How much RAM do I need? Here's how to know

How much RAM do I need? Hither's how to know

(Prototype credit: Shutterstock)

RAM, or random access memory, is i of the virtually vital components of the best laptops and the best computers. Where hard deejay bulldoze (HDD) or solid-state bulldoze (SSD) storage tin be considered your PC'south long-term retentivity, RAM is its brusque-term retentiveness.

RAM keeps track of apps running in the groundwork and lets you lot apace jump back to where you left off. Without enough RAM, your PC will be slow to respond — especially if you have multiple tabs open at once.

RAM size usually ranges between 2GB and 64GB. How much RAM y'all need depends on what you lot intend to apply your PC for. Watching YouTube videos or browsing the internet doesn't crave a lot of RAM. Conversely, you'll need a good for you dose of retentiveness when playing graphically-enervating video games or rendering 4K videos. So while almost people don't need a boatload of RAM for day-to-day computing, others certainly do.

So how much RAM practice you need? A practiced rule of thumb is to have more than you demand -- merely not likewise much more. RAM tin can get expensive, and so you don't want to spend more coin than you have to. More RAM doesn't necessarily mean your PC will run faster (in most cases). Though information technology may seem daunting, knowing how much retention you demand isn't difficult to figure out.

Below, we'll detail how much RAM you need for desktops and laptops.

How much RAM you need for basic computing: 8 GB

A pair of RAM sticks — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

When it comes to everyday computing tasks like browsing the web, watching streaming content or using word processors, 8GB of RAM is the bare minimum you'll desire. This amount of memory should let you to take multiple tabs open and let you switch betwixt them without significant performance deposition. You tin even become abroad with some light photo or video editing with 8GB of RAM, though you'd likely be in for some lengthy load times.

Gaming with only 8GB of RAM in your system can exist a dicey suggestion. Yes, there are many games – including modern titles – that run perfectly fine with 8GB of memory. Simply if you want to play something demanding like The Division 2, which requires 11.3GB of RAM, 8GB simply won't cut it. You're better off streaming games from services like GeForce Now or Xbox Game Laissez passer on PC if you only have 8GB of RAM.

How much RAM most people need: 16 GB

16GB is what I personally recommend to anyone asking how much RAM they need. Why? Because this corporeality of memory gives people enough headroom for standard tasks and is well-suited for modern games. Even if you have multiple open up tabs while playing a resources-intensive championship, 16GB won't concur you back. Apprentice creatives using programs like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere Pro can get abroad with 16GB of memory, but professionals will probably desire more.

My rig packs 32GB of RAM and I've nonetheless to utilize more than 16GB of it at one time. Granted, the most I exercise is play games while keeping a couple of tabs open, only that'southward fairly standard for most people. Not many folks are playing games while simultaneously browsing 30 sites and watching Netflix. If yous want a good amount of headroom for gaming and average productivity, y'all can't go wrong with 16GB of RAM.

How much RAM pros and gamers need: 32 GB or more

RAM stick on a red background — (Paradigm credit: Shutterstock)

I accept 32GB of memory in my PC only I'll exist the first to tell you that it's borderline overkill. As I said, I've barely used 16GB of RAM even when playing graphically intense games like God of War on PC. Then what the heck could you possibly need 32GB of RAM for?

If you're using one of the best video editing software programs like Premiere Pro to edit and render 4K videos, yous'll want 32GB of RAM at a minimum. The same is true for recording and editing audio and photograph editing in Photoshop, especially if you accept multiple files open at once. Some professionals (like 3D animators or game developers) may fifty-fifty want 64GB of memory, though these are admittedly specialized fields. Unless you're editing an unabridged moving picture or creating a game using Unreal Engine 5, you lot don't need 32GB of memory.

What about VRAM?

In add-on to standard RAM, there is likewise VRAM. VRAM (video random admission retentiveness) stores graphics information and is located on your graphics bill of fare. VRAM acts as a buffer between the CPU and display for rendered images. Video games and 3D graphic design programs benefit almost from VRAM. If y'all're planning on playing resource-intensive games or creating your ain video games, y'all'll need a practiced amount of VRAM.

Every bit with standard RAM, you lot tin can all but ignore graphics cards with 4GB of VRAM unless you programme on playing older games. 8GB of VRAM is practiced, merely 12GB is even better. My 3080 Ti GPU has 12GB of VRAM and that amount allows me to enable or max out well-nigh every graphical setting within an individual game. Most of the titles I play eat up between 6GB of VRAM with all graphics settings turned on, so 12GB gives me plenty of headroom.

Go along in mind that you tin't upgrade VRAM equally hands equally you lot can upgrade regular RAM. If you want more VRAM, the easiest way is to buy a graphics card with more memory. Nonetheless, that tin get plush. One method you tin can try before going tht road is to enter your PC's BIOS settings and see if you can increment the corporeality of VRAM that gets distributed to the GPU, which can effectively add more VRAM without the need to purchase an entirely new graphics card.

How much RAM do y'all need?

RAM sticks sitting in their slots on a motherboard — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

In summary, 16GB of RAM is what I consider the sweet spot for how much memory you should take in your computer. That corporeality of RAM will allow you to perform everyday computing tasks and play demanding games without a trouble. 16GB of RAM also won't price every bit much every bit 32GB or 64GB of memory.

If you're edifice a PC for the first time, I advise ownership a motherboard with at least iv or more RAM slots. This manner, you tin can start with, say 8GB of memory, and purchase additional retentiveness as needed. I think information technology's all-time to beginning off with the amount of RAM you'll need from the jump, just your budget may not currently allow for that. With that said, upgrading RAM is adequately easy fifty-fifty for novice PC builders, so it'south okay if y'all want to showtime off with 8GB and upgrade later on.

Tony is a calculating writer at Tom'southward Guide roofing laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and diverse independent gaming sites.