Random Access Memory, commonly referred to as RAM or RAM, is one of the most important parts of any computer. But how much is needed for the device to work well? Current new PCs and similar devices offer values from 2 GB to 16 GB or more.
The amount of memory required depends on two factors - what you intend to do and how much you are willing to spend.
Introduction to RAM
Memory capacity is often confused with the long-term storage offered by solid state or mechanical hard drive. Sometimes even manufacturers or retailers confuse these concepts. To understand how much random access memory necessary for the normal operation of the device, you need to figure out what its meaning is.
A table is a useful analogy to consider the difference between RAM and memory. Think of RAM as the top of the table. The larger its surface, the more papers you can spread out and read at once. Hard disks More like drawers under your desk, capable of storing documents you don't use.
The larger your system, the more programs it can handle simultaneously. RAM is not the only determining factor, and you could technically have dozens of programs open at once with even very little RAM and it would slow down your system. Now imagine the table again. If it's too small, it becomes cluttered and your work will slow down as you try to find whatever paper you need at any given moment. You will often be forced to dig through drawers to place things that won't fit on the desk surface, as well as to get out the necessary papers.
Computer with big amount RAM is noticeably faster, but only up to a certain point. Having a large desk won't help you if you only have a few articles to read.
Optimal ratio
How much RAM does your device need? Your goal is to have enough RAM for all the applications you use on it specific device. If there is too little of it, work slows down. Too much RAM can only mean that you've paid a lot of money for something you'll never be able to use.
Difference from other characteristics
Standard RAM should not be confused with video memory, but the two concepts are closely related to computer graphics cards. High-performance 3D games rely on video memory (VRAM), often expressed as GDDR5, while standard memory is called RAM or DDR3. In fact, most manufacturers are very good at identifying VRAM and not confusing it with other parameters. Therefore, to determine how much RAM is needed for GTA 5, for example, you need to consider both of the above indicators together.
Heavy Applications
The biggest services on most home computers is itself operating system and web browser. You can't make Windows or MacOS use less memory, but more RAM on your computer means you can open more tabs in Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer etc. Also, some websites use more RAM than others. Simple text news takes up almost no resources, while something like Gmail or Netflix requires a little more power.
Programs are generally used because they increase the complexity of the job. A chat program or game (like Minesweeper) will use almost no RAM, while a giant electronic Excel spreadsheet or a huge Photoshop project could use more than one gigabyte. Professional and engineering software are built to handle very complex projects and tend to consume the majority of RAM of all programs. Modern 3D games can also use quite a lot of RAM and VRAM. In other words, your need for how much RAM to install depends on the programs you use.
- 2GB RAM: Good for tablets and netbooks only.
- RAM 4 GB: Minimum for budget Windows systems and MacOS.
- 8GB: Great for Windows and MacOS systems.
- 16 GB: Probably too much; Ideal for mid-range workstations.
- 32 GB or more: For enthusiasts and dedicated workstations only.
For tablet
Tablets are not expected to deal with complex tasks software, so their RAM needs tend to be quite low. However, as multi-tab browsers and more complex software continue to evolve, the needs of tablets are becoming more similar to those of laptops. Current settings Specifications typically range from 2GB to 16GB of RAM, with processor speed playing a major role in determining the range.
For example, the iPad Air 2, which has about 2GB of RAM, places a lot of emphasis on its all-in-one processor. And a device like the Microsoft Surface Pro can accommodate up to 16GB of RAM because users of this device may want to run a lot of professional software as well as a desktop OS.
And it gives you guidelines for choosing RAM - what do you use your tablet for? If you only browse one site at a time and don't use the device for any large projects or work software, then 4GB RAM will probably be sufficient. However, if you also use your tablet as your main PC, you must equip it with the necessary RAM. Typically, this means you will need between 4 and 8 GB.
Choosing RAM for laptops
How much do you need? New laptops have between 2GB and 16GB of RAM, while high-end gaming models offer up to 32GB. As mentioned earlier, the needs of tablets and laptops converge, but most users feel comfortable running more complex programs on laptops, which means RAM plays a more important role here.
For something like a Chromebook, which runs primarily in the cloud and has very little storage space, you won't need much RAM. It is enough to choose 4 GB of RAM, especially since you can use Google Play Store for download Android applications right on your computer.
How much RAM is needed for Windows 10 and new MacBook modifications? You should consider increasing this number to the standard 8GB. Most of the best laptops come with this value for good reason. Of course, if you do a lot graphic works or want to open multiple tabs at once, you might want to consider upgrading your RAM to 16GB. This is especially true for gamers - the question of how much RAM is needed for games always remains relevant.
Desktop computers
RAM in desktop computers is cheap, so it's pretty easy to find a PC with more memory for more low prices. Additionally, more RAM on PCs can be beneficial as people tend to use them for longer periods of time than tablets or laptops.
How much RAM does a PC need? 8 GB is a good value to start with. Upgrading to 16GB is recommended for enthusiasts, hardcore gamers and the average user workstation. Serious workstation users can upgrade to 32GB. Even when talking about how much RAM is needed for games, you can make sure that too significant parameters are not required.
Anything more is the edge of extreme specialties, equipped to handle huge amounts of data, huge video files or niche programs intended for researchers, corporations or government.
Please note that the amount of RAM and the type and speed supported by your system will depend on your motherboard.
As a real user of Apple technology, I know nothing about processor overclocking (I’ve only run benchmarks a few times) and I consider the performance indicator not the amount of RAM, but how I feel about working on the computer. It would be strange if I started talking about how much RAM is needed for comfortable work or games. For example, my MacBook has 4 GB of RAM, and I was wondering if 16 GB is worth it on fancy computers?
My interest would have remained theoretical if I had not found a study from the TechSpot portal. TechSpot editor Steven Walton conducted a series of tests comparing the performance of the computer in three variations: with four, eight and 16 gigabytes of RAM.
Here are the computer settings:
- Processor - Intel Core i7-6700K (4 GHz).
- Motherboard - Asrock Z170 Gaming K6+.
- Video card - GeForce GTX 980.
- SSD - Crucial MX200 1 TB.
- OS - Windows 10 Pro 64-bit.
- RAM - DDR4-2666 4, 8 and 16 GB.
The variation with 16 GB of RAM was justified in only two situations. The first is video rendering in Adobe Premier. The computer processed a 17-minute video in 290 seconds (16 GB), 300 seconds (8 GB) and 415 seconds (4 GB). The second test is a comparison of performance when compressing files. The test is synthetic, and here the RAM came in handy. With 16 GB the execution speed was 9,290 MIPS (millions of operations per second), with 8 GB - 2,902 MIPS and with 4 GB - 446 MIPS.
In the remaining tests, and there were about 10 of them in total, variations with 8 and 16 GB of RAM performed approximately the same, and the four-gigabyte version was only slightly inferior.
As for games, GTA V, Batman: Arkham Knight and F1 2015 were played with the same FPS (frames per second) in three tests.
Despite the development of technologies and their total popularization, many still ask the question: “What is RAM?”
Surely most of you have heard that there is some kind of constant.
But only a few can really explain what it is and why it is needed. Of course, there are many articles on the Internet about this, but you can’t find a clear answer.
Most often we come across the concept of “RAM” when choosing a computer. And the only thing that guides us in this matter is the rule “the more, the better.”
In fact, this is only partly correct. You don't always need to buy a computer with a lot of memory. But first things first.
Content:Theoretical page
If we take all the definitions that are on the Internet, we can derive the following:
RAM is the memory in which temporary, intermediate data is stored.
It is also called RAM (random access memory) or RAM (Random Access Memory), OP (abbreviation).
We will use all these concepts. At first glance, the above definition seems a little complicated, but now we will understand everything.
As you know, there are two types of memory in a computer - RAM and permanent memory.
So, the difference between them can be illustrated with one simple example.
This text was originally typed in the document. When it was printed, it had not yet been saved on the computer, that is, it did not occupy a single byte of permanent memory (on the hard drive).
Where was he then? Just in RAM.
When we saved it to the computer, it had already begun to take up space in permanent memory. By the way, it is called ROM (Read Only Memory).
The same thing happens when working with any other program. Until you save the data, it must be stored somewhere, but it cannot take up real disk space (after all, you did not save it).
So, they are stored in the OP.
That is, RAM is a kind of buffer that stores data until it is saved to permanent memory.
If we take a more familiar everyday situation, then all of the above can be illustrated with another example.
Let's say you bought tomatoes, bell peppers, parsley, garlic and cucumbers to make a salad.
You place them on a board to cut them. At the moment they are not yet in the salad, but they are no longer in the store, they are on the board. In this example, the cutting board is precisely the RAM (random access memory).
A little processing takes place here and then the vegetables are placed in some kind of vessel, which is ROM (read-only memory).
Rice. 2. Two types of computer memory using the example of salad
Actually, this is the difference. If you restart your computer or turn it off without saving your data, it will be lost.
But if you save them (for example, to do this you need to click the “File” button, then “Save”), they will be placed permanently.
All clear?
If not, write about it in the comments.
It is clear that the more RAM, the better, because then more information can be processed simultaneously.
If we take the above example with vegetables and salad, it is clear that the larger the cutting board, the greater the number of tomatoes, cucumbers and other products that will fit on it.
There is one BUT - if your salad bowl is very small and you live alone, then there is no point in buying a very large board.
You simply won’t prepare such voluminous salads, and even if you do, they will sit in the refrigerator and disappear.
In the same way, there is absolutely no point in choosing a computer with a lot of RAM if you do not plan to perform any complex tasks on it and you do not have a very large amount of permanent memory.
So we come to the topic of choosing an OP.
From everything we talked about in this section, the following conclusions could be drawn:
- Random access memory or RAM, RAM, OP is a kind of intermediate stage between permanent memory and the user.
- The RAM contains data until it is stored permanently.
- When the user enters some data, it is stored in RAM, and after saving it is placed in ROM.
- If you do not save the information that is currently being processed by the RAM, it will be lost.
How to choose the amount of RAM
To choose the amount of RAM, you need to be guided by only one criterion, namely, the tasks that you will perform on the computer. It looks like this:
- if you only need to work with text documents, 1 GB RAM will do (this is quite enough for a normal Word works and the entire office suite from );
- and if you need to process graphics or play games, you need to buy the maximum amount of RAM - at the moment it can be 16 GB or even more;
- if you need something in between, then today 8 GB is the optimal figure (this is enough to run games normally, even if not at maximum speed, and perform all other tasks).
Tip: Take the programs you plan to use on your computer and look system requirements to them. The required amount of RAM will probably be indicated there. Rely on this indicator when choosing.
Rice. 3. Computers in the store
This applies to cases when you choose a whole computer, and not RAM separately. We'll talk about the second situation a little later.
Before that, let’s consider the question of how to find out how many OPs are currently on your computer.
How to find out the available amount of RAM
Before presenting methods that allow you to complete the task, it is necessary to clarify several points.
Let's start with the fact that RAM (physically) is a small rectangular board that is inserted into the corresponding connector on the motherboard.
Rice. 4. OP module and motherboard connector for it
So, the most reliable way How to find out the amount of RAM is simply to look at this very module and find some number there next to the word “GB”, that is, Gigabyte.
Here's what it might look like.
Rice. 5. The amount of RAM indicated on the module
In addition, you can find out how many OPs are actually installed on your computer using special programs and, specifically:
1. Through the properties of the system. To do this, go to “Computer”, click on the top "Properties of the system" and see how many GB are indicated next to the inscription "Installed memory...".
Rice. 6. View RAM through system properties
2. Through the task manager. You can launch it in two ways: by entering the corresponding request in the search bar of the Start menu and by simultaneously pressing the buttons "Ctrl", "Alt" and "Delete". In the launched manager you will need to go to the tab "Performance" and pay attention to the section "Physical Memory". This method is good because you can also see how many GB (or MB) are currently in use (this is the same section and the “Memory” section).
Rice. 7. View RAM via Task Manager
3. Through the program. First you need to say it (on the download page from our website), then launch it, go to the “Memory” tab and pay attention to what is indicated next to “Size”. This is the actual amount of RAM.
Rice. 8. View RAM through the CPU-Z program
In general, there are a huge number of programs similar to this. For example, AIDA64 works very well. Choose the one you like best.
Secondly, in addition to volume, RAM has many other characteristics, such as frequencies, type, and more. If you choose OP not together with the computer, but separately, you need to pay attention to them.
So we come to the issue of increasing RAM.
However, if you decide not to buy a complete computer, but to assemble it from individual parts, then the following tips and criteria will also be relevant for you.
Is it possible to increase RAM
The answer to this question is extremely simple - of course, you can! You just need to buy another OP module and install it on the motherboard. You just need to know how to choose this very module.
In this case, not only the tasks you will perform play a role, but also the characteristics of the motherboard and memory module. This is what we are talking about:
1. First you need to find out which modules your . The type of memory plays a role here (and they come in DDR-1, DDR-2, DDR-3 and DDR-4, with different markings).
The easiest way to complete the task is using the above-mentioned program. The process of using it is as follows:
- First, the program must be downloaded (to the official website), installed and launched;
- on the main screen, press "Motherboard";
Rice. 9. Main screen AIDA64
- after that you need to select the “Chipset” item;
Rice. 10. “Motherboard” section in AIDA64
- at the top just click on "Server bridge..." and pay attention to the lines "Supported Memory Types" And "Maximum memory".
Rice. 11. Characteristics of supported computer memory in AIDA64
Be sure to remember the supported module types and when choosing a new one, remember that the type must match.
2. Pay attention to the form factor. To put it simply, this means appearance and the size of the board itself. There are not many varieties, only two - DIMM for PCs and SO-DIMM for laptops.
The first is more, the second is less. Make sure that the module you purchase does not turn out to be suitable for a laptop, but you have a PC.
Rice. 12. Varieties of form factor of RAM modules
3. Be sure to pay attention to the frequency. This is one of the main characteristics of modules, which directly affects its performance.
Here the situation is the same as with the first criterion of this list. If motherboard does not support this or that frequency, there is no point in buying memory with such a frequency.
4. It will, of course, work, but not at its maximum. For example, if the motherboard only supports 1600 MHz, and you buy RAM for 1800 MHz, then only 1600 will work, and 200 will be unnecessary.
To find out how many MHz the motherboard supports, you need to follow the same steps as shown in Figures 9-11.
In line "Supported types..." Some numbers are indicated next to the type (for example, DDR3-1066). This is the volume of frequency.
These three characteristics are basic. You can also pay attention to timings, operating modes and manufacturer.
But all this is not so important. If you buy a new RAM module according to the above criteria, you can instantly increase the amount of memory on your computer.
If you have any questions, write about them in the comments. We will be happy to answer!
There is another way to increase the amount of RAM - overclocking it. This procedure is quite complicated, but interesting. The video below clearly shows how it is performed.
How to overclock RAM?
We continue the topic of hardware and in this video we will talk about the frequency of RAM and overclocking RAM
Due to the fact that Microsoft has stopped all support for its operating systems that were released earlier than Windows 7, many users are wondering about switching to the seventh generation OS, even if they only have a weak computer.
One of the main criteria affecting the speed of a PC is the amount of RAM installed in it. Also, its volume is very important for the normal operation of the latest versions of operating systems.
Below is detailed information about how much RAM is needed for Windows 7 so that the computer can work stably and correctly.
How much memory does the Seven require?
In order for Windows 7 to be able to function normally in a PC, it must be taken into account that it will need to provide a sufficient amount of not only RAM, but also virtual memory, as well as a certain amount of it on the system disk.
Minimum RAM Requirements
The ability to work normally with multitasking operations will depend on the amount of RAM. Today it is already difficult to find a user who works on a computer and uses only one program at a time.
Typically, even when solving the simplest office duties, the user launches several documents at once and opens many pages in the browser.
If the amount of RAM in the computer is sufficient, then the system will function stably and without freezing even under heavy loads.
The developer of the "Seven" himself presents minimum requirements to the required amount of RAM at least 1 gigabyte.
However, Microsoft installs this setting only for 32-bit Windows 7. This value should be twice as large if you plan to install a 64-bit OS on your PC.
There are also some nuances regarding the amount of RAM for computers running Windows 7. It should be noted that when installing a 32-bit OS, it is not advisable to install more than four gigabytes of RAM in a PC, since the system simply will not see it above a certain amount. 
Maximum system capabilities for working with large amounts of RAM
As mentioned above, a 32-bit system is not capable of processing a significant amount of RAM, and even 4 GB will not be fully used.
Therefore, if the user needs to work with resource-intensive programs, it is more advisable to install 64-bit Windows 7 on a PC. The figure below shows the parameters indicated on the official Microsoft source.
In order to clarify the modification of Windows 7 operating on a PC, you need to perform the following several steps:
- Click “Start”;
- Then right-click on “Computer”;
- Click “Properties”;
Typically, 4 gigabytes of RAM is sufficient for office tasks. If the user works with resource-intensive graphic applications, as well as with audio and video processing programs, then the use of a 64-bit OS will be a mandatory requirement, since it allows you to use a large amount of RAM installed in the computer.
Windows 7 requirements for disk space
Just installing a large amount of RAM in a PC is not enough. Sufficient space should also be allocated on the computer’s hard drive for the operation of the “Seven”.
According to the system developer, at least 16 gigabytes of memory are required on the system volume in the case of a 32-bit system, and for a 64-bit system this figure should already be at least 20.
However, practice proves that the above figures are clearly underestimated. In fact, to ensure more or less normal functioning of the PC, the minimum should be 40–50 Gb.
And for comfortable work, it is advisable to multiply this number by two. 
Windows 7 requirements for the amount of virtual memory
This is a very important parameter if there is a shortage of installed RAM, since this memory takes over the functions of RAM if there is a shortage of the latter.
It is also called the “swap file”. "Seven" sets its volume at automatic mode, but for more stable operation of the system, independent adjustment of this parameter is often required.
And in cases of particularly large volumes of RAM installed in a PC, it is advisable to simply disable it, which can improve performance.
To do this you need to do:
If it is necessary to manually adjust the parameter, the optimal size of the paging file is 2–4 Gb.
To install it, you only need to follow a few steps:
Come on, don't make eyes like that. Don't brush this article aside for YouTube videos. Together we will find out. I'm talking about the less obvious issue of using random access memory, also known as random access memory or RAM. Specifically, I'll focus on two key questions: does the type of memory matter and how much is required. Well, you understand. For games. Fortunately, this topic easily lends itself to simple and accessible generalizations, which pathologically lazy journalists love so much. However, this is good for you too, since everything will not be too confusing and we will answer the most thorough questions. Prices are indicated in dollars. If you are too lazy to read the entire text, then we will answer like this:
- 16 GB RAM is only $40 more expensive than 8 GB.
- If you're building a new PC, go for 16 GB. The exact characteristics are not very important, the main thing is compatibility.
- If you already have a solid build but less than 16GB of memory, consider upgrading, but keep in mind the gradual transition from DDR3 to DDR4 for the new Skylake (Intel) and Zen (AMD) processors.
- In the unlikely event that you only have 4GB, upgrade to at least 8GB immediately.
Things to remember
In most cases, when it comes to PC performance, what you absolutely need and what will make your computer more enjoyable in general and enhance your gaming enjoyment in particular are not the same thing.
There is a minimum, which is basically enough, but it constantly makes you nervous. And there is a value, exceeding which does not give a tangible return. It is this value that I am interested in.
Think about it this way. Technically, you can play with 4GB of RAM, but levels will take a frustratingly long time to load and you'll be left with headaches due to lag when switching apps and overall system sluggishness. On the other hand, if there are theoretical situations where more than, say, 16 GB of memory will provide a real benefit, then they are so rare that they can be safely ignored.
The main thing is volume
Why does the amount of memory affect performance mainly compared to its frequency?
The answer is quite simple. Each running application takes up a certain amount of memory. Whether it's a browser tab or a fancy game, their data has to live somewhere. There are three places for this: the processor cache (not very large, and the data is mostly duplicated in RAM), RAM and hard drive.
Programs that are not running even in the background can quietly remain dormant on the hard drive. But all running applications must fit entirely in memory so that they can be quickly accessed, because RAM is many times faster hard drive, even if we are talking about SSD.
When space in RAM runs out, the operating system begins to cache data on the hard drive, in the so-called “swap file.” A typical example of this is using multiple programs and switching between their windows. When RAM runs out, the system will partially or completely transfer the minimized application to disk. Switching back will cause a long delay between the minimized application returning to memory and the previous one moving to disk.
What about games?
In theory, when the program is already working, everything is fine. The download may take a while, but once the memory space is freed up, everything is fine, right? And most games will fit freely in 8 GB, right?
Firstly, I don’t really like this approach, even if it’s true. I'm quite lazy, so I prefer to keep everything running until I somehow need it. Right now my task manager is showing almost 7 GB of used memory. This is mainly thanks to 50 open tabs, Skype and antivirus. There's also Photoshop with a bunch of extraordinarily large images for one of the articles. And a little more. Is this normal?
Now I have 16 GB of memory (I use an old computer on LGA1155 to replace the broken one on LGA2011), and I had 8. If I needed to run the game without closing windows, I had to sacrifice something. Fallout 4 shows 2.7 GB in the task manager, which is not the most memory-intensive game.
But even if the game finds a place for itself, you need to leave a little more for background processes and for the additional needs of the game itself. Every time you exceed the available capacity and access the swap file, everything starts to work in jerks. In the case of games that load open world on the fly instead of traditionally loading levels, this can be quite frustrating.
Memory management in Windows
Things get even more complicated when you consider how Windows manages memory. The system has physical memory, virtual memory, used memory, cached memory, paged and non-paged pool. I don’t really want to go into details of all the nuances, so I’ll explain everything, sacrificing the accuracy of the definitions, but without inflating the article to prohibitive proportions.
A game or application requires a certain amount of physical memory to operate. You will see this number in the task manager next to a specific process. But Windows is able to cache additional application data, freeing up a decent amount of memory. This data becomes part of the shared cached memory, again visible in the task manager.
Simply put, the more Windows data will cache in memory, the fewer disk accesses there will be and the faster the computer as a whole will work. How this applies in detail to each specific game, I won’t say for sure.
Is it possible to refrain from upgrading?
It should be emphasized that everything I said does not apply to exotic situations when some mods for Skyrim themselves eat up 8 GB. This doesn't even get into the fact that newer games like Star Wars Battlefront list 8GB RAM as their minimum requirement.
In the same way, you can challenge my situation with an abundance of tasks. Some will say that it doesn’t come close to my 10 GB, and in general, it costs nothing to close several tabs in Chrome. And these are normal arguments. Only here's the thing. The difference between a cheap 8GB DDR3 kit and a cheap 16GB kit is about $40, and it's about the same for the expensive kits. So now the question for you is: can you hold off on 16GB RAM?
Perhaps the minimum 8 GB requirements for Star Wars Battlefront clearly paints a picture of the near future?
The memory capacity can be increased without getting rid of the old one. The only exception would be the transition from DDR3 to DDR4 for new processors. But even in the worst-case scenario, it will cost an additional $40. So I don't see what to think about here. But a jump to 32 GB at once, especially if taken in two modules, will already significantly lighten the wallet, without giving a noticeable increase in performance.
Why speed doesn't matter
Wait, that's not all - I didn't say about detailed characteristics memory. Frequency, timings and all that. I didn't say it because it's not important. The main thing is compatibility and volume. In recent years this has been true even for overclocking. Previously, during the time of overclocking the processor on the system bus, memory could provide at least a modest increase. But today, when there are multipliers and dividers, it either definitely does not solve anything (in unlocked chips), or most likely does not solve anything (the latest Intel Skylake overclocked at the base frequency).
I admit that I may have missed some nuances regarding the latest Skylake, and perhaps I will cover them in the future if you are interested. But in general, memory speed characteristics are insignificant on modern platforms.
In any case, my main argument is the cost. Yes, if you use memory more economically, 8 GB will be enough for most games. And if 16 GB cost hundreds of times more, I would be more careful in my arguments. But they don't cost that much. So I don’t have to be so sophisticated either.
Let's pose the question more simply: is it worth paying $40 for the opportunity to open as many programs as you want and run games whenever you want?
I will answer for you. Costs. So give yourself 16 GB of memory. And play to your heart's content.
