That adds up over time, and if you don’t have enough RAM to go around, the applications you’re using will severely slow down. As you open programs, it stores data that they need access to quickly in system memory.ĭifferent programs require different amounts of RAM (we’ll detail a few intensive applications next), but regardless of the application, it’s likely to use at least a little bit of RAM. Instead of a large amount of slow storage - like you’d find on a mechanical hard drive - RAM is a small amount of extremely fast storage. RAM is the same thing, technically, but it serves a very different purpose. Sometimes even manufacturers or retailers will mix up the terms. Memory capacity is often confused with the long-term storage offered by a solid-state or mechanical hard drive. Buy what you actually need, and spend the remaining budget on more important components like the CPU or graphics card. Remember, buying more RAM than you need doesn’t net you any performance benefit - it’s effectively wasted money.

Engineers, professional A/V editors, and similar types need to start here and go higher if needed.

64GB and more: For enthusiasts and purpose-built workstations only.

Gamers can enjoy a small performance improvement in some demanding games, too.

32GB: This is the sweet spot for professionals.

16GB: Excellent for Windows and MacOS systems and also good for gaming, especially if it is fast RAM.

This is fine for basic Windows gaming at lower settings, but rapidly runs out of steam.

8GB: Typically installed in entry-level notebooks.

4GB: Low-end Chromebooks and some tablets come with 4GB of RAM, but it’s only worth considering if you’re on an extreme budget.

In a nutshell, here are some simple guidelines that apply to most PCs and Macs: Overview: How much RAM do you need? ian woolcock/Shutterstock Nvidia RTX DLSS: everything you need to know USB-C charging laptops: Here’s what you need to know

Surface 8gb vs 16gb