software
We feel that the memory shortage is reducing Windows revenue.
With RAM becoming more and more expensive, Microsoft is putting more effort into making Windows 11 work better on systems with as little as 8GB of memory.
Microsoft said Tuesday that it’s “raising the bar for 8GB Windows 11 PCs,” following a surge in interest in memory optimization earlier this year. The changes come as Redmond continues to offer more expensive Copilot+ PCs, which require at least 16GB of RAM, amid a memory shortage fueled by demand for AI infrastructure.
Now, Microsoft says a low-end machine with its 8GB of precious RAM will be up to 20% more responsive and 40% faster at multitasking thanks to improvements to memory management.
The adjustments are relatively simple, as Microsoft explained, and seem more about adjusting to the reality that its flagship operating system needs to run on hardware that people can actually afford to buy if and when they are forced to upgrade.
Windows 11 will now keep up to 2GB of additional active data in memory before transferring it to slower storage, for example. In another case, Windows will connect directly to Edge when the browser is already running in the background, allowing it to launch up to 33% faster, according to Microsoft. Microsoft apps are also being made more efficient, with Teams able to enable Efficiency mode by default on 8GB machines, which Microsoft says will allow for “up to 20% faster” launch.
Memory efficiency is also improved by adjusting things like widgets, which will only load when in use instead of always being on, and reducing the time Edge tabs go to sleep from two hours to 15 minutes by default. Microsoft said it also allows third-party apps to use these changes.
Microsoft also included benchmark data in the blog post from recent research it commissioned. The benchmark report compares a range of 2026 Windows machines with 2021 models, finding that a Dell XPS 13 2026 with 8GB of RAM performed about as well as a Dell XPS 13 2021 with 16GB on some workloads.
This means, according to Microsoft, that “it’s the PC as a whole, not memory capacity alone, that shapes the experience.”
In other words, buy new Windows hardware, even if it costs a lot – we implore you. Software optimization can only do so much.
“For many people, 8GB is just fine for the things they do every day,” Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft’s executive vice president for Windows and devices, wrote in the blog post. “Demanding workloads, such as 3D modeling, advanced video editing, or large-scale data processing, benefit from 16 GB of memory or more. »
It’s no surprise that Microsoft is boosting the performance of low-end systems while subtly asking users to buy newer kit, even if it’s just an 8GB machine – Microsoft may have done well over the past couple of quarters, but it’s not because of Windows devices.
Microsoft’s fourth-quarter 2026 results in late July allowed the company to harvest cash more broadly, while simultaneously reporting a 7% decline in OEM and Windows device revenue.
Likewise, in its first quarter 2027 results, released last week, Microsoft again reported a mountain of net profit, with adjusted profit reaching $36.4 billion, up 18% from the same period last year. However, OEM and Windows device revenue fell 22%. It’s hard to find a reason beyond the fact that hardware prices have soared more forcefully than a SpaceX rocket – memory prices are likely to reach Mars, unlike Starship – leaving consumers and businesses to lengthen those upgrade cycles.
If you need to get the most out of that 8GB Windows 11 PC, you’ll find the latest improvements in 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later. Microsoft also encourages users to keep its branded apps updated, as “some improvements come via app updates or through the Microsoft Store.” ®
Gn tech
