Today, 16GB is the sweet spot between price and capacity for most enthusiasts and gamers. Can't Buy AMD's Radeon RX 6000 or Ryzen 5000? Most PC games use a fair amount of memory. This article explains what high memory usage is and how to check it. If you edit photos, 8GB RAM allows you to edit 10+ photos at one time. NY 10036. You can do plenty of productivity work without swapping out to … Is 8GB RAM Enough? Over the years, the need for more RAM in general has of course increased. Some users on the productivity side of things who manipulate large files, or more than one at once, should consider 32GB or more. As a fresh man in IT field, she is curious about computer knowledge and learns it crazily. Even with The Division 2 using 11 GB (system total), keeping a browser up with 14 tabs, using MS Word, and streaming Twitch in the background, I used around 14 GB. Using 16GB, most users are able to leave the tasks they are working on up and running and play a game or do extra work without eclipsing that mark and paging out, potentially creating a negative user experience. For most people the answer is going to be “No” to both of those questions. And you can find a 32GB kit for less than $230, which used to sell for well over $300. If you just do some basic work like editing documents, 8GB is fine and supports multitasking. But outside of those kinds of use cases, most of us can get by just fine with 16GB. If you are using Windows, you should figure out two things: (a). If your PC is 32-bit, RAM size beyond 4GB would be of no use to it since it would not access it. Unless you’re refurbishing an old computer for the kids or you’re buying a Chromebook, 8GB is the bare minimum for most people. Today that value can be eclipsed just by running a single game, some heavy rendering, or even through just browsing the web with several tabs open. Blame Apple and Consoles. You will receive a verification email shortly. By Linda | Follow | Last Updated March 17, 2020. Tom's Hardware is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 4. 8GB RAM. A few years ago, PC users were able to get away with 8GB for typical use, including gaming. If you're serious about your PC, then I consider this … While there are some users who can easily get away with using 8GB of RAM, if you play modern games and / or are doing some demanding productivity work 16GB is preferred. This is getting close to the 16 GB limit, but how often are you really leaving all your work open and playing a game? In most cases, for anyone asking this question, 8GB of RAM would be enough for surfing the internet, checking emails and working with documents. Only 64-bit OS can use RAM beyond 4GB. Windows 10 High Memory Usage [Causes and Solutions] - MiniTool, What Is the Difference Between 32 Bit and 64 Bit (x86 vs x64). (b). You can do plenty of productivity work without swapping out to the page file, but if you plan on running something memory intensive and doing another task at the same time, you could end up exceeding your limit. A 16GB (2 x 8 GB) pack of G.Skill TridentZ DDR4 RAM that cost around $215 a year ago is $100 cheaper today. Then, you will see System type information. The smartest move, if you have a full-size ATX board with four or more RAM slots, might be to stick with 16GB in a dual-DIMM setup for now if you can get by, and see how much more memory prices fall. So, how much RAM do you need? In 2020, whether 8GB is enough also depends that. Compared to a few years ago, app's features are more powerful and perfect, but they are allocating and using more RAM. 8GB of RAM is fine for those who stick to basic productivity, or those who aren’t playing modern games. What work does 8GB RAM can deal with? A system with four sticks installed may not clock as high as a dual-DIMM setup, but if you can actually make use of that extra memory, having twice as much will be far more beneficial than having half as much that runs a bit slower. Applications are eating more and more RAM. Even the low-end 6.6GB is too close for comfort to pegging 8GB capacity, given the overhead for the OS. MORE: DDR DRAM FAQs And Troubleshooting Guide. But 8GB is not enough for running both of them. When, CPU processes data, it will transfer the data into the RAM for operation. Let’s look at what you can do with different amounts of memory. That amount gives you the headroom to do a couple of things at once, without having to close tabs or applications to exceed your available RAM. But how much memory do you really need, 8, 16 or 32GB? (b). People will say it’s enough, but my 2018 mini came with 8gb and I found it painful to use for similar usage. A few years back, PC users were able to get away with 8GB for typical use, including gaming. For example, a 16GB (2 x 8 GB) pack of G.Skill TridentZ DDR4 RAM that cost around $215 a year ago is $100 cheaper today. It depends on what kind of software you run and use on your PC. The OS is 32-bit or 64-bit? The problem is how much RAM do you need? Cyber Monday deals: see all the best offers right now! The OS is 32-bit or 64-bit? It also gives 11 methods to fix Windows 10 high memory usage caused by most common reasons. In 2020, whether 8GB is enough also depends that. With app complexity increasing, programs tend to use more RAM. People who do coding or computer design professionally and can actually benefit from additional RAM already know the answer. And you can find a 32GB kit for less than $230, which used to sell for well over $300. There was a problem. Get instant access to breaking news, in-depth reviews and helpful tips. In this post, MiniTool will explain these questions to you. Windows 10 RAM Requirements: How Much RAM Does Windows 10 Need. It can be said that RAM is the buffer between CPU and hard drive. Receive news and offers from our other brands? © The more RAM your system has, the more programs it can handle simultaneously. Those who are rendering large files or doing other memory intensive work, should consider going with 32GB or more. After reading this post, you can decide whether to upgrade to 16GB RAM. Though running out of RAM can turn a solid system on its head, buying too much is a waste of money. Do you know what difference between 32 bit and 64 bit? Then, after the operation is completed, the result will be transmitted out to hard drive. If you’re a creative professional, however, your needs are different. None of the games I tested used close to 16GB, let alone 32. As we’ve seen in both our memory reviews and our recent feature about RAM overclocking on AMD’s Ryzen X470 platform, moving up to the fastest RAM possible doesn’t often lead to massive (or even substantial) gains, unless you’re gaming with integrated graphics or using a few specific programs. Copyright © 2020 MiniTool® Software Limited, All Rights Reserved. Whether you use a tablet, a laptop, or a desktop, this will not affect how much RAM you need. Today that value is still enough if you just run a single game or any apps.