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"My PC is sluggish — do I just need to add some RAM?" — that's the first guess for a lot of my customers. Sometimes it's the right answer, often it isn't. Here's how to decide properly, without spending money for nothing.
What exactly does RAM do?
A simple analogy: RAM is your desk. The bigger it is, the more open files you can spread out at once. If your desk is too small, you constantly have to put one file back in the cupboard (the hard drive) to take out another — and that's what causes the slowdown.
The processor is you: no matter how fast you are, if you spend all your time fetching files from the cupboard, you're getting nowhere.
How much RAM do you need in 2026?
An honest benchmark, based on real-world usage:
- 4 GB: the bare minimum, but Windows 11 itself struggles. Best avoided, even for light office work.
- 8 GB: fine for simple office tasks (email, web, Word). Gets tight if you open lots of browser tabs or run Teams/Zoom alongside.
- 16 GB: the sweet spot in 2026 for 90% of uses. Smooth office work, comfortable multitasking, photo editing, a teenager playing games that aren't too demanding.
- 32 GB: useful if you do video editing, 3D work, development, or gaming in 4K.
- 64 GB and up: for very specific uses (professional 3D, local AI, virtual machines).
The right instinct: if you have 8 GB today and find your PC a bit tight, moving to 16 GB transforms the machine. Going beyond that with no specific need achieves nothing.
How to tell whether YOUR PC is short on RAM
On Windows: open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), Performance tab → Memory. Run your usual workload (Chrome with your tabs, Word, Teams, etc.). If the Memory gauge climbs above 80%, your PC is short on RAM.
On Mac: Activity Monitor → Memory. Look at the "Memory Pressure" bar at the bottom. If it's green: all good. Yellow or red: you're short.
Another typical sign: you close Chrome tabs before opening a heavy program. You avoid running Photoshop and Outlook at the same time. You restart regularly because "it slows down after a few hours". All of that is saturated RAM.
Can you actually add RAM to your machine?
Not every computer can be upgraded. This is the question to settle BEFORE buying anything.
Desktop PC (tower): in 95% of cases, yes. Just open it up, identify the type (DDR3, DDR4, DDR5), and add a module.
Windows laptop: it depends on the model. On "office" models from 5-10 years ago (Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude, HP ProBook), it's often possible and easy. On recent ultraportables (XPS, some MacBook Air-style Windows machines), the RAM is soldered to the motherboard: impossible to change.
MacBook: every MacBook since 2013-2014 has soldered RAM. You can no longer add RAM to a modern MacBook. On older iMacs (before 2020), it's still possible. On the Mac mini M1/M2/M3 and the latest iMacs: soldered RAM as well.
Practical consequence: if you buy a new MacBook or Mac mini, choose the RAM carefully at purchase. Going for 16 GB rather than 8 GB costs €230 more at Apple, but it's permanent — you won't be able to change it later.
How to check on your machine? Note the exact model reference (label on the underside of the laptop, or Settings → About). Look it up on the manufacturer's website or on crucial.com — Crucial has a scanner tool that automatically detects your model and shows the compatible modules + the maximum supported.
How much does it cost?
Rough prices in early 2026 (hardware only):
- Going from 4 to 8 GB (1 DDR4 4 GB stick): ~€25
- Going from 8 to 16 GB (1 DDR4 8 GB stick): ~€30-40
- Going to 32 GB (2 × 16 GB DDR4 sticks): ~€80-100
- Recent DDR5 memory (new PCs): expect 20-30% more
In the workshop, I charge between €30 and €50 in labour depending on the type of machine (desktop PC: quick; laptop: longer to dismantle). Typical total to take a laptop from 8 to 16 GB: €60-90 all in.
More RAM or an SSD? Which first?
A common question. A clear answer:
If you still have a traditional hard drive (HDD): start with the SSD, no question. It's the single most dramatic upgrade there is. Only then should you look at the RAM if the PC still lacks puff. See my full guide to SSDs.
If you already have an SSD and still find the PC slow: look at the RAM. It's often the next bottleneck.
If you want to treat yourself to the winning combo to revive a 5-8 year-old PC: 500 GB SSD + 16 GB of RAM, i.e. ~€150 in parts and 1-2 hours in the workshop. For €200-250 all in, your old PC becomes as fast as a new one again, and you extend its life by 3-5 years.
Free diagnosis in Le Cannet, Cannes or Mougins. I take a look at your PC, identify the real bottleneck (RAM, SSD, OS, something else), and give you a firm quote before any work. If the upgrade isn't worth it on your machine, I'll tell you straight. See the optimisation service or contact me.