Determine how much RAM you need based on usage type, operating system, applications, and workload. Get recommendations for minimum, optimal, and future-proof configurations.
You might also find these calculators useful
Our RAM Requirement Calculator helps you determine the optimal amount of memory for your computer based on your specific use case. Whether you're building a gaming PC, development workstation, or server, get data-driven recommendations that prevent both overspending and performance bottlenecks.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is your computer's short-term memory, storing data that programs actively use. Different workloads have vastly different memory requirements - a basic office setup needs far less than a video editing workstation or virtual machine host. The calculator considers OS overhead, application memory, browser usage, and VM requirements.
RAM Calculation
RAM = (OS Base + Apps + Browser Tabs + VMs) × (1 + Buffer%)Insufficient RAM causes slowdowns, freezing, and excessive disk swapping.
Don't overspend on RAM you'll never use - or underspend and regret it.
Factor in future software demands and increasing browser tab habits.
Learn the optimal module configuration for dual-channel performance.
Windows has more background services, a heavier GUI, and built-in features like indexing and telemetry that consume memory. A clean Windows 11 install uses 4-6GB at idle, while minimal Linux distributions can run on 1GB.