RAM is one of the crucial part of the system which directly impacts its multitasking capability. Asystem with lower capacity RAMwill be slower compared to a system with higher capacity. So more RAM is better right?
Yes, but this does not mean that it’s best to install more RAM on a casual desktop PC. You also need to know that extra RAM is wasted RAM.
There’s a sweet spot for RAM capacity, depending on what you utilize the system for. Below is a quick answer to guide you:
These numbers only give you a quick insight into the RAM size needed for various tasks. For a more detailed understanding tailored to your specific needs and usage, continue reading through this article.
Before jumping into how much RAM you need, It is always a good idea to know how much RAM your system currently has and how much the system uses.
If the system constantly runs out of memory, you need more RAM, and it entirely depends on what you plan to do with the system. Besides, the OS you install in your system also plays a crucial role in determining how much RAM you need.
The latest version of Windows can take anywhere from 5 to 7 GB on idle. If you are planning to install Linux, it might consume anywhere from 500MB to 3 GB.
However, this number can entirely depend on how much memory is available. Here, I tested total RAM usage on two systems; one had 32 GB RAM, and the other had 8 GB. Both were running Windows 11 22H2 with thelatest Windows updatesand no background application running.
Total RAM usage might even be lower on a system with 4GB RAM.
Below I have discussed three cases, general usage, gaming, and heavy-rendering/video editing. Depending on the usage, here is what I recommend.
For General Usage (Light Multitasking)
For general usage, you do not need much RAM. General usage includes casual web browsing, some simple productivity applications like Word, or Excel, and even managing music or photos. These applications do not consume much memory.
If you are a casual user, you may install 8GB RAM with adecent multi-core processor. It will be more than enough as long as you do not plan to run the latest AAA game or perform 4K video editing.
You will even be able to do some light photos and 1080P video editing. However, if you are looking to utilize the system in the long run, I recommend that you go for at least16 GB RAM.
There was a time when 8GB was considered to be more than enough, even for gaming. But today, this is not true. The application uses a lot of memory compared to what it used to a couple of years ago. And the same thing will happen a few years down the line. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
