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- RAM is a vital component for a smooth PC experience.
- Linux does not require as much RAM as Windows.
- More is always better, but too much is also a thing.
I’m not going to start with “back in the day” – that’s too simple. What matters is the present, where the rules and expectations are not the same as they were 10, 20 or 30 years ago.
Modern Linux is powerful, flexible, stable, and secure. It is far more resource-dependent (just like all modern operating systems), except for some of the more lightweight Linux distributions.
Also: I tested the Fedora miracle: Why does Linux need a ‘broken’ flag for orphan spins
Consider this: The minimum system requirements for an Ubuntu desktop today include only 4GB of RAM. I’ve run Ubuntu on a virtual machine with only 3GB of RAM. Although those Ubuntu virtual machines are only used for testing purposes, 3GB of RAM works great. But I would never suggest that you should make do with such a small amount.
Why is RAM so important?
Let’s first answer the question why RAM is so important. RAM serves as a fast, temporary storage area for data that the computer is actively using. Basically, your OS stores data in RAM because it’s much faster than your local storage.
RAM is important for speed and responsiveness, multitasking, better performance for tough tasks, a seamless user experience, and future-proofing your computer. Without RAM, your computer will behave poorly (or not at all).
Doubling the minimum amount of RAM
But what if you double that minimum system requirement? Instead of 4GB RAM, you add 8GB. Seems like it should work, right? This will happen; However, you’ll soon run into trouble with Ubuntu (or any modern, non-lightweight Linux desktop). Those problems may include:
- Limited tabs available for your browser: Open 10+ tabs in any browser, and it may cause problems with only 8GB. Of course, this depends on the sites in the tabs, but as a general rule, the less RAM you have, the fewer tabs you will be able to open.
- Gaming will not be an option.
- You will not be able to use the RAM drive for temporary files and thumbnails. A RAMdrive helps reduce wear on SSDs.
- You will not be able to use the virtual machine.
- You won’t be able to develop with the machine (especially considering how resource-intensive some IDEs are).
- Editing and rendering the video will be problematic.
- Editing and creating larger, more complex images in GIMP will cause slowdown.
Also: I compared virtual RAM to real RAM on my Windows PC – here’s what the numbers told me
You see where I’m going with this? 8GB RAM will be fine for limited use. You can use your browser as long as you don’t open too many tabs; You can use apps like the office suite, email, terminal, and so on. Once you move away from such common, simple tasks, things become very difficult with 8GB of RAM.
double double
What if we move to 16GB of RAM, which has long been considered the sweet spot? Things are about to work out much better. In fact, with 16 GB of RAM, most of the problems with 8 GB go away, except one – the RAMdrive. The good news is that most users (especially new to Linux) won’t bother with a RAMdrive.
With 16GB of RAM, you can open far more tabs in your browser, do some gaming, use virtual machines, develop and create videos and images. However, I will say this: rendering video with 16GB of RAM will mean you won’t be able to do anything else until the process is complete.
How to estimate your RAM requirements
What if we go with 32GB RAM? At this point, everything goes smoother, you can play even more demanding games (especially if you have a dedicated GPU), render videos while multitasking, and have better luck with virtual machines. You can use a RAM drive and add as much charm as you want to the desktop.
Also: My 10 Favorite Linux Distributions of All Time, Ranked
Having said all that, what is the ideal amount of RAM for Linux today? In my opinion, it depends on your work. Let me break it down.
- If you’re using Linux for web browsing (with limited tabs), writing and editing documents, reading and sending emails, chatting and have no interest in gaming, then 8 GB will be fine.
- If you have a lot of browser tabs open, want to perform the same tasks you would with 8GB of RAM, want to do some light development, and do a little gaming and virtual machines, I would suggest 16GB of RAM.
- If you want to do it all, play more serious games, and develop larger projects, go with 32GB.
- if you In fact If you want to future-proof your system (meaning you won’t need to upgrade it for a long time), go with the maximum amount supported by your system (which is often 64GB).
Ultimately, the more RAM the better. The way I decide how much RAM I need is to find my minimum amount (from the list above) and then double it.
my linux ram is good space
For what I do on my Linux system (which involves lots of tabs, editing large images with GIMP, lots of virtual machines, and general productivity tasks) I need at least 32GB of RAM. If you double the amount of RAM you think you need, you’ll find that your PC performs better in the long run.
Too: You Can Try Linux Without Leaving Windows First – Here’s How
Although Linux can work with a limited amount of RAM, you can easily become frustrated with the system slowing down under load. And the way websites are designed today, they place greater demands on your system. You definitely don’t want to open another tabJust searching for it brings your computer to a halt.
