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The safest answer is: it depends. 8GB RAM will probably be enough for the majority of users, but of course, that may not always be the case. There are plenty of apps today that can eat up to 8GB of RAM on their own.
So more advanced users will require at least 16GB RAM or more.
How does 8GB RAM exactly work for different uses? Let’s find out.
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8GB RAM Laptop Performance for Different Users
8GB RAM will probably cover most users’ needs. If you use your laptop for browsing and Word documents, rest assured that 8GB of RAM is more than enough.
Let’s see what 8GB of RAM can do in different scenarios.
Is an 8GB RAM Laptop Good for Students?
If you are studying law, economics, or any other field with less demanding apps, you’ll easily get by with 8GB RAM. But if you are into technical sciences like mechanical engineering, architecture, and similar fields, 8 gigabytes won’t be enough.
Why is this? Simply because you’re going to use software like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and other RAM-hungry apps. For these, we recommend getting at least 16GB RAM, and sometimes even that might be pushing your luck.
See our recommendations and the top picks for MBA students, best choices for law students, as well as the laptops for civil engineering majors. Or see laptops for school here.
Is 8GB RAM Enough for Work?
8GB RAM is perfect for office work and light multitasking activities. The majority of programming tasks can be done with so much as 8 gigs. Maybe you’re more into creative work like photo and video editing. For the average user doing some light photo and video editing work, 8GB RAM will suffice.
But the pros who work on complex projects in high resolution should go for at least 16GB or more. Simply put, more RAM translates into a smoother workflow and faster batch exports.
Is 8GB RAM Enough for Gaming?
You can get by with 8GB RAM with most older titles and the new, less demanding ones. But if you want to play the latest AAA titles, you’ll definitely need more.
So, 8GB RAM is great for playing Fortnite, Minecraft, CS:GO, or League of Legends. Even the hardware-heavy GTA V should run smoothly with 8 gigs with no mods. But if you want to play the newest titles like Cyberpunk 2077, 12+ GB RAM is recommended.
For more details, we’ve done a deep dive into what specs you really need for gaming.
8GB RAM Limitations
8 gigs are perfect for simple day-to-day activities like browsing, sending emails, working in MS Office, jumping on a Zoom call or watching YouTube videos.
But even these tasks can max out the RAM usage if you go a little overboard. For example, open dozens of tabs in your browser and run 4K videos on Youtube, and you’re bound to see your PC struggling or even crashing.
You’ll probably be able to do some light photo and video editing, but for most content creators, 16GB RAM is the starting point. Sometimes even that might not be enough.
8GB for Windows vs MacOS
MacOS has a more optimized interconnected ecosystem than Windows. As a result, 8GB RAM on a Mac can handle heavier workloads compared to Windows laptops. But the RAM on most Windows laptops (not all) is much cheaper and easier to upgrade.
Perhaps you’ve heard that Windows has 32- and 64-bit versions. What’s that all about?
Well, the main difference is that the 32-bit version can only access up to 4GB RAM, while the 64-bit version will take up as much space as your PC has.
What about the latest Windows 11? The operating system itself requires at least 4GB RAM, so 8 gigabytes are enough for basic tasks. But we recommend going for at least 16GB RAM.
Luckily, there are many ways to speed up the performance on your Windows laptop.
8GB RAM for MacBook Pro
First things first, are you getting an older version or the latest MacBook Pro? Why is this relevant? Older models came with Intel processors, and the latest gens (M1, M2, etc.) have Apple’s unified chips, which utilize the RAM much more efficiently.
So 8 gigs of RAM on a MacBook Pro with the unified memory will perform much better than the ones running on Intel.
The same goes for the MacBook Air models. In terms of performance, the older Intel-based models are inferior compared to the ones running on Apple’s silicon chip.
However, unless you’re into high-end video editing or 3D modeling, 8GB RAM will be enough for most Apple users, no matter what kind of silicon their machine is running on.
How Much Should You Pay for an 8GB RAM Laptop?
Even if you’re buying a low-budget laptop (ex. $400), don’t settle for anything less than 8GB RAM. Many laptops, from the low-end cheapies to the more advanced thousand-dollar devices come with the base 8GB RAM.
Lucky for us, the RAM itself doesn’t actually cost much, and many laptops have extra memory slots. And you could easily find great deals on Amazon for 8-16GB memory sticks for no more than $50.
Conclusion
As you can see, when it comes to RAM, there is no one-size-fits-all. Whether 8GB RAM is enough is totally up to you and how you use your laptop.
8GB RAM is still great for many day-to-day activities, even light gaming. However, if you are into content creation (like 3D modeling or photo and video editing) or want to play the latest AAA titles, the safest bet is to go for at least 16GB RAM.
If you’re looking for specific recommendations, check out these laptops powered with 16GB RAM.
Also, keep in mind that your laptop’s performance highly depends on other specs too. This means that if you have a weak CPU/GPU combo, even the 64 gigs of RAM won’t be of much use to you.
If you think that 8GB RAM is enough for your needs and want specific recommendations, it’s probably a good time to check some of the best laptops with 8GB RAM.
