee

Jborg I would like to see a remake of a WW2 game, only problem is they will never make another call of duty with the COD2 layout. I WANT a custom server browser..... Not some lame matchmaking non-sense. Ye... the last CoD i played was the very first one.



I remember playing the Demo over and over at the time, was such an epic experience. As bad as WW2 was, it just has an awesome vibe to it. Ye... the last CoD i played was the very first one.I remember playing the Demo over and over at the time, was such an epic experience. As bad as WW2 was, it just has an awesome vibe to it. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:49 Reply

#6 RejZoR

One thing is pushing the limits and another just being lazy. Craming gazillion textures and polygons in engine and requiring super computer is just moronic. It just means they put ZERO effort in designing the engine, they just crammed everything into it. That's why Unreal Engine 4 runs on pretty much anything no matter what even with most likely same fidelity as this CoD.



Because if those are the specs, not many people can actually run that. I mean, I have 32GB RAM so I don't care, but graphic card is still "just" 4GB (GTX 980). If you want to target the broadest target public, you can't have specs like this. Or it has to look like nothing we've seen to date. Frankly, I doubt that will be the case... Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:50 Reply

#7 buildzoid

How on earth did they pull this off? Did they just decide to load the entirety of the game into the RAM and VRAM?



COD BLOPS3: the new Crysis. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:50 Reply

#8 Chloe Price





It would be fun to try it with my i3/8GB/GTX670/W10Pro PC. :) buildzoid COD BLOPS3: the new Crysis. Crysis wasn't so hungry for RAM/VRAM, just GPU horsepower. What about Windows 10 or even 8.1?It would be fun to try it with my i3/8GB/GTX670/W10Pro PC. :)Crysis wasn't so hungry for RAM/VRAM, just GPU horsepower. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:52 Reply

#9 jmcslob

When I played the beta I did better on an AMD 7850 with a R9 280x

Than I did with an I5 3570k with a R9 280x..

I'm not sure why...it stuttered like crazy with the 3570...I just figured it was a beta bug Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:54 Reply

#10 RejZoR

buildzoid How on earth did they pull this off? Did they just decide to load the entirety of the game into the RAM and VRAM?



COD BLOPS3: the new Crysis. But in all honesty, while Crysis is still super demanding, it looked spectacular at time and is in a way still a benchmark for visual fidelity. Mostly because it's SO old but looks like it was released a year or two ago... But in all honesty, while Crysis is still super demanding, it looked spectacular at time and is in a way still a benchmark for visual fidelity. Mostly because it's SO old but looks like it was released a year or two ago... Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:54 Reply

#11 buildzoid

I know I know. I'm just abusing the can it run Crysis joke.



COD BLOPS3: needs more RAM than Chrome!



sorry I'm in a meme mood Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:57 Reply

#12 Estaric

why are people calling this the new crysis? Wont this just be patched in no time and then it will be just another call of duty game. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:59 Reply

#13 Vayra86

Call of Shitty. Avoid like the plague. Fun for consoles, because they lack so many things that PC gamers do have access to. Otherwise...



moving along :) Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 18:59 Reply

#14 64K

TheDeeGee Didn't know the CoD Series was still a thing. Sales of COD games has dropped off since Black Ops 2 which generated $500 million dollars in sales on the first day of release but the franchise is still pretty strong. Last year COD Advanced Warfare was the best selling video game. Sales of COD games has dropped off since Black Ops 2 which generated $500 million dollars in sales on the first day of release but the franchise is still pretty strong. Last year COD Advanced Warfare was the best selling video game. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:00 Reply

#15 peche

Thermaltake fanboy RejZoR But in all honesty, while Crysis is still super demanding, it looked spectacular at time and is in a way still a benchmark for visual fidelity. Mostly because it's SO old but looks like it was released a year or two ago... crysis never crashed me ... not even with a medium video card! crysis never crashed me ... not even with a medium video card! Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:01 Reply

#16 uuuaaaaaa

RejZoR But in all honesty, while Crysis is still super demanding, it looked spectacular at time and is in a way still a benchmark for visual fidelity. Mostly because it's SO old but looks like it was released a year or two ago... Use a custom cfg and an HD texture pak and it looks absolutely (even more) epic! Crysis was one of those games that will go down in history for everything that it meant in terms of pushing visual fidelity. The game aged pretty well still looks awesome even for today's standards. Use a custom cfg and an HD texture pak and it looks absolutely (even more) epic! Crysis was one of those games that will go down in history for everything that it meant in terms of pushing visual fidelity. The game aged pretty well still looks awesome even for today's standards. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:02 Reply

#17 GreiverBlade

well wasn't COD:Ghost RAM hungry (for the standard at the time) around 6gb needed or it wouldn't run?



that one put the challenge a bit higher tho (ABOUT TWICE HIGHER???? o_O )



edit... about vRAM ... HELL!?!? 6gb is not enough ... hello 8gb 390/x/290/x...

well i have a 980 4gb but i am not interested in COD games anymore (although Ghost was fun when i played it ) Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:16 Reply

#18 Ferrum Master

Holy cow... where they do find the coder monkeys? Or are they blind during testing phase? Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:19 Reply

#19 GhostRyder

GreiverBlade well wasn't COD:Ghost RAM hungry (for the standard at the time) around 6gb needed or it wouldn't run?



that one put the challenge a bit higher tho (ABOUT TWICE HIGHER???? o_O )



edit... about vRAM ... HELL!?!? 6gb is not enough ... hello 8gb 390/x/290/x...

well i have a 980 4gb but i am not interested in COD games anymore (although Ghost was fun when i played it ) So basically we are stuck with about 5 video cards with enough video memory to run this game at ultra... So basically we are stuck with about 5 video cards with enough video memory to run this game at ultra... Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:24 Reply

#20 W1zzard

GhostRyder So basically we are stuck with about 5 video cards with enough video memory to run this game at ultra... or have 16 GB RAM, which makes GTX 980 Ti work flawlessly or have 16 GB RAM, which makes GTX 980 Ti work flawlessly Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:25 Reply

#21 Ferrum Master

W1zzard or have 16 GB RAM, which makes GTX 980 Ti work flawlessly Does the game during intro show some logos like sponsored by Micron, Nanya or Samsung?



It would explain a lot :D. Does the game during intro show some logos like sponsored by Micron, Nanya or Samsung?It would explain a lot :D. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:28 Reply

#22 flyingpussy

activision is now trying to surpass wb Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:30 Reply

#23 kiddagoat

Yup Call of Dooty.... and I do mean Dooty.... I really wish they would just go back to keeping it simple like with CoD4.... it almost seems like they are the Apple of video games.... they add all these "features" that other games have used and executed better in previous titles but once CoD does it, it is all ohhhhhh mmerrrr gawwwddd melting my face...... etc etc... They are just very lazy.



Console kiddies will gobble this up as always as that's the bigger market... but still... this series just needs to go away for awhile to give itself time to reinvent. They are just snagging and grabbing from other titles now. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:33 Reply

#24 Jborg

GhostRyder So basically we are stuck with about 5 video cards with enough video memory to run this game at ultra... kiddagoat Yup Call of Dooty.... and I do mean Dooty.... I really wish they would just go back to keeping it simple like with CoD4.... it almost seems like they are the Apple of video games.... they add all these "features" that other games have used and executed better in previous titles but once CoD does it, it is all ohhhhhh mmerrrr gawwwddd melting my face...... etc etc... They are just very lazy.



Console kiddies will gobble this up as always as that's the bigger market... but still... this series just needs to go away for awhile to give itself time to reinvent. They are just snagging and grabbing from other titles now. I foresee this affecting the sales of this game big time....(PC Sales) -consoles always do well with the kidz) I mean its already a money grab series, most people who enjoyed the original ones, are not buying the new ones because of how stupid the gameplay now is... Also too, I am pretty sure that most people who want this game will be younger kids who want to play another Call Of Duty run n gun spray n pray game



All these perks/attachments/killing streaks are just lame, you don't need any actual skill to get first place, its basically who can out cheese the other player, this is the main reason I stopped playing. The original games actually took teamwork/skill

If only, they would just make a simplistic barebones shooter like the originals with a custom server browser.... I would buy it in a heartbeat. I foresee this affecting the sales of this game big time....(PC Sales) -consoles always do well with the kidz) I mean its already a money grab series, most people who enjoyed the original ones, are not buying the new ones because of how stupid the gameplay now is... Also too, I am pretty sure that most people who want this game will be younger kids who want to play another Call Of Duty run n gun spray n pray gameAll these perks/attachments/killing streaks are just lame, you don't need any actual skill to get first place, its basically who can out cheese the other player, this is the main reason I stopped playing. The original games actually took teamwork/skillIf only, they would just make a simplistic barebones shooter like the originals with a custom server browser.... I would buy it in a heartbeat. Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:34 Reply

#25 GhostRyder

W1zzard or have 16 GB RAM, which makes GTX 980 Ti work flawlessly I thought I read it stutters on the GTX 980ti but that disappears with the Titan X?



Oh I missed that bottom comment about 16gb of ram and the GTX 980ti working fine... Ok so we now have 6 Cards that can run it efficiently on Ultra. Jborg I foresee this affecting the sales of this game big time.... I mean its already a money grab series, most people who enjoyed the original ones, are not buying the new ones because of how stupid the gameplay now is... Also too, I am pretty sure that most people who want this game will be younger kids who want to play another Call Of Duty run n gun spray n pray game

All these perks/attachments/killing streaks are just lame, you don't need any actual skill to get first place, its basically who can out cheese the other player, this is the main reason I stopped playing. The original games actually took teamwork/skill

If only, they would just make a simplistic barebones shooter like the originals with a custom server browser.... I would buy it in a heartbeat. Eh yea, I actually like the Black Ops/WaW games just for the zombies personally as the multiplayer got to boring and pretty easy if you know the right ways to play it (Meaning right guns, positions, etc). I thought I read it stutters on the GTX 980ti but that disappears with the Titan X?Oh I missed that bottom comment about 16gb of ram and the GTX 980ti working fine... Ok so we now have 6 Cards that can run it efficiently on Ultra.Eh yea, I actually like the Black Ops/WaW games just for the zombies personally as the multiplayer got to boring and pretty easy if you know the right ways to play it (Meaning right guns, positions, etc). Posted on Nov 5th 2015, 19:35 Reply