The main difference between them is that the new DDR4 sticks are faster, more energy-efficient, and have a higher capacity than DDR3.ĭDR stands for Double Data Rate, and the numbers 3 and 4 refer to the memory chip’s version. If you shop around for RAM, you’ll notice most of them are DDR3 and DDR4 DDR5 sticks. What Is the Difference Between DDR3 and DDR4? So, if you have 16 GB of RAM, your processor is probably to blame for any bottlenecks. This amount of memory is enough for hardcore gamers, video editors, gaming streamers, and anyone using AutoCAD or other demanding software.įor example, we were not able to use all 16 GB of memory installed on our laptop because the processor slowed everything down too much. With 16 GB of RAM, you have enough memory to run as many programs as you want without slowing your computer down. That means you might experience major lag when trying to run the game if you have any other programs running in the background. For example, Cyberpunk 2077 requires at least 8 GB of memory to run. Some newer games will also use up to 8 GB of RAM all on their own. For example, we used up more than 8 GB of memory on a laptop by opening 50 tabs in Chrome while running Photoshop, PowerPoint, Word, and Spotify at once. While 8 GB of RAM is more than enough for most people, you can easily use it up if you have dozens of tabs open on your web browser, and you are running several programs at the same time. It’s also the minimum amount of memory recommended by Adobe to run Creative Cloud programs like Photoshop. So, 8 GB of memory should be more than enough to run most productivity programs.
Many Windows 10 and macOS computers or laptops come with 8 GB of memory installed these days. You can open lots of browser tabs at once, use photo or video editing programs, stream content, and play mid-to-high-end games. With 8 GB of RAM, you will have enough memory to run several programs at once. However, it is important to note that old 32-bit computers can’t handle more than 4 GB of RAM. If your computer only has 2 GB of memory, upgrading to 4 GB of memory will feel like night and day. However, your system might be able to handle these tasks with less memory if you have better hardware, or if you enable certain settings.Įven low-budget computers and laptops come with at least 4 GB of RAM pre-installed these days. You can open a handful of browser tabs, do basic image or video editing, play low-spec games, and stream music or videos online.įor example, we consistently used more than 4 GB of RAM just by opening 10 tabs in the Chrome web browser while running Microsoft Word (and the Task Manager).
With 4 GB of RAM, you have enough memory to run a few lightweight programs at a time. This is because most computers these days come with dual- or quad-channel memory slots, which will provide your memory with more channels of communication and increase data transfer speeds.
To get the best performance out of your computer, it is recommended that you always purchase memory sticks in pairs with the exact same specs. However, your memory is only one part of the equation, and your computer’s overall performance will also depend on your other hardware and software. You might need 8-16 GB of RAM or more if you do lots of multitasking or use intensive programs.Īs a general rule, the more RAM you have, the faster your programs will run, and the more programs you can run at the same time. However, you should have at least 4 GB of RAM if you want to use newer apps. You will need at least 2 GB of RAM to use basic programs like Microsoft Word or surf the web. Read More: What is a CPU and what does it do? How Much RAM Do You Need? This way, your computer’s memory can quickly pull up information and hand it over to your central processing until (CPU). RAM stores commonly-used data that your programs, apps, or processes need on stand-by. Your computer’s RAM is faster than the best long-term storage drives today.