Introduction
Welcome to this guide on how to allocate more RAM to ARK. If you’re an avid ARK: Survival Evolved player, you may have encountered performance issues or lag while playing the game. These issues can often be attributed to insufficient RAM allocation, which can lead to slower loading times, frequent crashes, or overall poor gameplay experience.
ARK: Survival Evolved is an open-world survival game that features a vast, immersive environment filled with dinosaurs, primitive creatures, and other players. The game’s demanding graphics and complex mechanics require a decent amount of RAM to run smoothly. By allocating more RAM to ARK, you can optimize the game’s performance and enhance your gaming experience.
In this guide, we will explore various methods to allocate more RAM to ARK. Whether you purchased the game through the Steam platform or the Epic Games Launcher, we’ll cover the steps you need to follow to increase your RAM allocation. Additionally, we’ll delve into manual configuration file tweaks for advanced users who want more control over their game settings.
Please note that the methods mentioned in this guide are specific to PC gaming and may not be applicable to other platforms. It’s also important to keep in mind that allocating additional RAM to ARK may have an impact on your system’s overall performance, so it’s recommended to have sufficient available RAM before making any adjustments.
Now that we have a better understanding of the importance of RAM allocation in ARK: Survival Evolved, let’s begin exploring the methods to increase your game’s performance. Follow the steps provided in the upcoming sections, and you’ll be on your way to smoother gameplay and fewer performance issues.
Why Allocate More RAM to ARK?
Allocating more RAM to ARK is crucial for improving the performance and overall gaming experience. Here are a few reasons why increasing RAM allocation can have a significant impact:
1. Enhanced Game Stability: ARK: Survival Evolved is a resource-intensive game, and insufficient RAM allocation can lead to frequent crashes and instability. By allocating more RAM, you provide the game with the necessary resources to run smoothly, reducing the likelihood of crashes and improving overall game stability.
2. Reduced Loading Times: Insufficient RAM allocation can result in longer loading times when transitioning between different areas in the game. By allocating more RAM, you can significantly reduce loading times, ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted gameplay experience.
3. Smoother Gameplay: High RAM usage can often lead to lag and stuttering during gameplay, making it difficult to enjoy the game to its fullest. By allocating more RAM, you provide the game with the necessary resources to handle complex calculations, rendering, and AI behavior, resulting in smoother gameplay and improved responsiveness.
4. Modded Gameplay: Many ARK players enjoy using mods to enhance their gaming experience. However, mods can increase the game’s RAM requirements. By allocating more RAM, you allow the game to handle the additional resources required by mods, preventing potential performance issues or crashes.
5. Future-Proofing Your System: As game updates and expansions are released, the RAM requirements of ARK may increase. By allocating more RAM now, you future-proof your system, ensuring that it can handle the game’s evolving demands without experiencing performance bottlenecks.
These are just a few reasons why allocating more RAM to ARK can greatly enhance your overall gaming experience. The upcoming sections will outline the steps to increase RAM allocation in different scenarios, depending on whether you purchased the game through Steam or the Epic Games Launcher. Additionally, we’ll explore manual configuration file tweaks for those who prefer a more advanced approach.
Checking Your Current RAM Allocation
Before you proceed with allocating more RAM to ARK, it’s important to determine your current RAM allocation. Here are a few methods you can use to check your current RAM usage:
1. Task Manager (Windows): On Windows devices, you can use the Task Manager to monitor your system’s memory usage. To open Task Manager, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager.” In the Task Manager window, navigate to the “Performance” tab and click on “Memory.” Here, you can see the total amount of RAM installed on your system, as well as the current usage.
2. Activity Monitor (Mac): For Mac users, the Activity Monitor provides similar functionality to the Task Manager on Windows. To open the Activity Monitor, press Command + Spacebar to launch Spotlight, type in “Activity Monitor,” and press Enter. In the Activity Monitor window, click on the “Memory” tab to view the current RAM usage.
3. System Information: Another way to check your current RAM allocation is through the system information utility provided by your operating system. On Windows, you can access this utility by pressing the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, typing in “msinfo32,” and pressing Enter. In the System Information window, navigate to the “System Summary” section, where you can find information about your installed physical memory. On Mac, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select “About This Mac,” and then click on the “Memory” tab.
By checking your current RAM allocation, you can determine how much additional RAM you may need to allocate to ARK. It’s important to ensure that you have sufficient available RAM before making any adjustments to avoid impacting system performance negatively. Once you’ve verified your current RAM usage, you can proceed to the next sections, where we’ll guide you through the process of allocating more RAM to ARK, based on the platform you’re using.
Allocating More RAM in Steam
If you purchased ARK: Survival Evolved through the Steam platform, you can allocate more RAM to the game by following these steps:
1. Launch Steam: Open the Steam client on your computer and sign in to your account.
2. Navigate to ARK’s Properties: Right-click on ARK: Survival Evolved in your library and select “Properties” from the dropdown menu.
3. Access the Launch Options: In the Properties window, click on the “General” tab and select the “Set Launch Options” button.
4. Allocate More RAM: In the Launch Options dialog box, type -sm4 -d3d10 -nomansky -lowmemory -USEALLAVAILABLECORES -nomemorybias -poolsize:xxxxx, replacing xxxxx with the desired amount of RAM to be allocated in megabytes. For example, if you want to allocate 8 gigabytes (8192 megabytes) of RAM, use -poolsize:8192. It’s recommended to allocate a reasonable amount of RAM that suits your system’s capabilities.
5. Save and Launch: Click on the “OK” button to save the launch options. Launch ARK: Survival Evolved, and the allocated RAM will take effect.
By following these steps and allocating more RAM through the Steam launch options, you can optimize ARK’s performance and ensure a smoother gaming experience.
Please note that modifying launch options incorrectly can lead to issues with the game or your system. Therefore, it’s essential to exercise caution and only make changes if you are confident in what you are doing. If you encounter any problems, you can remove the launch options by following the same steps and leaving the launch options field blank.
Now that you’ve successfully allocated more RAM to ARK through Steam, let’s proceed to the next section, which covers allocating more RAM if you purchased the game through the Epic Games Launcher.
Allocating More RAM in Epic Games Launcher
If you acquired ARK: Survival Evolved through the Epic Games Launcher, you can allocate more RAM to the game by following these steps:
1. Launch the Epic Games Launcher: Open the Epic Games Launcher on your computer and sign in to your account.
2. Select ARK: Survival Evolved: In your library, find ARK: Survival Evolved and click on it to open the game’s details page.
3. Access the Options: On the game’s details page, click on the “Settings” button located below the game’s title.
4. Modify the Start Command: In the Options panel, scroll down until you find the “Additional Command Line Arguments” section. In the text field provided, enter -sm4 -d3d10 -nomansky -lowmemory -USEALLAVAILABLECORES -nomemorybias -poolsize=xxxxx, replacing xxxxx with the desired amount of RAM to be allocated in megabytes. For instance, if you want to allocate 8 gigabytes (8192 megabytes) of RAM, use -poolsize=8192.
5. Save and Launch: Click on the “Save” button to apply the changes. Launch ARK: Survival Evolved from the Epic Games Launcher, and the allocated RAM will take effect.
By following these steps and modifying the start command in the Epic Games Launcher, you can allocate more RAM and enhance the performance of ARK: Survival Evolved.
It’s important to note that modifying start commands should be done with caution, as incorrect changes can lead to issues with the game or your system. If you encounter any problems, you can remove the additional command line arguments by following the same steps and deleting the contents of the text field in the Options panel.
Now that you’ve successfully allocated more RAM to ARK using the Epic Games Launcher, let’s move on to the next section, which covers allocating more RAM by modifying the game’s configuration files.
Allocating More RAM in ARK Configuration Files
If you want more control over the RAM allocation in ARK: Survival Evolved, you can make manual adjustments to the game’s configuration files. Please note that this method requires a basic understanding of file editing, and any modifications should be made with caution.
Here’s how you can allocate more RAM in ARK configuration files:
1. Locate the Configuration Files: The configuration files for ARK can be found in the game’s installation directory. The default installation directory varies depending on the platform:
- Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor
- Mac: /Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/Epic/ARK/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/MacNoEditor
2. Open the GameUserSettings.ini File: In the “WindowsNoEditor” or “MacNoEditor” folder, look for the file named “GameUserSettings.ini” and open it with a text editor of your choice.
3. Modify the RAM Allocation: Within the GameUserSettings.ini file, search for the line that begins with “[/script/shootergame.shootergamemode]”. Just below that line, add the following code:
[/script/engine.engine] bUseMallocProfiler=False bUseBackgroundLevelStreaming=False
Below the code you added, find the line that starts with “MemoryMargin=” and change its value to the desired amount of RAM you want to allocate. Specify the amount in kilobytes (KB). For example, to allocate 8 gigabytes (8192 megabytes), set the value to:
MemoryMargin=8388608
4. Save the Changes: Save the GameUserSettings.ini file after making the modifications.
By adjusting the RAM allocation within the configuration files, you have more precise control over how much memory ARK: Survival Evolved utilizes. Keep in mind that modifying configuration files incorrectly can lead to unforeseen issues with the game, so it’s advisable to create a backup of the original file before making any changes.
Now that you’ve learned how to allocate more RAM in ARK configuration files, you can fine-tune the game’s performance based on your system’s capabilities. In the next section, we’ll provide additional tips and considerations to optimize your gaming experience even further.
Additional Tips and Considerations
When allocating more RAM to ARK: Survival Evolved, it’s essential to consider a few additional tips and factors that can further optimize your gaming experience. Here are some considerations to keep in mind:
1. System Requirements: Ensure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for ARK: Survival Evolved. Allocating more RAM may improve performance, but if your hardware does not meet the game’s requirements, you may still encounter issues.
2. Available RAM: Before allocating more RAM to ARK, ensure that you have sufficient available RAM on your system. Allocating too much RAM could impact system performance and cause instability.
3. RAM Management: Close any unnecessary programs or background processes that are consuming a significant amount of RAM. This will free up additional resources for ARK and improve overall performance.
4. Game Settings: Adjusting in-game settings such as graphics quality, draw distance, and shadow detail can also help improve performance. Experiment with different settings to find the right balance between performance and visual quality.
5. Mod Usage: If you use mods in ARK: Survival Evolved, be aware that some mods may have higher RAM requirements. Consider the impact of mods on your RAM allocation and adjust accordingly.
6. System Updates: Keep your operating system, graphics drivers, and game client updated to ensure compatibility and access to the latest performance optimizations.
7. Test and Monitor: After allocating more RAM, play the game and monitor its performance. Keep an eye on factors like loading times, stability, and overall gameplay experience. If you encounter any issues, consider adjusting the allocated RAM accordingly.
By keeping these additional tips and considerations in mind, you can fine-tune your ARK: Survival Evolved experience and optimize performance based on your system’s capabilities.
With the knowledge gained from this guide, you’re now equipped to allocate more RAM to ARK: Survival Evolved, whether you purchased the game through Steam or the Epic Games Launcher. Remember to exercise caution when making changes and always be mindful of your system’s resources.
Now, it’s time to embark on your improved ARK journey with smoother gameplay, reduced loading times, and enhanced stability!
Conclusion
Allocating more RAM to ARK: Survival Evolved is a crucial step in optimizing the game’s performance and enhancing your overall gaming experience. By increasing the amount of RAM dedicated to the game, you can reduce lag, improve stability, shorten loading times, and ensure smoother gameplay.
In this guide, we explored various methods for allocating more RAM to ARK. Whether you purchased the game through Steam or the Epic Games Launcher, we provided step-by-step instructions on how to modify the launch options or configuration files to increase RAM allocation. Additionally, we offered additional tips and considerations to help you optimize your gaming experience further.
However, it’s important to note that allocating more RAM should be done with caution. Make sure that your system meets the minimum system requirements, and allocate a reasonable amount of RAM that suits your system’s capabilities. Monitor performance after making changes and adjust as necessary.
Remember to keep your system updated, close unnecessary background processes, and experiment with game settings to find the right balance between performance and visual quality. It’s also important to consider the impact of mods on your RAM allocation if you use them.
With the knowledge and tools provided in this guide, you now have the ability to optimize ARK: Survival Evolved and make the most out of your gaming experience. Enjoy exploring the vast world full of dinosaurs, creatures, and challenges with smoother gameplay and improved performance!
