Memory (RAM) is where your computer keeps what it’s actively working on. Too little, and everything slows down as the system swaps data to disk.

Why it matters more than ever

Modern workdays involve a browser with dozens of tabs, Teams, Outlook, Excel, and a security agent, all running at once. Each uses memory.

Recommendations by role

Role	Recommended RAM (Memory)
Basic tasks, reception, light use	8 GB (minimum, not ideal)
General office, hybrid workers	16 GB
Heavy multitasking, analysts, finance	16–32 GB
Developers, designers, VM users	32 GB or more
Servers	Depends on workload; plan for growth

Signs your users need more

– Computers slow down as the day goes on

– Frequent “not responding” messages

– Disk activity pinned at 100% while using many apps

– Memory usage consistently above 80%

Check before buying

– Is the RAM upgradeable? Many thin laptops solder memory to the board, so you must choose the right amount upfront.

– Dual-channel configurations perform better than a single stick.

Smart purchasing

For a three- to five-year lifespan, buying 16 GB today is much cheaper than replacing machines early because 8 GB became inadequate.

Not sure what your fleet needs? DBR Soft can run a performance review and recommend upgrades or replacements.