Even Microsoft couldn’t make Windows 11 work well on 8GB of RAM

https://www.theverge.com/tech/966937/microsoft-surface-laptop-13-inch-8gb-ram-2026-review

170 points · 29 comments · view on lemmy.world

29 Comments

godot@lemmy.world · 46 pts · 38d (2 replies)

I’m skeptical. I suspect 8gb of memory is sufficient (barely) to select and download a good Linux distro, which is where Windows 11 really excels these days.

MrKoyun@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 38d (1 reply)

Not really barely. You can make linux run just fine with less than 8.

Chivera@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 38d

They mean windows can run good enough with 8gb to allow you to download Linux

GreenCrunch@piefed.blahaj.zone · 30 pts · 38d (2 replies)

thank goodness large quantities of RAM are cheap and plentiful!

NarrativeBear@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 38d (1 reply)

Thank goodness Linux exists, my 8 year old laptop runs like I just picked it up from the store.

UninterestingVoid@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 38d
[ removed ]
Bytemeister@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 38d (5 replies)

I've got an 8GB Windows 11 system for work, and I don't have (many) issues with using that much RAM...

Mainly because I work from a virtual machine, and also because I had to aggressively trim down startup items to get enough capacity to get a remote desktop connection to work.

Window 11 is a fucking joke. XP worked better with 1/10th the compute power.

nosuchanon@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 38d (4 replies)

you know it would be a great project if someone rewrote Windows XP to handle modern hardware.

corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 38d (3 replies)

Reactos has you covered.

nosuchanon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 38d

Cool. Might give that a shot. I have an old intel c2d Mac mini that has not been cooperative with windows install. Maybe this will work.

AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 38d

Should be ready for prime time Real Soon Now™.

OS2Warp@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 38d
Wispy2891@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 38d

When even the start menu is a webapp...

wotaku@discuss.tchncs.de · 17 pts · 38d

Linux running smoothly on my 4 GB laptop

ViscloReader@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 38d

Wdym "even Microsoft"?? To me they are the only ones incapable of doing it. Every other OS runs well on 8Gb

elucubra@sopuli.xyz · 13 pts · 38d (1 reply)

The whole minimum HW requirements is so bullshit. It's all about bloat. I have a stick pc and a tablet with some Atom CPU, 2Gb RAM, that run W10 reasonably well. No rockets and will probably choke on many apps, but for web stuff (just don't keep more than 2-3 tabs open) media playing, and light stuff they are surprisingly capable. I have installed Antix Linux on one, and it's a really capable machine.

  1. Gigabytes. of. RAM.
OS2Warp@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 38d

No rockets and will probably choke on many apps…

You should always spring for the rocket model.

devilish666@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 38d (1 reply)

Meanwhile on linux side: 128MB RAM (Optional)

SomeRandomNoob@discuss.tchncs.de · 5 pts · 38d

In Theory CPU Caches are big enough to run an (small) OS. If there is Software support, RAM would be indeed optional.

toddestan@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 38d (1 reply)

I have to wonder if Microsoft also went to a cheaper (slower) SSD. Windows 11 isn't great with 8GB of ram, but also my experience is Windows 11 can handle a light load without freezing up for several seconds.

Jayb151@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 38d

I don't get it...I use Windows for my work machine and it's only 8gb of RAM. It handles multiple browsers, plus private windows, rust desk and screen connect at the same time, one note, and another browser running outlook in a pwa app. This is all no issue for me.

All that said, when I figure out how to get screen connect to prompt me for admin creds when I'm doing a remote session with a user, I'll switch to my Fedora machine full time lol

alexquiniou@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 38d (1 reply)

And 4 ?

bhamlin@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 38d

I have an older surface laptop I won as a prize at a conference. It is still receiving updates, works great (for what it is), and only has 4gigs of ram.

They can do it. They don't want to.

madthumbs@lemmy.world · -32 pts · 38d (6 replies)

Windows is more mature and robust. Linux expects ECC ram, Windows expects non for example. Linux causes VLC to seize the whole PC causing portable HDD to corrupt. Corrupt HDD seizes Linux when mounted. Windows checks the drive and fixes it before mounting. -That's what your 'bloat' looks like.

But for propaganda, a 'link' to Co-Pilot (cloud service) was being called 'bloat'.

DupaCycki@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 38d (1 reply)

When somebody who's never used Linux writes about using Linux.

madthumbs@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 38d

The vocal minority are mostly n00b. lol

krasogad@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 38d

Me when I lie

Theoriginalthon@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 38d (1 reply)

Have you even used windows or Linux before?

madthumbs@lemmy.world · -6 pts · 38d

Have you gone a day without a diaper before?

Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 38d

It's the delulu linux hater again. Hiiiiii mister!!! Hope your day shilling for windows is going well.