Microsoft reportedly sets 16 GB minimum RAM requirement for Windows AI PCs and Copilot

Microsoft’s AI Copilot will kickstart an era of mainstream Windows PCs with more DRAM

The past decade has seen a stagnation when it comes to the DRAM sizes of mainstream PCs. Frankly, the fact that Windows PCs are being sold with a mere 4GB of VRAM today is appalling. Thankfully, that will change as Windows enters its AI era with Copilot.

A report from TrendForce has claimed that Microsoft are setting a 16GB minimum RAM requirement for AI PCs. While not all new PCs will be AI PCs, this requirement will see the average PC ship with much more system memory. This is great news for all PC users. Having access to more DRAM can beneficial for most mainstream workloads, not just new AI related tasks.

This change will also be good for the broader DRAM industry. Increasing memory requirements will see DRAM manufacturers ship more memory. The downside of this is that a DRAM shortage could be created, increasing the cost of memory chips.

Microsoft has set the baseline for DRAM in AI PCs at 16 GB. In the long term, TrendForce projects that AI PCs will catalyze an increase in annual demand for PC DRAM bits, with consumer upgrade trends further boosting this demand.

When purchasing a new laptop, one of the first things I typically do is upgrade its memory configuration (if possible). As the family techie, I help a lot of people purchase new laptops. While most of these users only need basic PCs, all of them would typically benefit from having more DRAM and their ideal (cost-effective) PCs ship with. This is why I welcome the adoption of 16 GB as a minimum standard for Windows AI, as eventually this will trickle down to more mainstream PCs. Let’s hope that the era of the 4GB mainstream PC will soon be behind us.

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