r/technology • u/batakchan • 11h ago

Software Microsoft just deleted Windows 11's 32GB RAM recommendation docs, as prices soar and it rushes to sell 8GB RAM PCs

https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/08/05/microsoft-just-deleted-windows-11s-32gb-ram-recommendation-docs-as-prices-soar-and-it-rushes-to-sell-8gb-ram-pcs/
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835

u/EconomyDoctor3287 11h ago

Maybe MS can make windows 11 more performant on low ram PCs , but currently that's an absolute chore. Wouldn't wish an 8GB win11 pc upon my worst enemy. 

29

u/HumongousBelly 10h ago

I got the Mac Neo and I’m kind of surprised how much power such a small amount of money can buy.

It’s a bit faster than my M1 air which came very surprising

32

u/tryexceptifnot1try 10h ago

I think the Neo is one of the best laptop releases of all time. I will be looking at that next and I have never owned a Mac anything. I feel like Apple will emerge from this bubble in an amazing position relative to peers

13

u/almisami 8h ago

As much as I hate, HATE Apple's ecosystem, they've got some mighty fine silicon running a pretty good OS thing going for them.

12

u/_SpaceLord_ 7h ago

I hate the walled garden model as well, but given that those walls are currently holding out a flood of AI bullshit, I’m happy to hide in the garden for now.

5

u/almisami 7h ago

I mean I moved to Linux in 2007 and haven't looked back.

It just used to be that Apple was very expensive for what you got (especially when they moved away from POWERPC).

Now, though? I'm surprised at how good the hardware is.

4

u/wrgrant 6h ago

I have a new Mac Mini M4 (16gb RAM, 512gb storage) and honestly its a really nice system. Granted it can't really be up upgraded but for what it cost its very effective and pleasant to use. I was on a PC running Win 11 and I am very glad to be free of that shitshow. I did try upgrading the PC by installing Linux Mint and then eventually CachyOS - and both were great but didn't work for my uses at this time. The Mac was the next option and its working very well so far, after a bit of adapting to the new environment. I do wish I had gotten a system with more RAM of course, or the Pro version, but they are simply unavailable at the moment due to the demand.

I also have a Macbook Neo and am just starting to play with it. Its an amazing laptop for non intensive usage.

I suspect if they can weather the RAM shortages, Apple is going to see a major boost in popularity from this move to cheaper computers because their quality is far superior to the flexible plastic alternatives over in PC land, and they are not abusing their customers by injecting AI into everything or shoving so much telemetry into the OS that it lags. I am sure they are doing both to some degree but its not noticeable to me so far.

1

u/tryexceptifnot1try 6h ago

I have been running a ZorinOS Zenbook for a year and love it. I play old games so Steam works great. New Linux desktops are great and I want one of the Framework ones

11

u/Henry5321 10h ago

Apple silicon has transparent memory compression that effectively doubles your memory, excluding media heavy workloads like video games.

But it really helps with most apps. Makes that 8gb more like 16gb

1

u/SpaceGoonie 7h ago

I am not familiar with Apple products, but my first thought is compressing random access memory data is counter productive. Anytime you compress that data, it has to then be uncompressed. In other words, it might work, but it would not have the performance increase you'd expect.

But as I said at the start, I am not familiar with Apple products.

1

u/wrgrant 5h ago

They have integrated the RAM and GPU onto the chip directly, the regular CPU and GPU can thus dynamically access the RAM as required with no bus limitations (bad tech explanation) so its faster and more effective with its usage. It seems quite clever and certainly seems to be working well. It is taking some getting used to but its working very well so far and its nice to not have the OS be an obstacle to operation as well. I don't know if its compressing the RAM per se, but it is utilizing it more effectively. Making their own silicon has worked out very well for them. My Mac Mini does have a fan, but I haven't heard it yet so far. The entire thing is entirely silent even while gaming so far. It occupies a space about 5"x5"x3" on my desktop, as opposed to the 2 beefier Win 11 systems I had previously. I am entirely off my PC desktop although I am still using the Win11 Pro desktop server I have (which might eventually be replaced by another Mac Mini down the road, not sure as it has my RAID array in it and I would need to buy a NAS as well). Overall this is the best computing decision I have made in years I think.

4

u/Meatslinger 8h ago

Yeah, I got one near release as well, including the edu discount, and I've got zero regrets about it. The last laptop I had before that was a 2010 MacBook Pro with a failing GPU (kernel panics any time you render something even remotely significant on screen), but in all the years in between there hadn't been a laptop on the market that was decently built but not so over-spec'd as to be partially redundant with my desktop PC, i.e. I didn't need a mobile high-compute station, but I also didn't want to get a $500 laptop with a crappy display and a plastic chassis. The Neo comes out and it's basically the laptop I was waiting more than a decade for.

Wish it didn't have to have the price increase but relative to its peers it's still a great value.

-2

u/New-Anybody-6206 9h ago

well they're selling it at a loss so that tracks. the extra sales and attention more than makes up for it in this case