It is common for game players to experience computer lagging when they play games. Sometimes, it can also be emulator lagging. And this isn’t going to be an enjoyable experience. And these lags might happen due to various reasons. So the defects in the allocation of RAM and CPU for your emulator are the most common issue. So this guide intends to provide you with detailed instructions to understand how to configure your emulator’s RAM and CPU.
What is Emulation?
Before getting deep into the topic, you must know what emulation is. Emulation is done through an emulator program (there are multiple emulators from which you can choose). And once you install such an emulator on your computer, it imitates the video game console’s behavior. It is simply like a translator to the PC. The benefit of this emulation is that it saves you from buying expensive software and hardware. The reason is emulators provide you with an alternative to function consoles that don’t have permission to run on your PC. One of the primary uses of emulation is playing games. And there are many other uses too.
What is the effect of RAM and CPU allocation on Emulator Performance?
RAM and CPU allocation decide the number of resources allowed for emulation on your computer. Accordingly, if you have more RAM and CPU, more RAM and CPU go for emulation. As a result, you won’t experience lag as your computer resources allow you to share a smooth gaming experience.
How to allocate RAM and CPU properly for an emulator
Since there are different kinds of emulators, the methods of configuring RAM and CPU also vary. Therefore, we will use three emulators to show you how to do this.
Configuring RAM and CPU on LDPlayer
This procedure isn’t complex. However, before performing this step, you should understand the RAM capacity and CPU usage you want. And you can decide it depending on the game you will play. The following are the steps you need to follow.
- Go to Settings-> Advanced Settings>> Right-click your cursor both on ‘RAM’ and ‘CPU’.
- Next, select the amount of RAM and CPU usage.
- To save these changes, click ‘Save.’
With that step, you have completed the RAM and CPU configuration for your LDPlayer.
Configuring RAM and CPU on BlueStacks 5
By allocating the correct amount of RAM and CPU, you can get rid of lagging issues when you play games. Here are the steps to configure RAM and CPU properly for BlueStacks 5.
- First, open BlueStacks 5 and click the gear icon. You can find that icon on the side toolbar.
- Next, you will see CPU allocation and Memory allocation on Settings.
- From there, you can select the number that is suitable for you. (Remember, you must enable the virtualization on your computer. That is for the allocation of more cores to this emulator.)
- We advise you to select something other than the custom option, as it will allocate all the CPU cores on your computer.
- After the changes, to save, click save changes.
- Finally, you might be asked to restart BlueStacks 5 to apply the changes you made.
When Do You Need More RAM and CPU Allocation for Emulator?
Undoubtedly, the more you have RAM space and CPU cores, the higher the computer performance. However, extreme allocation of RAM and CPU can also cause lagging. The reason is that an emulator takes a significant portion of computer resources. We suggest you go for this allocation procedure only when playing those high-demanding games. However, if you have a super-configured computer, you don’t have to worry about this.
When Do You Need Low RAM and CPU Allocation for Emulator?
The typical setting for playing most games is CPU 2 cores and RAM 2048M. And you shouldn’t allocate a higher amount of CPU or RAM for low-demanding games. The aforementioned standard amount is enough to run most of the games. And it doesn’t exhaust too many computer resources.
Moreover, when you run other software along with your emulator, try setting a lower configuration of RAM and CPU. That will help you to save necessary computer resources to power other running software.
Special note-: Remember that the number of your computer’s CPU cores is similar to the maximum number of CPU cores for an emulator. But when it comes to the RAM capacity, it is half of the computer’s RAM space. Therefore, before you configure RAM and CPU for the emulator, you must inspect your computer’s configuration.
Which CPU is best for Emulation?
You must know that emulation can drain your CPU. Moreover, if you intend to build your PC for this purpose, the CPU plays a crucial role. And if your CPU doesn’t suit your requirements, you cannot emulate using such a CPU. So if you expect a higher emulation performance, Intel Core i5 2500K and 4670K or above are the most suitable CPUs.
The following is a list of several best CPUs that suit emulation.
- Intel Core i7
- AMD Ryzen 7
- AMD Ryzen 3
And CPU is vital in emulation because you cannot play games directly on your PC. Typically, it would be best if you got a console for your game to run without any problem. As a result, your PC must interpret many instructions to make your game run smoothly.
So for that, your computer CPU performs a responsible task. Therefore, the CPU is vital for emulation.
Moreover, the average amount of CPU cores expected is 2. But there can be exceptional situations where the CPU needs eight seats.
Is RAM Important for emulation?
Yes. RAM should be on the priority list when you talk about emulation. In gaming, RAM is vital for shaders, other graphic properties, save-relevant properties, and preloading functions. Accordingly, the average amount of RAM that we recommend is 2GB. Remember, this is the minimum. For better performance, we recommend 8GB RAM.
And if you want to allocate more space from your RAM,
- Tools -> Android -> AVD Manager
- Then go to Advanced Settings
- There you have the option to change the RAM size you want.
Moreover, people often ask whether more RAM means better emulation. Unfortunately, the answer is no. the reason is that when you increase this RAM amount in your emulator, the same amount of space decreases from your Windows working. For example, let’s assume that there is 4GB RAM. And we allocate 1GB for emulation. Then your PC is left with 3GB to function. If the RAM allocation for your PC gets lower, your PC won’t work fast.
So, if you find any lagging while playing games, it can be because your PC is slow. That can be a result of the high allocation of RAM for emulation.
Final Words
Thus, it would be best if you understood that the configuration of RAM and CPU for an emulator doesn’t mean you have to allocate a maximum of amounts. What is required is to give RAM and CPU reasonably for the emulator. That won’t put you in trouble, especially when you play games. And when you play high-demanding games, you might need to allocate a higher amount of RAM and CPU. But for low-demanding games, a low amount is enough.