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Way to go, AI: You’ve gone and made PC memory absurdly expensive, and you’re still in the teething stage. This ongoing RAM shortage, driven by\u00a0unprecedented investment in AI data center equipment,\u00a0has spiked laptop and desktop component prices. Memory manufacturers are seeing their production lines dominated by AI server farms’ massive demand, and this is far from over.<\/p>\n
SSD prices are climbing for the same reasons, and that’s pushing PC prices up, too. In this climate, it\u2019s more critical than ever to understand exactly how much capacity and potency you need from the components inside your PC, because all of the most important ones are affected by this memory shortage: graphics cards, system RAM, and storage. (Even platter drives are not immune.)<\/p>\n
\n (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)\n<\/p>\n
Until just recently, 8 gigabytes (8GB) of memory was the recommended minimum for Windows and macOS computers, in a general sense. While you might still manage with 8GB for basic tasks today, computing needs have changed, and 16GB is the new agreed baseline\u2014if not an outright need\u2014for most types of PCs and tasks. Some computing professions and at-home power users even benefit from 32GB or more these days. (As prices rise, though, 8GB might start to regain some traction as the floor.)<\/p>\n
I’ve been building, testing, and reviewing laptops and desktop PCs for more than a decade, so I can help you save as much as possible on your next PC purchase. Below, I’ve broken down every type of PC and use case, and how much RAM each one needs to succeed, so you don’t overspend when it’s time to buy or upgrade.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start at the entry level. Bargain seekers often end up in the aisle for the simplest, cheapest PCs. For laptops, that’s systems close to the $500 mark (and lower). As for desktops, many budget towers cost well less than $1,000. Naturally, you\u2019ll have to make some concessions on specs and features at these prices, but you still deserve a functional system.<\/p>\n
Not long ago, 8GB of RAM was the default for these kinds of general-use laptops and desktops. And in the true budget tier, 8GB is your sweet spot, even now. In a Windows PC, go no lower in 2026.<\/p>\n
\n (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)\n<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not to say you\u2019ll never find a 16GB PC in the budget range, as you’ll see a smattering of them when you get a bit above $500. Just don\u2019t be surprised to see 8GB systems there, too, as that amount is still enough for the most basic tasks. Technically speaking, Windows 11 has a 4GB minimum memory requirement, so Microsoft\u2019s latest operating system will <\/em>run at that scanty level, but 8GB is indeed the practical minimum for usability. Avoid just 4GB for a Windows system, full stop.<\/p>\n If you just need to access the internet and check your email, you don\u2019t need anything fancy. An 8GB system will suffice for basic stuff like word processing, web browsing, playing videos, and sorting through photos. You may encounter slowdowns if you run too many browser tabs or apps at once, but generally, 8GB is enough for light, casual computing.<\/p>\n I should also mention Chromebook laptops here. While a “premium” class of Chromebooks\u2014once an oxymoron\u2014still exists, the whole idea of a Chromebook revolves around inexpensive systems running ChromeOS rather than Windows. Google\u2019s web-based operating system needs less RAM than Windows does to run efficiently, and so 8GB is far more common across Chromebooks.\u00a0Indeed, it’s a requirement of Google’s Chromebook Plus program: Models with a “Plus” in the name must meet certain hardware and feature minimums, including having at least 8GB of RAM. A 4GB Chromebook indicates a true budget Chromebook, while a 16GB one is decidedly a luxe model. An 8GB allotment will serve most users very well, under ChromeOS; 4GB will merely suffice. It’s all down to how heavily you multitask.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t settle for less than 16GB here, especially for AI PCs or PCs used for light content creation work.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n 32GB becomes more common only beyond $1,200.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If you have a little more means, you likely want something a little faster than the budget models above. Mainstream laptops and desktops cost between roughly $800 and $1,200, representing many of the PCs occupying home offices, bedrooms, and college dorms.<\/p>\n In the past, you could happily get by with just 8GB of RAM in this tier, but trends have pushed this baseline to 16GB. While you don\u2019t need<\/em> 16GB to function, it will create a quicker and less frustrating experience with today\u2019s apps. You can never fully future-proof a PC, but you can certainly define its future (for the worse) with an insufficient baseline of memory.<\/p>\n \n (Credit: Joseph Maldonado)\n<\/p>\n Modern computing has simply become more demanding: Windows 11 already consumes significant memory, and browsers like Chrome gladly gobble up gigabytes of RAM to keep dozens of tabs open. In fact, 16GB is the minimum RAM requirement for a system to qualify as a Copilot+ PC, Microsoft\u2019s designation for AI-ready computers that work with its local AI tools. (Ditto for Macs to fully support Apple Intelligence.) While most of you likely aren\u2019t paying a premium for locally-run AI features on your PC yet, we can be grateful that this AI push drove the new 16GB baseline. The extra memory handles Windows 11’s demands well and leaves overhead for heavy multitasking, browsing without closing tabs, and light media editing. <\/p>\n In short, don\u2019t settle for less than 16GB of RAM in a system that costs $800 or more. Having more (say, 32GB) would never hurt performance, but that amount is generally only in PCs north of $1,200, and it exceeds what you need in these scenarios.\u00a0<\/p>\n $899.00 at \n $999.00<\/span> Our Top Tested Budget Laptops<\/h3>\n
How Much RAM Do You Need in a PC for Everyday, Mainstream Use?<\/h2>\n
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Our Top Tested Mainstream Laptops<\/h3>\n
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\n Amazon<\/span><\/p>\n
\n Save $100.00<\/span>\n <\/p>\n