For users still using 8GB of RAM, there is bad news: TrendForce reports (via TechPowerUp) that Microsoft has set a new threshold of 16GB of RAM required for AI PCs, which means 8GB users may finally have to upgrade if they want to keep up with the latest This means that 8GB users may finally have to upgrade if they want to keep up with the latest Copilot features.

This seems like good news, at least for DRAM manufacturers, but for users who have been happy with 8GB so far, or for users who don't care about Copilot or AI features anyway, now may be the time to upgrade.

You may be content to let the AI functionality be integrated into the OS in the bare minimum (and honestly, given the current utilities, I don't blame you), but the truth is that 8GB has been cutting into the minimum functional PC requirements for quite some time.

Outside of games, 16GB remains a realistic minimum for anyone playing anything more than lightweight indie titles, but on a modern system with some basic background programs installed and a reasonable number of browser tabs open is the fact that 8GB or more will fill up quickly.

Unless you happen to spend a fair amount of time playing whack-a-mole with apps or have a Zen-like approach to running the absolute minimum of background programs, you are likely to be reaching capacity limits on a modern Windows machine on some regular basis.

Windows as a whole is pretty good at managing RAM usage and making sure there is enough left over to run properly, but there is only so much the OS can realistically do without dipping into virtual memory.

Fortunately, however, DDR4 and DDR5 RAM is currently quite cheap. This may not last for long, as manufacturers are cutting back on production, but as it stands, adding 8GB of RAM to get 16GB is a relatively small expense.

If you are using a device with RAM soldered to the board with no possibility of upgrading, I sympathize, but strides in progress will come to us all at some point.

Whether you are interested in taking advantage of upcoming AI features or are willing to ignore them altogether, it is finally time to say goodbye to 8GB as a reasonable minimum requirement; 16GB or more is the future and, in effect, 32GB is becoming a realistic recommended spec for high-end gaming

I have a rule.

I don't make the rules, but with RAM still inexpensive, now may be the time to get ahead of the game.