Benefits of Outfitting Your Prospective Windows Desktop with a Minimum of 16GB of Random Access Memory

Factors to Keep in Mind to Ensure Your Following Windows Desktop Demands a Minimum of 16GB of RAM

When contemplating the optimal RAM size for Windows desktops to function smoothly, it largely relies on the intended use of the desktop. Activities like gaming and video editing greatly benefit from increased RAM size.

Each version of Windows specifies its unique set of basic and recommended system prerequisites. Currently, Microsoft suggests a minimum of 4GB of RAM for Windows 11. Even though it is technically possible to run the operating system on devices with lower memory, you may experience sluggish performance and other issues as data might have to be stored on a hard disk.

Speculations have emerged about the upcoming Windows update—potentially dubbed as Windows 12—emphasizing the utilization of AI and potentially requiring a minimum of 16GB of RAM. This signifies a significant increase from the previous release.

The source of these rumors can be traced back to the research firm Trendforce, which declared in a public announcement, “Microsoft has set the base RAM necessity for AI-capable desktops at 16 GB.” Additionally, the company foresees a surge in the yearly demand for desktop DRAM bits due to the growing trend of AI-powered desktops.

Trendforce also pointed out that AI-capable desktops will mandate a minimum of 16 gigabytes of RAM alongside NPUs (Neural Processing Units) meeting the 40 TOPS specification. Various state-of-the-art hardware, such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, AMD’s Strix Point, and Intel’s Lunar Lake platforms, adhere to these requirements.

Considering the requirement of 16GB RAM and a high-performance NPU, the upgradeability of Windows AI systems might be limited. It is possible that these systems could be only available as pre-assembled units without the option for future enhancements. Microsoft is scheduled to reveal more information about the upcoming Windows release later this year.