How much RAM do I need? A practical answer by use

How much RAM you need depends on what you do. For web browsing, email and office work, 8 GB of RAM is a comfortable amount on Windows 11, while Linux Mint and ChromeOS Flex can get by on 4 GB. For photo editing, gaming or running AI models locally, plan on 16 GB or more. Before you buy, check how much you use today and whether your RAM can be upgraded at all.

Last updated October 25, 2026 · Facts checked against Microsoft, Google, Linux Mint, Intel, Adobe, Dell and HP

The short version

Official minimums: 4 GB for Windows 11 and ChromeOS Flex, 2 GB for Linux Mint (4 GB recommended).
A minimum isn’t a comfortable amount. For everyday Windows use, 8 GB gives you headroom.
Adobe, Intel and LM Studio all point to 16 GB for photo editing, gaming and local AI.
Many thin laptops have soldered RAM that can’t be upgraded. Check your model’s spec sheet or our Can It Run? database.

Start with the official minimums

Operating system	Minimum RAM	Source
Windows 11	4 GB	Microsoft
Windows 11 Copilot+ PC	16 GB	Microsoft
Linux Mint 22.3	2 GB (4 GB recommended)	Linux Mint
ChromeOS Flex	4 GB	Google

A minimum is what it takes to install and run the system, not to run it well with a browser full of tabs. Linux Mint says so directly: it lists 2 GB as the minimum but recommends 4 GB “for a comfortable usage”.

The Copilot+ figure is worth noting too. Microsoft says devices with less than 16 GB of RAM don’t qualify as Copilot+ PCs, which use Windows’ newer on-device AI features. Those also need a dedicated AI processor (an NPU), so most older PCs won’t qualify whatever their RAM.

How much RAM you need, by what you do

What you do	Practical amount	Why
Web browsing, email, office documents	8 GB on Windows 11. 4 GB can work on Linux Mint or ChromeOS Flex	Twice the Windows 11 minimum, and room for several apps at once
Photo editing	16 GB	Adobe lists 8 GB minimum and 16 GB recommended for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements 2027
Light gaming	8 GB minimum, 16 GB better	Intel calls 8 GB the baseline and recommends 16 GB for new releases
Running AI models locally	16 GB or more	LM Studio recommends at least 16 GB and says LLMs can use a lot of RAM

Web browsing and office work

This is what most older PCs are used for, and it’s where a lighter system helps most. If your PC has 4 GB and can’t take more, Linux Mint’s Xfce or MATE editions or ChromeOS Flex are better fits than Windows 11. Your browser choice matters too. See our guide to the best browser for a low-end PC.

Photo editing

Adobe lists 8 GB of RAM as the minimum and 16 GB as recommended for Photoshop on Windows, and the same for Photoshop Elements 2027. GIMP, a free alternative, doesn’t list a RAM requirement on its download page.

Light gaming

Intel’s guidance for gaming PCs calls 8 GB the baseline for AAA (big-budget) games, recommends 16 GB for headroom with new releases, and suggests 32 GB if you also stream or multitask heavily. On a laptop without a separate graphics card, the graphics also use system RAM. Intel says its integrated graphics have no separate memory and draw on main memory instead, up to a limit set by the operating system. See our list of games for integrated graphics.

Local AI

Running a large language model on your own PC is the most memory-hungry thing on this list. LM Studio, an app for running models locally, says at least 16 GB is recommended on Windows, and it also requires a processor with AVX2 support. Our guide to running AI locally covers what older hardware can manage.

Is 8 GB of RAM enough in 2026?

For browsing, email, video calls and office documents, 8 GB is enough for most people. It’s twice the Windows 11 minimum and twice the amount Linux Mint recommends.

It stops being enough when you keep many browser tabs open alongside other apps, edit large photos, play recent games or run AI models. Those are the cases where Adobe, Intel and LM Studio point to 16 GB.

The best answer comes from your own PC. Check how much memory is in use during a normal day, as shown below. If it’s close to the total most of the time, more RAM will help. If there’s plenty to spare, it won’t.

How to check how much RAM you have and use

How much is installed

In Windows, open Settings → System → About. Under Device specifications, Microsoft says you’ll see the amount of RAM installed.

How much is in use

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then choose Performance → Memory. The graph shows how much memory is in use, and the figures below it include how much is still available. Microsoft suggests watching memory, processor and disk use to find what’s slowing your PC down.

Do this while you’re doing your normal work, not right after a restart. On Linux Mint, the System Monitor app shows the same information.

Soldered vs slotted RAM, and your maximum

Before you buy more RAM, make sure you can add it. Dell says RAM can’t be upgraded on certain laptops because it’s built into the system board. HP says some ultra-thin models have soldered RAM, which makes upgrades impossible. Slim laptops are the ones to check most carefully.

Dell also notes that every computer has a maximum memory capacity and supports only one generation of memory, such as DDR4 or DDR5. Installing the wrong type can damage the module or the slot. To find out what yours takes:

Look up your model in our Can It Run? database. Each device page lists the slots, memory type and maximum. For example, the ThinkPad T470 has 2 slots for DDR4-2400, up to 32 GB, while the 2017 MacBook Air has 8 GB soldered.
Check the manufacturer’s spec sheet or service manual, such as Lenovo’s PSREF or HP’s Maintenance and Service Guides. HP advises checking your laptop’s specifications for the maximum supported RAM and the module type.

Single vs dual channel

Many PCs can use memory in dual-channel mode. Intel explains that this lets the processor’s memory controller exchange data with RAM through two channels instead of one. To get it, Intel says the modules must have the same capacity, and ideally the same speed.

It’s worth knowing about on laptops without a separate graphics card, because integrated graphics share system memory. Intel’s Arc graphics on select Core Ultra H-series systems, for example, need at least 16 GB of dual-channel memory.

In practice, if your laptop has one 8 GB module and a free slot, adding a matching 8 GB module gets you 16 GB and meets Intel’s same-capacity rule for dual-channel mode. Check the service manual to confirm the slots run as two channels.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM do I need for Windows 11?

Microsoft’s minimum is 4 GB, but that leaves little room for apps. For everyday use, 8 GB is a sensible floor, and 16 GB gives more headroom. Your processor also has to be supported, so check whether your PC can run Windows 11 first.

Is 8 GB of RAM enough for normal use?

For browsing, email, streaming and office documents, yes. If Task Manager shows memory near full during your normal day, move to 16 GB if your laptop allows it.

How much RAM do I need: 16 or 32 GB?

16 GB meets Adobe’s, Intel’s and LM Studio’s recommendations for photo editing, gaming and local AI. Intel suggests 32 GB if you game while streaming or multitask heavily, and larger AI models also benefit. Older laptops have a maximum, often 16 or 32 GB among the models in our database, so check yours first.

How much RAM do I need for a laptop?

The same guidance applies, but laptops are harder to upgrade later. If you’re buying a laptop with soldered RAM, buy the amount you’ll need for its whole life.