Windows 12 Shift to 16 GB RAM

Corrine

Corrine

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From Windows 12 Is Going To Make Some Significant Changes for New PCs:

Recent reports have shed light on Microsoft's ambitious plans for Windows 12, revealing a strategic move to increase the minimum specifications required to run the operating system. According to a detailed analysis by Trendforce, a notable shift is on the horizon with the base memory requirement set to soar to 16GB.

This adjustment is not merely a numbers game; it aligns with Microsoft's vision for integrating its AI assistant Copilot into the user experience, ensuring it operates with minimum efficiency.

This decision underscores a broader trend towards more powerful, AI-driven PCs. Historically, Microsoft's operating systems have maintained relatively low minimum requirements, with Windows 11 and Windows 10 requiring 4GB and 1-2GB of memory, respectively.

The leap to 16GB represents a significant escalation, reflecting the growing demands of advanced computing tasks and AI applications.
Click to expand...

See the linked article for more information.
 
This decision underscores a broader trend towards more powerful, AI-driven PCs.
Click to expand...

Of course that's assuming that you want a more powerful AI-driven PC. Personally I can't think of anything I want less, just like I don't want a fridge that connects to the internet, or a car that drives itself.

Call me a trogladyte if you wish, but if you don't want to turn into a vegetable, then you need to do things for yourself, and not have everything done for you by a "smart" machine.
 
AI amazes and scares me at the same time. I can type 2 letters in Bing or Google and up pops what I am looking for. What's next, I simply open my search engine and there's what I want without me typing anything? :eek:

The bad guys have figured out how to use it to thwart anti-spam measures not only by getting their bots through defenses easier, but by making the spam look more applicable to the topic. That scares me.

I think what scares me most is our do-nothing governments will do-nothing to get a handle on it until after it is too late, AI has become sentient and has decided the best way to rule the world, and taken control of the means to do it. And I don't even wear tin-foil hats! So yeah, that's what scares me most.

***

Having said all that - and getting back on topic, IMO 16GB of RAM would be reasonable even without AI. 16GB has been the "sweetspot" since W10. Just because Windows and our apps can run in less RAM, that does not suggest wait-states are not happening, and more importantly, the performance would be satisfactory.

And with CPUs and GPUs constantly becoming more capable, OSs and programs demanding more, and with users asking more of their systems, not having to wait for RAM resources just makes sense.

Otherwise, what will happen? The same thing that always happens. Microsoft will get blamed for causing computers to be sluggish, and for everything else that goes wrong in the universe.

Frankly, I would like to see the new minimum specs include ≥500GB SSDs - at least for the boot drive - too.

The problem in general with published System Requirements is they typically are totally unrealistic. Clearly created by marketing weenies looking to attract more buyers, regardless their systems capabilities. Reminds of the banks pushing mortgage loans on people who clearly cannot afford them.

Windows 11 System requirements.

Processor 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores​
RAM 4 gigabyte (GB).​
Storage 64 GB or larger storage device​

Yeah right. :(

For Windows 10, it was 1GB of RAM for 32Bit and a whopping 2GB of RAM for 64Bit Windows (and only 32GB of disk space with either version).

Those less savvy folks on a budget, thinking they could run Windows and their apps with no problems would invariably be disappointed - especially when they learned their entry-level device could not be upgraded or had very limited (and likely proprietary :mad: ) upgrade options.

So yes, today W10/11 will run in 8GB with a hard drive. But it will run much MUCH better in 16GB and a SSD. And it makes total sense to me W12, expected to run in even more modern, more demanding, more capable hardware, would need (to run satisfactorily) at least 16GB.

Important note - RAM is cheap. I see 16GB (2 x 8GB) of DDR5 of Samsung RAM for only $36.
 
Regardless of the AI future, how good would it be if every PC we worked on had a minimum of 16GB of RAM? But in saying that the way the world is going soon enough 16GB will be a baby in terms of RAM confirm. My Gaming rig is 64gb, just enough for gaming and a few chrome tabs hey!

I can't wait for this, but I do dread the TPM and ram killing off older hardware so fast. Hopefully we can recycle alot
 
A minimum of 16GB gives good performance now, but what generally happens when manufacturers ask for more RAM, is they clutter it up with more performance draining additions that nobody really has any great use for.

As for recycling, well I'd be happier if we could just get a reliable supply of spare parts from manufacturers, so that we could repair the machines we already have, because at the moment it's often a hit/miss situation whether you can or not. The ability to repair our machines would keep an awful lot of them out of landfill.
 
You have some very valid points there Gary! I feel like post Covid~ Supply/Parts has been horrible hey. I used to love the days where a model x y z was around for a good year or so and they mass produced them. Lenovo T430 was a good model. I loved that laptop lol.
 
Yes, IMO manufacturers should be legally obliged to supply spare parts for the machines they produce for some set period of time (say 5 years), and at a reasonable price, so that those who want to can repair their own machines, because I'm sure that there's a lot of machines out there, that are being "binned" unnecessarily.

I know there's quite a strong "right to repair" movement in both the States and Europe, so hopefully the necessary legislation will come to pass, though I suspect that manufacturers will fight tooth and nail to prevent it.
 
In the U.S.A. automobile manufacturers are required to have parts available for a period of 10 years. Based on that, at least 5 years would be a good target for tech stuff.
 
That's correct. I'm a Super Moderator on a large Dodge Challenger forum and there are already people who can't fix their cars because parts like ABS modules are no longer available. There is a (hopefully growing) industry of remanufacturing and repair for such parts. We're hoping the aftermarket will also have reproduction parts like they do for classic cars now. 2023 is the last year for the Challenger so far, so the countdown has begun

A Guy
 
The problem with 3rd party aftermarket parts is they often are inferior - very inferior, failing to meet even minimum OEM specs. I learned about that when my new (at the time) F150 was sideswiped and I needed a new rear bumper. The body shop said I was lucky my truck was less than a year old because the aftermarket bumpers insurance companies were pushing looked identical, but were cheap, thin, and flimsy. But because my truck was less than 1 year old, I got an OEM bumper.

To clarify, I am talking about 3rd party replacement parts marketed as replacement parts to be used in repairs to replace OEM parts that have failed or were damaged. Certainly, for enthusiasts who are customizing their cars or trucks, there are many aftermarket parts that are superior to the OEM parts - typically for a pretty penny. But of course, insurance companies are not going to pay for them.
 
Well, clearly you've done your homework.

The point I was trying to make was about insurance companies requiring :( repair shops use less expensive but potentially inferior aftermarket parts in their repairs. Regulations and laws, unfortunately, vary state by state in the US. There are no federal laws requiring specific quality or safety standards for 3rd party replacement parts. And of course, insurance companies are looking to cut costs anywhere they can. I suspect there are similar vaguenesses in other parts of the world too.

Are you entitled to brand-name car repair parts? Know your rights

Can Insurance Companies Force You to Use Aftermarket Parts?

That said, not sure if it is even possible to drive (pun intended! ;)) Corrine's threat further off-topic.
 

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