2024 New Windows 11 16GB RAM Requirement Causes Hot Debate

A recent report from TrendForce Tiburon Consulting states that Microsoft has set the memory baseline for AI PCs to 16GB.

Some media outlets have said that this also means that the AI features of the new Windows 11 will require at least 16GB of RAM to run. The news sparked a hot debate when it came to light.

In response, WC reported that Microsoft has not yet made an official comment on the said memory requirement. 16GB of RAM is likely to be just Microsoft's recommended configuration rather than a minimum configuration requirement.

WC cited the new Dell XPS as an example of one of the new generation of AI PCs equipped with NPUs, with an Intel Core Ultra processor and a new dedicated AI Copilot key, but it still only has 8GB of RAM in its spec sheet.

When Microsoft first released Windows 11, it suffered a lot of boycotts and criticisms because of the minimum hardware requirements. wc believes that Microsoft may recommend 16GB of RAM to run the AI features of the new version of Windows 11, but still support some old PCs with low configurations.

According to the latest news, Windows 11 will receive a major update (Windows 11 24H2) later this year, focusing on the next-generation AI experience, which is expected to bring a more advanced Copilot AI assistant and enhance Windows UX to improve productivity across apps, search, and more.