How Much RAM

[Agomongo]

I usually know that 4gb is enough for most situations, but as I keep reading more and more it seems like people are changing to say that 8gb is better to get even if you don't plan on using heavy programs. The thing is that I remember having a laptop with a core i5 and 4gb of ram. That was the slowest computer I had ever used. Which is making me think they're right: 8gb of RAM is necessary. I could barely open Chrome! However, maybe it was a defective laptop. I just bought the Surface pro 4 with the 4gb. I don't want to open it yet, however do you guys think that using it just for web browsing (having around 6 tabs open) and using it for PDF's (some files more than 100 pages)?

 

[punkncat]

IMO, since the whole Spectre and Meltdown debacle it really pays to have more RAM in that a bit more of it will be in use on idle than "before". Even with more RAM there are situations now that have more latency than they did before.

 

[SoggyTissue]

chrome is super RAM hungry, so long as you use any other web browser, you will be 'ok'

lack of RAM means windows will use pagefile (simulated RAM on your hdd which will be slow if its a normal hdd) and if you have an ssd, then youre fine.

my general rule of thumb is: number of programs used simultaneously x 2
eg web browser + pdf creation + watching a video = 3 programs x 2 = 6GB (ofc you cant really get 6GB easily these days and so 8GB would be the target).

other people use different methods to come up with a target RAM number.

 

[Agomongo]

IMO, since the whole Spectre and Meltdown debacle it really pays to have more RAM in that a bit more of it will be in use on idle than "before". Even with more RAM there are situations now that have more latency than they did before.

Darn that's still affecting us? Haven't kept up with it, but seems so. :/

chrome is super RAM hungry, so long as you use any other web browser, you will be 'ok'

I see so then something like Firefox would be fine? How about Firefox and 100 page PDF running at the same time. You think that should be good?

 

[Barty1884]

4GB is usable, absolutely - depending on the workload.

Chrome though, I have 10 tabs open currently, and it's using 1.5-2GB itself.

Your old i5 laptop may have struggled elsewhere - slow HDD etc, or an older OS install with a bunch of startup programs etc.


Provided your keep the Surface relatively clean of bloat, 4GB should be capable for what you describe.

 

[Agomongo]

4GB is usable, absolutely - depending on the workload.

Chrome though, I have 10 tabs open currently, and it's using 1.5-2GB itself.

Your old i5 laptop may have struggled elsewhere - slow HDD etc, or an older OS install with a bunch of startup programs etc.


Provided your keep the Surface relatively clean of bloat, 4GB should be capable for what you describe.

Ooof that's quite a bit. Also, thanks for your guy's help!