How Much RAM Should You Get? 4GB vs. 8GB vs. 16GB Tested

[gamerk2]

From the article's conclusion:

Virtualization is another wildcard, since virtualizing applications requires you to dedicate resources away from the host PC. If you are running more than one VM, or other related specialized work, it's safe to say you'll want a ton of RAM but those rules won't apply to regular PC users.

Amen to that.

For general purpose use (web browsing, email) I agree, 8GB is sufficient. Where extra RAM comes in handy is for running more programs concurrently without hammering slower storage and swapping, even if you've got a fast SSD. More RAM enables you to get more tasks done at the same time. You can be rendering a video while at the same time, browsing the web or even playing a game (assuming you've got a fast CPU, too).

But considering how cheap RAM is right now, you might as well get as much as you can afford if you are a developer, like to spin a VM or two, or like to hammer your PC with workstation tasks + personal productivity concurrently on a regular basis.

Pretty much this. For doing a single thing at a time, 8GB is plenty. More RAM helps do more stuff at the same time.

 

[fktech]

Depends on how you use your computer. When you open / operate numerous programs at the same time and then switch back and forth, more ram is usually better. My sweet spot is cost / performance driven to 16GB of ram.

 

[costeakai]

Working with several virtualbox VMs at one time, requires a lot of ram

 

[ct1615]

My work PC has dual monitors and 4GB of RAM. Running three browsers with multiple tabs open, microsoft excel, and an AVG virus scan; I still don't break 2.8 GB in memory in use. We just received a new PC with an i3-6100 and 8GB of DDR4 ram and my i5-4430 and 4GB of 1333mhz ram feels snappier in use (both use a 1TB HDD, neither has a SSD).

 

[Sir Alex Ice]

Slight surge?! 30 to 50% seems to you like a slight surge?

 

[fps4ever]

I'm more surprised with using only one stick of memory in single channel how little difference it makes overall vs. dual channel. The problem with that though is single sticks are they tend to be more expensive than their 2 x XGB counterparts. More of these reviews are showing single channel to be right up there with dual.

 

[DaveBG]

Is it 2010 again? How can you even justify your time testing with 4 and 8 GB RAM? I have 32GB RAM and it is almost full all of the time! I mean I know that there are apple and windows 10 users out there but COME ON!

 

[Bigtruckseries]

The correct answer:

32GB.

Because of the way Operating systems make use of physical memory, the more memory you have makes a big difference. It's easier to write more storage spaces simultaneously than it is to spend more time writing to a single storage place.

I typically upgrade to the maximum amount a Motherboard can take. I currently run 32GB. People say I don't need that much, but when you have 3 monitors and run multiple pages, or edit 4K video, you can feel the system run more stably.

 

[bluto 2050]

From the article's conclusion:

Virtualization is another wildcard, since virtualizing applications requires you to dedicate resources away from the host PC. If you are running more than one VM, or other related specialized work, it's safe to say you'll want a ton of RAM but those rules won't apply to regular PC users.

Amen to that.

For general purpose use (web browsing, email) I agree, 8GB is sufficient. Where extra RAM comes in handy is for running more programs concurrently without hammering slower storage and swapping, even if you've got a fast SSD. More RAM enables you to get more tasks done at the same time. You can be rendering a video while at the same time, browsing the web or even playing a game (assuming you've got a fast CPU, too).

But considering how cheap RAM is right now, you might as well get as much as you can afford if you are a developer, like to spin a VM or two, or like to hammer your PC with workstation tasks + personal productivity concurrently on a regular basis.

Right ☺

 

[bluto 2050]

I have 12GB -DDR3 ram in this Haswell Core i5 PC with an SSD windows 10 drive and for the most part for what I do it's fine but there some occasions *specifically here that I can see 16 GB as plausible ☺

 

[Jibberish18]

I went with 16GB just in case and since it's DDR4 I probably won't have to upgrade for quite a while.

 

[Squid Surprise]

The article never says that more RAM is worse... obviously, if cost isn't an issue, buy as much RAM as your motherboard can hold...

The point of the article is that if cost IS an issue, you don't NEED to have more than 8GB unless you're a specific type of user - and those users generally require a pricier PC and the amount of RAM isn't what they are skimping on if they are attempting to cut costs...

Those users are probably buying a 1TB SSD instead of 2TB, or some such... this article is only relevant if saving $50-100 (the cost of an 8GB stick) means something.... if it doesn't mean anything to you, again, buy the most RAM you can

 

[Slappy McPhee]

Why is it this seems to be a thing every few months? It has become a broken record article cache.

 

[cliffordcooley]

Why is it this seems to be a thing every few months? It has become a broken record article cache.

If you already know, then you already know. That doesn't mean the next guy does, and the information available to them needs to be current. Why do you have a problem with that?

 

[TechSam]

Simply put, the more RAM the more you can do at the same time! I'm finding 16GB is still NOT enough when trying to run Minecraft, other high performance game (Witcher 3), web browsing, music and any other apps. This is the main reason I recommend most people vouch for a 32GB setup if the money allows. Its maximum future proofing and will be eternally useful.

 

[treetops]

Old news

 

[p51d007]

Computer I bought a little over a year ago, I ordered with 12GB. It was "ok" but still had some
lag in photoshop. Once I took out the HDD and swapped it for an SSD, the "lag" disappeared.

 

[Simon Wraight]

I use Oracle Virtual Box a LOT for various virtual machines running under Windows 10. In this case 16gb RAM is definitely a good idea as I can run 2 machines with 4gb assigned to each and still leave 8gb for Windows to do it's thang.

 

[Camilo625]

Maybe it's just me, but I tested gta v on multiple pc's with 4gb of ram and it run like ****, even with 8gb I occasionally find fps drops.

 

[Mexen]

Awesome review! I have 8GB of RAM in my personal PC and have never had an issue playing games, running several browser tabs, and streaming music all the same time. My wife has 4GB in her PC and has no issues what so ever on her daily routines. At work I have 2GB in my computer and there isn't a day that I don't want to toss it out the window.

I laughed because I relate

 

[alansmith]

I would have liked to have seen one other set of test results - 16GB in the form of 4 x 4GB of modules. A lot of people consider upgrading an existing system so 2 more 4GB modules can save money.

 

[delluel]

I'm worried Ram is going to away some day. Isn't already kind of hanging around not sure of what to do with itself? But for me.. 16GB. my choice.

 

[bluto 2050]

Maybe it's just me, but I tested gta v on multiple pc's with 4gb of ram and it run like ****, even with 8gb I occasionally find fps drops.

gta v can drop frames on many decent GPU's but probably not a system ram thing at 8 GB depending on your Vram and resolution ofc because the frame /texture buffers should be in the Vram *if your GPU has enough of it and 2GB Vram is usually not bad for 1080p .

 

[bluto 2050]

Computer I bought a little over a year ago, I ordered with 12GB. It was "ok" but still had some
lag in photoshop. Once I took out the HDD and swapped it for an SSD, the "lag" disappeared.

Right .....I bought this Haswell Core i5 - 8 GB ram Windows 10 PC new in June and the next day or two I clean installed Windows 10 AU without the OEM bloatware on the SDD I converted to GPT and put in there and mostly use the 1 TB rusty metal drive for storage
I had the SSD in the computer this one replaced for about 4 mo. so I was already convinced those are excellent Windows boot drive upgrades .
OTOH I'm not doing anthing that needs 16 or more GB of Ram here with this SSD but 4GB is not much on windows 10 x64 and it can stall frequently if you multi task or multi tab even with an SSD .

 

[p51d007]

Right .....I bought this Haswell Core i5 - 8 GB ram Windows 10 PC new in June and the next day or two I clean installed Windows 10 AU without the OEM bloatware on the SDD I converted to GPT and put in there and mostly use the 1 TB rusty metal drive for storage
I had the SSD in the computer this one replaced for about 4 mo. so I was already convinced those are excellent Windows boot drive upgrades .
OTOH I'm not doing anthing that needs 16 or more GB of Ram here with this SSD but 4GB is not much on windows 10 x64 and it can stall frequently if you multi task or multi tab even with an SSD .

Yep, 8 is enough for me. With the SSD, photoshop works quite well.