Windows 11 Gets Up to 40% Faster Multitasking on 8 GB PCs
Microsoft has released a series of Windows 11 optimizations for PCs running on 8 GB of system RAM, and the numbers are notable. For systems on Windows 11 version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, the company reports up to 20% more responsiveness in everyday tasks and up to 40% faster multitasking. Microsoft says its labs tested around 20,000 PCs to find these gains. The core change is that the OS now retains up to 2 GB more active application data in memory rather than moving it to slower SSD or HDD storage. Additional benefits include reduced committed-memory growth of up to 900 MB in Microsoft Edge and 365 apps, and a 360 MB reduction in memory usage for Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. For IT teams and developers, this is a reminder that software efficiency matters as much as hardware specs, especially while RAM costs remain a concern. How are your teams planning for lower-spec hardware?
Key points
- Microsoft Optimizes Windows 11 for 8 GB PCs Microsoft released a series of Windows 11 optimizations for PCs running on 8 GB of system RAM. The update is aimed at systems with smaller memory capacities.
- Up to 2 GB More Data Stays in RAM With version 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, the OS keeps up to 2 GB more active app data in memory. Microsoft says up to 40% faster multitasking and 20% more responsiveness.
- Why It Matters on Lower-Spec PCs In the age of RAM shortages, smarter memory use can make older or lower-spec PCs feel better. Microsoft's labs tested around 20,000 PCs to find these gains.