Determining the specs for a new laptop (or a laptop computer improve) is usually a delicate balancing act. You wish to spend sufficient so that you received’t be depressing sooner or later, however not a lot that you just don’t make use of all of the {hardware} you get.

Memory (or RAM) is the proper instance of this. Your PC makes use of RAM to carry knowledge briefly: When you’re opening functions, engaged on giant information in Photoshop, and even juggling dozens and dozens of browser tabs, that knowledge is being saved within the system reminiscence, not in your SSD or HDD. The extra memory-intensive duties you do, the extra RAM you need to have. It’ll preserve your pc feeling quick and responsive.

Many laptop computer consumers know this, however not precisely how a lot to get. So we’ve damaged down what to anticipate from frequent RAM configurations, plus some ideas on the finish for buy methods.

Further studying: The best laptops we’ve tested

Is 2GB of RAM good for a laptop computer?

For fashionable Windows computer systems, 2GB of RAM will really feel sluggish. You received’t be capable of run many packages concurrently, a lot much less have various browser tabs open at one time. These days, most Windows laptops include 4GB because the baseline configuration, and for good motive.

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

If for some motive you encounter a laptop computer with solely 2GB RAM—maybe an older price range mannequin being offered secondhand—it’s solely worthwhile in case you can instantly improve it to 4GB RAM or extra. That means the laptop computer ought to have user-accessible SODIMM slots, ideally with one unpopulated so you may instantly drop in one other module.

For Chromebooks, 2GB of RAM will nonetheless restrict the variety of browser tabs you may have open, however that quantity is habitable. We advocate you purchase a mannequin with expandable reminiscence (user-accessible SODIMM slots) so you may improve down the highway.

Is 4GB RAM sufficient for a laptop computer?

Budget consumers can begin with 4GB of RAM for a Windows laptop computer. Combined with an SSD for storage, you’ll get a responsive PC that handles the fundamentals easily—e.g., having a number of low-intensity packages plus a handful of browser tabs open all on the identical. When potential, search for laptop computer fashions which have user-accessible RAM that may be upgraded. You can begin with 4GB as your price range configuration then add extra reminiscence later as wanted.

Chromebooks with 4GB RAM ought to deal with an honest variety of browser tabs simply, so when confronted with the selection of extra reminiscence or a sooner storage drive (i.e., an SSD as an alternative of eMMC storage), decide the sooner storage drive. It’ll make the ChromeOS expertise smoother total.

How a lot is 4GB of reminiscence on a laptop computer?

A laptop computer with simply 4GB of reminiscence ought to price underneath $300 in at this time’s pricing. The Acer Aspire 3, our favorite laptop under $500, comes with 8GB of reminiscence regardless of costing simply $260.

Is 8GB RAM good in a laptop computer?

Most folks with a average price range ($400 or extra) for a laptop computer ought to intention for a minimum of 8GB RAM. We usually advocate this quantity of reminiscence for most individuals doing workplace work and different primary duties, in addition to players—particularly in case you’re a mannequin with soldered RAM and may’t improve it later. You ought to have sufficient capability to comfortably see you thru the machine’s lifetime.

As for Chromebooks, you usually solely see 8GB RAM on the extra luxe fashions. It’s not strictly essential, however it’ll contribute to a extremely responsive expertise total, as the opposite parts in such programs are usually on par with comparable Windows laptops. The identical applies for fashions with 16GB RAM, too.

Do I would like 16GB RAM in a laptop computer?

For folks doing workplace work or gaming, 16GB of reminiscence is usually a hedge in opposition to future wants. Maybe you create easy spreadsheets in Excel now, however later you’ll be engaged on complicated paperwork overflowing with knowledge. Or maybe you strictly play video games for the time being, placing many of the load in your discrete GPU’s VRAM, however later may also juggle different packages and many browser tabs within the background. In laptops the place you may’t later improve the reminiscence, you’ll be extra future-proofed.

However, for content material creators (and individuals who preserve dozens and dozens of tabs open in a number of browsers) 16GB is a beginning place. Renders can gobble up reminiscence, for instance. If you anticipate that you would want extra RAM down the highway, search for laptop computer fashions that assist user-serviced upgrades.

Further studying: The best gaming laptops we’ve tested

32GB and up

People contemplating greater than 16GB of RAM needs to be actively utilizing packages identified for gobbling up system reminiscence or requiring it for optimum efficiency—for instance, video editors engaged on time-sensitive tasks. Many professionals would usually fairly pay extra money if it cuts down on the time it takes to complete duties.

But what about high-end players, you ask? While some top-of-the-line gaming laptops include 32GB of reminiscence, that quantity has little to do with gaming wants. The cynical would possibly name it a solution to justify costly configurations; or you would see it because the laptop computer maker maximizing the specs throughout the board to create a bleeding-edge vibe.

RAM configuration methods

New laptops

When determining how a lot RAM to buy for a brand new laptop computer, discover out if the mannequin(s) you’re enable consumer upgrades. Laptops can include soldered reminiscence, which implies it’s mounted to the motherboard and may’t be upgraded, or they’ll depend on SODIMMs, which might be inserted and eliminated just like desktop RAM.

If a laptop computer’s reminiscence is soldered on, select an quantity that you just assume will see you thru the machine’s lifetime. For instance, in case you anticipate doing extra RAM-intensive duties sooner or later, pony up for 16GB now. It shall be cheaper than changing your laptop computer before anticipated.

If a laptop computer’s reminiscence is consumer upgradable, you may hedge by selecting the bottom quantity of RAM wanted in your present workloads, and ready so as to add extra. For instance, you can begin off with 4GB RAM in a price range laptop computer then later improve to 8GB, saving you some cash on the outset.

One notice for players: If you run video games on a laptop computer that depends solely on built-in graphics for output (e.g., Intel’s UHD or Iris Xe graphics, or AMD Radeon Graphics), it’s possible you’ll wish to enhance its quantity of system reminiscence. Integrated graphics use RAM for storing picture knowledge from video games as you play, which is able to cut back the quantity out there to different packages like net browsers or seize software program.

Check out our roundups of the best laptops and best gaming laptops for knowledgeable suggestions throughout all worth ranges.

Laptop upgrades

For older laptops able to RAM upgrades, first decide how a lot RAM is already in your system. If the quantity matches your use case (as described above), take into account a special improve as an alternative—for instance, in case your system has a tough disk drive as an alternative of an SSD, change that out first earlier than including extra RAM.

If you assume you may profit from extra RAM, confirm first what SODIMMs are already put in. Is it a single stick? You should buy a second one with matching specs and pop it in for each a capability bump and a sooner dual-channel configuration. If each slots are already populated, you need to then purchase a bigger capability set to exchange each sticks. Follow our guide on upgrading RAM to make this course of plus set up a breeze.