Why 16GB RAM Should be the Minimum Standard for Desktop and Laptop Systems (2024)

FAQs

What is the benefit of 16GB RAM in laptop? ›

8GB RAM: Good for moderate multitasking, light gaming, and basic photo/video editing. 16GB RAM: Ideal for heavy multitasking, advanced gaming, and professional-level content creation. 32GB RAM and above: Best for high-end gaming, professional video editing, 3D rendering, and other demanding tasks.

16GB of RAM is the amount of memory we recommend for intermediate users looking for extra speed and smooth functioning. This may be especially beneficial if you tend to have several programs open and running, simultaneously. This is also a good level of RAM for casual gamers and standard business professionals.

Hardier applications such as gaming or video editing will likely require 16GB of RAM for optimal performance. If you plan on doing more intensive tasks such as media streaming and photo editing, higher amounts of RAM – up to 32 GB – are recommended.

16 is the minimum now for most users, unless you have really simple needs then you can get away with 8GB. Even basic users should have 16GB. I monitor PCs at work and constantly see excessive memory usage on computers with only 8GB of RAM.

While some people might be able to use 8GB to play a few older games, 16GB will definitely improve your gaming experience if you like to play more modern games.

In the ever-evolving tech landscape, 16GB RAM strikes the perfect balance. It's not excessive, nor is it lacking. So, whether you're building a gaming rig, a creative workstation, or an everyday laptop, consider 16GB as your baseline. Your computer will thank you with smoother operations and fewer hiccups.

16 GB RAM will stay for maybe 50 years or more; it depends on the application you using; if we're talking gaming, well, 16 GB nowadays is struggling, if you using browsing or video streaming, 16GB is overkill, it means more than enough; if you're using databases application adding millions of records with another ...

Increasing the amount of RAM in a PC can significantly enhance its performance. This includes faster boot-up and shutdown times, as well as smoother program launches and task executions. When your computer has more RAM, it can run programs much faster than before, even if it is just one program.

8GB vs 16GB RAM: Which is Better? Whether you opt for 8GB or 16GB of RAM basically boils down to how much multi-tasking and heavy-duty tasks you throw at your system. You're good with 8GB of RAM if you tend to use one program at a time. However, 8GB of RAM will struggle when trying to juggle multiple programs at once.

Voracious gamers and movie/TV watchers will want to go for 500 GB. Heavy: 500 GB is the bare minimum for people who play current games, download high-definition movies and series, and do other heavy lifting on their laptops. A better bet is to invest in a 1 TB hard drive when buying a new laptop.

Can I upgrade my laptop RAM from 4GB to 16GB? ›

Most of the laptops usually have an extra RAM slot where you can plug the extra RAM module. If you don't have an extra RAM slot, you can remove the existing RAM and replace it with a higher capacity RAM.

You can check the motherboard documentation and find the specifications section. Once you've located the specifications section, you should be able to see the maximum amount of system memory that can be installed and the number of available slots on your motherboard. Don't worry if you've chucked your manuals.

A minimum of 2 gigabytes (GB) is required for basic computing, and 12GB or more is recommended if you're into graphics and advanced photo or video editing. Most laptops have 4GB–12GB pre-installed, and some have up to 64GB. If you think you might need more memory later, choose a model that lets you expand the RAM.

For laptops: A speed of 1.6 GHz to 2.5 GHz is good for basic tasks. Most laptops on the market are equipped with dual core processors, which are suitable for everyday users. 2.5 GHz to 3.5 GHz is suitable for most users, including light gamers.

For tasks like web browsing, office work, and media consumption, 16GB is likely to remain adequate for several years. However, if you plan on using your computer for more demanding tasks or over the long term, consider higher RAM amounts for potential future software requirements.

It gives you plenty of memory for most modern games, enough to run plenty of web browsing tabs at the same time, and you can even run demanding apps like video editing suites. You might want more, you might get away with less, but if you're unsure how much RAM you need, 16GB is a good figure to target.

However, as a general guideline, professionals typically require a minimum of 32GB of RAM to handle the demands of their workloads efficiently. Having 32GB (or more) allows professionals to work with multiple resource-intensive programs simultaneously without running out of memory or experience significant slowdowns.

Most people would struggle to use up 16GB RAM, but for creative professionals who need to render large files and use complex software, 32GB should be considered.