Linux RAM in 2026: expert guidance on 8GB, 16GB and 32GB

ZDNET reporter Jack Wallen lays out recommended RAM amounts for Linux PCs in 2026, arguing the ideal quantity depends on the user's tasks and usage patterns. Wallen notes that Ubuntu Desktop's minimum requirement is 4GB of RAM and that he has run Ubuntu in a virtual machine with 3GB, though he would not recommend such a small amount.

He explains RAM acts as fast, temporary storage for data the computer is actively using and is crucial for speed, responsiveness, multitasking, demanding tasks, a smooth user experience, and future-proofing. Wallen says 8GB will work for limited use — basic browsing, office apps and email — but can cause problems with many browser tabs, gaming, virtual machines, development, video editing, using a RAM drive, and editing large images.

He describes 16GB as a long-standing sweet spot that removes most of the 8GB limits (though a RAM drive may still be impractical) and allows more tabs, some gaming, development, virtual machines and image and video work, with the caveat that rendering video may tie up the machine.

At 32GB, Wallen says "everything smooths out": more demanding games (especially with a dedicated GPU), rendering while multitasking, better virtual machine performance, use of a RAM drive and heavier desktop effects. He recommends choosing 8GB for very light use, 16GB for heavier multitasking and light development, 32GB for serious gaming and larger projects, and the maximum your system supports (often 64GB) to future-proof.

Key Topics

Tech, Linux, Jack Wallen, Ubuntu Desktop, Ram, Virtual Machines