Buy 32 GB RAM Laptops

There are lots of reasons to buy more RAM. It's the memory your PC uses to keep active programs, well, active -- ready to open new web browser tabs, recalculate the totals in a spreadsheet, or elevate you to the next level in your favorite PC game. Adding RAM typically increases the cost of a new PC, but more RAM is almost always better for system response and performance.

RAM volume is a personal decision, however. Users who mostly browse the internet and use simple word processing and other programs can accept the minimum 4 GB RAM allotment featured on many budget systems. Others prefer PCs with 8 GB or 16 GB of RAM so they can keep more programs and browser windows open at once, or to meet the recommended specs for particular software or game titles they use frequently.

Then there are the "power users" who want 32 GB of RAM or more. These users put very specific, high-end demands on their PC that make a sufficient RAM allocation vitally important.

Users who will benefit from 32 GB of RAM

Most laptop buyers don't need 32 GB of RAM. But for those who do -- including some competitive gamers, VR designers, video editors, and AI analysts and number-crunchers -- the advantages of extra memory are tangible and vital to their pursuits.

Here's a quick look at some users who may benefit from an extra-large, 32 GB RAM allocation:

• Virtual machine users: Running multiple virtual machines (VMs)      is a great way to test software under different operating systems on the      same PC. However, part of your total RAM must be dedicated to each VM. The      more RAM you have, the more VMs you can maintain.

• RAM disk users: RAM disks are "virtual      drives" that advanced users may create for tasks such as storing      temporary data at hyper speeds (albeit in impermanent, volatile form).      This can extend the life of limited-write solid state drives (SSDs), but      like VMs, RAM disks require dedicated RAM.

• Gamers (especially if live-streaming): Experts say the top PC games rarely use      more than 10-12 GB of RAM on a steady basis, making 16 GB of RAM seem      sufficient. Still, a 32 GB system might be better if the gamer keeps lots      of other programs active or puts games on live-stream -- both of which      demand RAM, too.

• Video/VR editors and image      professionals: A big RAM      allotment is particularly useful for those whose work involves rendering,      compressing or encoding huge files such as video, virtual reality and      high-resolution imagery. When more of each file can be pulled into RAM at      once, these processes speed up significantly.

This is just a partial list, of course. Systems that are used as web servers also have high RAM demands. Even everyday users might find a 32 GB RAM laptop beneficial if they routinely keep 5-10 different software programs running at once (and don't wish to experience delays moving from one program to another). Chrome browser users also find additional RAM helpful, as that particular browser is said to use more RAM per window than some competitors.