RAM (Random Access Memory) and storage are two of the most important components that determine the performance and capabilities of any computing device. But is a combination of 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage still good enough in 2024? Let‘s take a detailed look.
What is RAM and How Does it Affect Performance?
RAM is the memory that allows your computer to quickly access data to run programs and apps. The more RAM you have, the more applications and browser tabs you can have open simultaneously without slowing down your computer.
4GB of RAM is the bare minimum required to run a Windows 10 or 11 machine smoothly these days. However, with only 4GB RAM you‘ll face notable limits in day-to-day use:
- Can only run a few lightweight apps and browser tabs simultaneously
- Multitasking ability is very limited
- Will struggle with heavy workloads like gaming, video editing, data analysis etc.
- Frequent lag, stuttering and freezing up during intensive tasks
While 4GB RAM computers can handle basic tasks like web browsing just fine, performance deteriorates quickly when pushing the system even moderately. Upgrading to 8GB or 16GB RAM is recommended for a smoother overall experience.
What is Storage and How Does it Affect Performance?
Storage refers to the hard drive or solid state drive (SSD) that stores all your programs, files, photos, videos and other data permanently. The more storage you have, the more programs, apps, files and media you can install and store on your computer.
64GB of storage is considered very small by today‘s standards. With only 64GB you‘ll only be able to store:
- The Windows OS itself (~20GB)
- A few small productivity apps like Office (~5GB)
- A modest amount of photos, music and files
64GB allows for only the most basic of use cases like web browsing, email, document editing and light media consumption. Even moderate use cases like mainstream gaming, video streaming, photography etc. will push the limits of 64GB storage very quickly.
Upgrading to at least 128GB is recommended for comfortable day-to-day use, while power users will want 500GB+ storage.
Why is 4GB RAM and 64GB Storage an Underpowered Combo?
The combination of just 4GB RAM and 64GB storage is an underpowered pairing by 2023 standards for several reasons:
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With only 4GB RAM, you cannot effectively multitask beyond just having a few browser tabs open. This severely limits what you can do on the machine at any given time, even if you still have free storage
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64GB storage fills up extremely fast once you start installing productivity apps, games, media files etc. You‘ll constantly need to delete and shuffle around data to avoid running out of space
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Low RAM means the system will rely on small internal storage for ‘virtual‘ memory swap. But with only 64GB total space, this further deteriorates performance
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Upgrading either component individually provides limited benefit. More RAM won‘t help much if you constantly run out of storage. More storage is pointless if RAM bottlenecks system performance
Overall, a balanced RAM and storage configuration is vital for optimal performance. 4GB/64GB creates a huge bottleneck on both fronts for any kind of moderate to intensive computer use.
Everyday Use Cases and Recommended RAM/Storage
Here are some common use cases and the recommended RAM and storage combinations needed for a good experience:
| Use Case | Recommended RAM | Recommended Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Basic home use (web, email, documents) | 4GB | 128GB |
| Mainstream gaming | 8GB | 256GB+ |
| Video and photo editing | 16GB+ | 512GB+ |
| Programming and development | 16GB+ | 512GB+ |
| Multiple VMs for testing | 32GB+ | 1TB+ |
As you can see, 4GB/64GB only covers extremely basic ‘just browsing the web‘ kinds of use cases. For any kind of meaningful productivity or entertainment, at least 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is recommended.
Power users running intensive creative apps, gaming, development workloads etc. will want 16GB+ RAM and 512GB+ storage for optimal experience.
Real-World Performance Examples
Here are some real-world benchmarks and usage examples that demonstrate how a 4GB/64GB system would perform:
- With just 4GB RAM, having more than 4-5 browser tabs open leads to lag and browser crashes [1]
- A 4GB RAM machine took 11 minutes just to export a 5 minute 1080p video in Premiere Pro. Unusable for any practical video editing [2]
- The latest Call of Duty game consumes over 12GB storage on its own. No room left for other games on a 64GB drive [3]
- Windows OS and Adobe Creative Cloud apps easily occupy over 40GB, leaving only ~20GB free space on a new 64GB laptop [4]
These examples highlight how limited a 4GB/64GB setup is for daily productivity and entertainment needs for most people today.
Can You Improve a 4GB/64GB System by Upgrading One Component?
Sometimes people wonder if pairing low RAM with higher storage or vice versa can balance things out. Here is what happens in these scenarios:
4GB RAM + Larger Storage
Upgrading storage helps little if RAM remains low. You may now have room to install more apps and games, but performance will still struggle severely when trying to actually use them. Adding more RAM is the only way forward.
64GB Storage + More RAM
Added RAM alleviates multitasking limitations but you still run out of storage space very quickly. You now have unused RAM sitting there without enough drive space to install apps to utilize it. Adding more storage is key.
The takeaway is that both RAM and storage need to be reasonably balanced for optimal real-world experience.
Conclusion – When is 4GB/64GB Enough?
4GB RAM and 64GB storage is a low-powered combination by modern computing standards. It is really only suitable for the most basic of needs like light web browsing, email, document editing and little else in 2024.
Even moderate use cases will benefit tremendously from at least 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Power users needing serious multitasking capabilities and drive space should look for 16GB+ RAM and 512GB+ storage configurations.
The good news is that with the continuing drop in memory and storage prices, devices offering higher RAM/storage are more affordable than ever. Look for at least 8GB/128GB if you want a computer that won‘t feel outdated soon. Combined with a decent processor, this combo will handle most home and office workloads comfortably.
Sources
[1] https://web.dev/monitor-total-browser-memory[2] https://www.videomaker.com/article/f6-18285-pc-build-minimum-system-requirements-for-4k-video-editing-pc
[3] https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2019-system-requirements-for-pc-announced/1100-6469938/
[4] https://blog.storagecraft.com/the-hard-drive-space-needed-for-adobe-creative-cloud/
