“Is 8GB RAM Enough For Laptop?”: Unveiling the Memory Puzzle

January 9, 2024 13 0

In the previous article, “Is 4GB RAM Enough For a Laptop?”, we have come to the conclusion that 4GB RAM suits only light work. For more demanding tasks, you need to upgrade it. Now the next question may arise in your mind, “Is 8GB RAM Enough for Laptop?”, “Is 8GB RAM enough for the next 5 years” and so on.

In this article, we have covered every possible area to find out whether 8GB RAM for a laptop suffices your requirement or not.

Does More RAM Make a Computer Faster?

RAM (Random Access Memory) is a temporary memory storage bank, used for quick access to data without going to the permanent storage device.

Now “Does more RAM make a computer fast or not?” is a relative question. The answer may be either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ depending upon the level of usage.

It is ‘Yes’ if the utilization of RAM reaches its optimum level. If on average, 80-90% of its capacity is being used for regular activities, an enhancement of RAM capacity will definitely make your laptop faster and smoother.

Take an example of my i5 laptop using 8GB RAM and 512 GB SSD.

Task manager shows 72% consumption of an 8GB RAM

The task manager shows that 72% of RAM has been consumed. There is no symptom of lag while working on 9-10 browsing tabs.

Now let us go further on the utilization of RAM.

The process chart shows the activities where the Chrome browser with multiple tabs and some applications eat the 5.6GB (72%) RAM.

The operation is smooth and fast. There is no sign of reloading.

Now what happens if I increase the size of RAM from 8GB to 16GB? Will my laptop be faster? No, it’s not. As there is still some amount of RAM left, an enhancement will do nothing.

But if the usage of RAM is 85% or more, an upgrade to 16GB will definitely make your computer faster.

Also, the type of RAM used relates to how fast your laptop is. The most common DDR4 has a transfer rate from 1866 to 3200 MT/s whereas the transfer rate of DDR3 RAM ranges between 800 to 1866 MT/s. The latest DDR5 is the fastest but compatibility is a factor and it is also pricer.

Is 8GB RAM Enough for Laptop for Students?

Yes, 8GB RAM is enough for students to satisfy their needs, like:

Reading online educational materials
Browsing with multiple active tabs
Emailing, and video calling
Watching videos
Word processing
Creation of charts, and graphs
Powerpoint presentation
Accounting using Excel, Tally
Doing project work using application software
Moderate photo editing using Canva, Photoshop

However, for specialized courses like CAD, animation, and intense graphical work, you need a laptop with 16GB RAM.

Is 8GB RAM Enough For Laptop For Office Work?

It depends on the nature of the job. In general, 8GB RAM is enough for office work except for some specialized jobs.

Regular Tasks: Office work mainly deals with writing letters using MS Word, planning & project works using Excel sheets, maintaining databases with Access, emailing, & video conferences. There may be uses of some application software for commercial and inventory management systems, for which 8GB RAM is sufficient.

Specialized Tasks (Graphic Design, Data Analysis): Professionals using high-end tools like Adobe Suite, and SAP or working with massive database management systems might find 8GB limiting.

Is 8GB RAM Enough for Laptop for Gaming?

For gaming laptops, you should have at least 16GB RAM. 8GB is the minimum requirement to handle many older titles and some newer ones at medium settings. If you want to play games in high or ultra settings the laptop may struggle.

High-end gaming with modern AAA titles, known for their detailed graphics, demands more than 8GB RAM for a seamless experience.

Is 8GB RAM Good Enough for the Next 5 Years?

Due to continuous development in the tech area, your requirements will rise to meet the demand for high-end software.

Software Upgradation: As software becomes richer, it demands more from hardware.

Upcoming Technologies: Innovations like augmented reality or AI-driven tools may need more RAM.

Future Planning: If your laptop is a long-term investment for 5 years, more than 8GB RAM would be a safeguard against future demands.

So if you want a laptop for the next 5 years, it is more convincing to opt for a laptop with 16GB RAM.

Conclusion

To conclude the question “Is 8GB RAM Enough For Laptop?”, the answer is a mix of ‘generally yes’ and ‘it depends.’ For average users, 8GB RAM is certainly good. But for multitaskers, gamers, and certain specialized professionals, a laptop with 8GB RAM may sound limiting.

As technology is progressing, our digital needs are also climbing. In this journey, it makes sense to ensure your laptop remains equipped to handle not just today’s challenges, but tomorrow’s demands.

Thanks for continuing till the end.

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