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How much RAM does a laptop need?
In This Article
There are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing a laptop, including how much RAM you will need.
RAM, or Random Access Memory, isn’t one of the most important specs to consider these days, but it’s still important to get the right amount according to your workload.
That’s why we’re here to break down RAM and how much of it a laptop will need, depending on its use case.
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How much RAM does a laptop need?
In general, most basic laptops come with 8GB of RAM. We would recommend that most people aim for 8GB, as it will provide a smooth performance during basic tasks like web browsing and sending emails.
8GB should also be more than enough for a majority of office workers, so you probably won’t need to worry about upgrading the RAM at checkout if you plan on sticking to day-to-day tasks and applications.
Do any laptops have less than 8GB RAM?
Yes, some laptops will come with less than 8GB RAM, though it is not that common. Generally, Chromebooks are the main laptops that come with 4GB RAM, with theAcer Chromebook 314being a great example.
Again, we’d always recommend aiming for 8GB of RAM where possible, but 4GB of RAM can still provide a decent performance for Chromebook laptops. That said, you’ll likely notice slowdown when multitasking or having multiple web browser windows open simultaneously.
Do I need more than 8GB RAM?
Most people should be fine with 8GB of RAM, as you don’t really need more when carrying out simple tasks such as having multiple web browser windows open simultaneously.
But if you are looking to engage in more intensive work on your laptop, such as gaming or content creation, you will want to look for more than 8GB. As you can imagine, loading up huge in-game worlds or creating complex animations will require a greater capacity of memory to ensure a smooth performance.
As a result, we suggesting having 16GB of RAM as an ideal starting place for such workloads. But it is important to note that RAM can get quickly eaten up by renders and video, meaning that 16GB may not be enough for certain games and tasks.
In that case, you can find laptops that pack over 32GB of RAM, with theApple MacBook Pro 16-inchlaptop being configurable up to 32GB when paired with theM1 Maxchipset. TheMacBook Pro 14-inchalso goes up to 32GB, since both laptops have been designed for intensive creative workloads.
In terms of video games, it’s always worth checking the minimum requirements of a game. Generally, you won’t need to look for a gaming laptop that goes over 16GB, with the likes ofElden Ringdeeming that enough memory. Instead, you’re better off focusing your money on improving theCPUorGPU.
Generally, the likes of the CPU and GPU are more important considerations for performance, as they can not only avoid bottlenecks, but also improve the frame-rate performance substantially. Nevertheless, it’s still important to take note of how much RAM your laptop has before purchasing, to ensure that you get the best experience.
If you want more tips on buying a new laptop, check out our article onhow much battery a laptop needs, as well aswhat laptops are Intel Evo. You can also see ourbest list of laptopsfor this year, for an overall gauge of which high-quality laptops are currently available.
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Gemma joined Trusted Reviews as a staff writer after graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a Journalism degree. She’s worked with national outlets, covering breaking news stories to reviews fo…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
