Microsoft has listed some concrete ways that Windows 11 is getting better with 8GB of RAM
Windows 11 users with 8GB of RAM should start noticing improved performance in a wide range of apps.
Microsoft has unveiled specific improvements in Windows 11 when paired with 8GB of RAM, highlighting its enhanced performance. Users can anticipate an increase in responsiveness by up to 20 percent and a 40 percent boost in multitasking speed. This enhancement is achieved by retaining up to 2GB more of active data in RAM, preventing it from being transferred to slower storage.
Microsoft has achieved faster interactions, such as opening the Start menu, File Explorer, and Settings, as well as searching and right-clicking, by dedicating system resources to task prioritization. Apps like Edge now open up to 33 percent quicker, and Microsoft's Efficiency Mode is automatically enabled on 8GB PCs to accelerate launch times by up to 20 percent.
Microsoft also claims that multitasking workflow speeds have improved by up to 40 percent, tested by running 20 tabs in Edge alongside a 4K video, Outlook, File Explorer, and large files in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. These applications now utilize up to 360MB less RAM, thanks to improved efficiency. Even third-party apps, like WhatsApp, consume less memory on 8GB configurations.
Widgets only load when opened, and inactive tabs go to sleep after 15 minutes by default on 8GB setups. Additionally, newer processors, such as the 2026 8GB Dell XPS 13, deliver over 90 percent faster multi-core CPU performance compared to their 2021 counterparts. This performance boost is noticeable in general CPU performance, web browsing, 4K video export, and AI tasks.
To benefit from these improvements, Windows 11 PCs must be running build 26300.9818 or later, specifically version 26H2. Keeping applications updated also contributes to these advancements.
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