Are you perhaps looking for a brand new mini PC? Are you currently researching the various technical specifications to buy a small computer that meets all your needs?

While most mini PCs on the market today support custom expansions, it is still advisable to choose the right configuration for the PC from the start. This is especially important when choosing RAM.

Well, this article will help you figure out how much RAM you need.

What is RAM?

You may first ask yourself, “What is a RAM?” The acronym stands for “Random Access Memory.”

Your computer's RAM stores the data to start your computer's operating system and also runs and stores the data of your computer's applications. The RAM itself is only operational while your computer is turned on. Once it is turned off, all data will be lost.

For this reason, your computer system also has a hard drive on which all stored data can be stored. The more applications take up space in your RAM, the more strain you place on it. This is why choosing the right RAM capacity for your needs is crucial.

The different capacities of RAM

Now you know what your computer's RAM does and how important it is to choose the right capacity. You may now be wondering what storage sizes typically exist.

RAM sizes are typically divided into the following four groups: less than 4GB, 4-8GB, 8-16GB, and more than 16GB RAM.

But you may be wondering, “How much RAM do I need for my mini PC?” Well, below we describe the ideal user for each RAM capacity to help you figure out what exactly suits your needs.

Less than 4GB RAM

Finding a computer that offers you less than 4GB of RAM is very rare these days, even for a small, less powerful PC.

It is now considered industry standard for computers to have at least 4 GB of RAM. However, there are some options, most notably Chrome OS, where you can purchase a computer system with as little as 4GB of RAM.

If you plan to have minimal applications and only use a few web browser tabs at a time, you may be happy with 4GB of RAM. However, we recommend avoiding this size as much as possible as the performance of your small device will be affected.

4-8GB RAM

You should really aim for this RAM memory mount as a minimum requirement if you're thinking about purchasing a mini PC. Between 4 and 8 GB is the minimum configuration for productivity users.

So if you use your computer system for work, perhaps sending emails and using Microsoft Office, as well as opening a fair number of internet browsers, then this may be the ideal RAM size for you. This will allow your system to handle casual gaming as long as the games don't require too much RAM.

8-16GB RAM

This size category is considered the “sweet spot” when it comes to mini PC RAM capacity. If you have a computer system with 8 to 16 GB of memory, your computer can easily handle a significant number of applications running simultaneously, as well as a large number of open web browser tabs.

If you also use your computer to stream videos or games (especially games with larger files), a computer with a RAM capacity of 8 to 16 GB is ideal for you. In our opinion, recommending a mini PC with 8/16GB RAM is always right.

More than 16GB RAM

The last capacity class with more than 16 GB of RAM is intended for those users who have high demands on the performance of their computer systems.

Given the small size of a Mini PC, one might easily think that it is not capable of handling the latest games well. However, some recent high-end mini PCs have disproved this stereotype. Give them enough memory and they can handle heavy applications with ease.

Whether you are an Adobe Creative Apps user or working on large files on your computer, and if you are also a streamer or a hardcore gamer, you must go for 16GB plus RAM capacity so that your system can give you the required performance.

Conclusion

We would opt for a RAM capacity of 8 to 16 GB if you use your computer regularly. If you don't use your computer much, you should go for 4-8 GB of RAM. We recommend avoiding computer systems with less than 4GB of RAM if possible, while the higher end of RAM capacity, 16GB and above, should be reserved for those who use a lot of applications.