How much RAM do you need in a laptop?

Determining the specs for a new laptop (or a laptop upgrade) can be a delicate balancing act. You want to spend enough so you won’t be miserable in the future, but not so much that you don’t make use of all the hardware you get.

Memory (or RAM) is the perfect example of this. Your PC uses RAM to hold data temporarily: When you’re opening applications, working on large files in Photoshop, or even juggling dozens and dozens of browser tabs, that data is being stored in the system memory, not on your SSD or HDD. The more memory-intensive tasks you do, the more RAM you should have. It’ll keep your computer feeling fast and responsive.

Many laptop shoppers know this, but not exactly how much to get. So we’ve broken down what to expect from common RAM configurations, plus some tips at the end for purchase strategies.

2GB RAM

For modern Windows computers, 2GB of RAM will feel slow. You won’t be able to run many programs simultaneously, much less have more than a few browser tabs open at one time. These days, most Windows laptops come with 4GB as the baseline configuration, and for good reason.

(As for Apple laptops, they’ve long left even 4GB RAM behind as a baseline.)

If for some reason you encounter a laptop with only 2GB RAM—perhaps an older budget model being sold secondhand—it’s only worthwhile if you can immediately upgrade it to 4GB RAM or more. That means the laptop should have user-accessible SODIMM slots, ideally with one unpopulated so you can immediately drop in another module.

For Chromebooks, 2GB of RAM will still limit the number of browser tabs you can have open, but that amount is liveable. We recommend you buy a model with expandable memory (user-accessible SODIMM slots) so you can upgrade down the road.

4GB RAM

Budget shoppers can start with 4GB of RAM for a Windows laptop. Combined with an SSD for storage, you’ll get a responsive PC that handles the basics smoothly—e.g., having a few low-intensity programs plus a handful of browser tabs open all at the same. When possible, look for laptop models that have user-accessible RAM that can be upgraded. You can start with 4GB as your budget configuration then add more memory later as needed.

Chromebooks with 4GB RAM should handle a decent number of browser tabs easily, so when faced with the choice of more memory or a faster storage drive (i.e., an SSD instead of eMMC storage), pick the faster storage drive. It’ll make the ChromeOS experience smoother overall.

8GB RAM

Most people with a moderate budget ($500 or more) for a laptop should aim for at least 8GB RAM. We generally recommend this amount of memory for most people doing office work and other basic tasks, as well as gamers—especially if you’re looking at a model with soldered RAM and can’t upgrade it later. You should have enough capacity to comfortably see you through the machine’s lifetime.

As for Chromebooks, you typically only see 8GB RAM on the more luxe models. It’s not strictly necessary, but it will contribute to a highly responsive experience overall, as the other components in such systems tend to be on par with similar Windows laptops. The same applies for models with 16GB RAM, too.

16GB RAM

For people doing office work or gaming, 16GB of memory can be a hedge against future needs. Maybe you create simple spreadsheets in Excel now, but later you’ll be working on complex documents overflowing with data. Or perhaps you strictly play games at the moment, putting most of the load on your discrete GPU’s VRAM, but later might also juggle other programs and lots of browser tabs in the background. In laptops where you can’t later upgrade the memory, you’ll be more future-proofed.

However, for content creators (and people who keep dozens and dozens of tabs open in multiple browsers) 16GB is a starting place. Renders can gobble up memory, for example. If you anticipate that you could need more RAM down the road, look for laptop models that support user-serviced upgrades.

32GB and up

People considering more than 16GB of RAM should be actively using programs known for gobbling up system memory or requiring it for optimal performance—for example, video editors working on time-sensitive projects. Many professionals would often rather pay more money if it cuts down on the time it takes to finish tasks.

But what about high-end gamers, you ask? While some top-of-the-line gaming laptops come with 32GB of memory, that amount has little to do with gaming needs. The cynical might call it a way to justify expensive configurations; or you could see it as the laptop maker maximizing the specs across the board to create a bleeding-edge vibe.

How To Pick The Best RAM For Your PC Or Laptop?

If you’re buying RAM for the first time – or designing a PC – the language and variety of options might be daunting. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about picking the best RAM for your PC, making the most of your money, and maximising performance.

Picking the best RAM for your PC depends on many critical considerations, including what you intend to accomplish with it and with what other components you’ll use it. While buying a new PC, RAM may not be as exciting as other components. Still, it has the most significant impact on system performance after the processor and graphics card. If you don’t have enough memory or the type you choose isn’t fast enough, your CPU and storage will suffer, and you’ll have a disappointing experience. So, do you wish to upgrade your RAM? We’ll go over everything you need to know about picking the best RAM for your PC, making the most of your money, and maximising performance in this guide.

What do you understand by RAM?

Random Access Memory (RAM), or just memory as it’s more commonly known, is a super-fast form of volatile storage.

That is to say, it forgets whatever it has saved when the power is turned off. What distinguishes it from longer-term storage options such as hard drives and solid-state drives (SSD), which can keep your data for years at a time even when powered down. RAM is also physically distinct from other types of storage.

A PCB (printed circuit board) connected memory chip is the most cost-effective RAM. Pricier models have metallic heat spreaders and heatsinks for cooling, while some include LED lights and other aesthetic upgrades. Since it has a direct link to the motherboard, RAM is much faster than longer-term storage as it eliminates any latency caused by cables or headers. As a result, picking the best RAM can serve as a large cache for the most crucial data required by the CPU and other components.

It prevents the CPU from having to dip into slower, longer-term storage, which could cause system slowdowns, by offering high-speed access to everything your PC needs at a moment’s notice.

Why is RAM important for your PC?

We already know that it’s used to store essential data that the CPU or GPU needs to access rapidly. As a result, it is crucial for effective multitasking, such as keeping many programmes open simultaneously and running smoothly. In terms of gaming, it stores all of the necessary assets for the game to access quickly.

Important RAM Specs

Capacity: This is measured in gigabytes (GB). The more the capacity, the more data applications can store. More apps can constantly operate at a higher capacity, and games can store more temporary data.

Speed: Speed is measured in mega transfers per second (MT/s), but it is not the same as clock speed. Higher speed ratings indicate a quicker response time to read and write requests and hence better performance.

Choosing the right type of DDR

Modern RAM is DDR SDRAM, and over the last two decades, the computer has gone through four generations: DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4.

Most modern machines use fourth-generation DDR4, which became widely available in 2016. In the meantime, DDR3 memory and DDR3-compatible motherboards are still available, but DDR3 is rapidly becoming outdated

Without getting into the nitty-gritty details, let’s say that DDR4 is substantially quicker than DDR3 and is an improvement in almost every manner.

So if you’re looking forward to upgrading your RAM, you must know that DDR4 isn’t compatible with older motherboards and CPUs, and DDR3 isn’t compatible with newer ones. As a result, DDR4 will not work on an older DDR3-compatible motherboard, and DDR3 will not work on a newer DDR4-compatible motherboard.

RAM compatibility issues you should be aware of

Not all RAM is suitable for all systems. When evaluating a memory kit’s compatibility and choosing the best RAM while upgrading, keep the following in mind:

1. DDR Generation

DDR generation is crucial since older DDR memory will not function with newer generation DDR memory and vice versa. DDR3 memory cannot be used in a motherboard with DDR4 DIMM slots, and DDR4 memory cannot be used in a motherboard with DDR3 DIMM slots.

2. Motherboard DIMM Slots

When it comes to Motherboard DIMM slots, it’s also crucial to keep track of how many slots your motherboard contains. Some micro-ATX and mini-ITX motherboards only have two DIMM slots. So, a 4x4GB memory kit will not fit. In that case, you can have no more than two RAM sticks. As a result, ensure you don’t buy more RAM than your motherboard can support.

3. CPU Heatsink Clearance

Compatibility concerns with some CPU heatsinks have also been reported with specific memory kits. Air CPU coolers that are large and heavy dangle over DIMM slots. They can also hinder memory kits with tall heat spreaders from being installed in some cases. It’s a good idea to double-check that your air cooler won’t interfere with your RAM. If you choose a substantial, bulky air cooler and RAM with tall heat spreaders.

4. Form Factor

Another issue to consider is the RAM form factor. There are only two types of RAM available:

DIMM: desktop form factor

SO-DIMM: laptop form factor

All you need to know is that if you’re creating a new desktop PC or upgrading an existing one, you’ll want to use DIMM form-factor RAM rather than SO-DIMM RAM because desktop motherboards aren’t compatible with SO-DIMM memory.