Does Ubuntu Now Require More RAM Than Windows 11? (omgubuntu.co.uk)

[Condobloke]

Does Ubuntu Now Require More RAM Than Windows 11? - Slashdot

"Canonical is no longer pretending that 4GB is enough," writes the blog How-to-Geek, noting Ubuntu 26.04 LTS "raises the baseline memory to 6GB, alongside a 2GHz dual-core processor, and 25GB of storage..." Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr) set the floor at 1GB — a modest ask when it launched mo...

news.slashdot.org

Does Ubuntu Now Require More RAM Than Windows 11?

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS raises its minimum RAM to 6GB, officially overtaking Windows 11's 4GB requirement. Is desktop Linux losing its reputation as the lightweight alternative? Canonical calls it an 'honesty bump,' but not everyone's buying it. "Canonical is no longer pretending that 4GB is enough," writes the blog How-to-Geek, noting Ubuntu 26.04 LTS "raises the baseline memory to 6GB, alongside a 2GHz dual-core processor, and 25GB of storage..." https://sourceforge.us15.list-manag...d3675bd877963a652d&id=5b715af625&e=81612d5069

 

[deb_user]

I bailed out of Ubuntu many years ago, so I have no direct knowledge of current status, but I would not be surprised. I also don't think it matters. Once upon a time, 640KB was famously considered more memory than anyone would ever need. Modern computers ship with far more than 6GB. Technology advances apace. Running modern software on 15 or 20 year old hardware is never going to be a satisfying experience, regardless of the OS. That said, I'm running Debian Sid on an 8 year old laptop as my daily driver, and it flies. But it has 32GB of RAM, with which it came from the factory.

 

[garyn]

I'm using Mint 22.3 (Ubuntu without a swap and 64gigs of RAM installed) and I'm using less than 4 gigs of ram with the system running common tasks.

 

[KGIII]

Ubuntu's ISO is also larger than the Windows 11 ISO.

I don't think this is worth clutching pearls. There are a half-dozen flavors to pick from.

Then again, I wouldn't want to use a computer with just 4 GB of RAM, unless it was an extremely light OS. Heck, I'd not even want to do that unless some weird changes meant that was what I was limited to.

On this system, I'm currently using about 26 GB of RAM.

 

[kc1di]

I think Ubuntu is raising the ram need for Gnome. and it's Snaps. Don't think it really needs that much with regular use. But who knows. Ubuntu over the last several releases has used more ram than any other distro I've used. Including their own Kubuntu.
@garyn Mint 22.3 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 so it would not use as much anyway. 24.04 actually was not too bad. I have not really used Ubuntu in a number of years do try their new offering just to see what's up. But just don't like gnome and don't really care for snaps thought have used them from time to time.

 

[NicWelds]

It's not overly surprising. 4Gb of RAM is pretty low for a computer now days and Gnome is a little on the heavy side.

 

[Condobloke]

A bit like cars. They have more 'stuff' to run, elec windows elec everything, pc's, etc etc....etc......so they need more 'battery'...and much smarter use of that 'power'

To me Ubuntu is a totally bloated mess, dragged down by snaps, yeah, I am biased. obviously.

I use Linux Mint with 32GB of ram. It flies. The PC?.....made prior to 2014....only reason I know is that is when I picked its sorry carcass up from a local tip. Out in the weather, half full of insects, mud, etc. bits hanging off it everywhere.

It now runs an nvme, an ssd. and a 2TB external, plus the mandatory headphones, Logitech Cinema speakers, an extension piece that has 6 usb ports.... (I dislike having to reach around the back of it to get to usb ports,,,,ones on the front have stuff in them) ...recently I had to replace the Power supply....the rotten thing had the temerity to die,

I just felt like saying all that.

Ubuntu....not for me. i have tried to like it. Many times. It reminds me of pushing a pram full of bricks instead of a baby.

Obviously I am aware that Mint is based on Ubuntu. The differences that Clem & Co pump in to each and every iteration of Linux Mint is nothing short of amazing. Likewise their latest and greatest LMDE.
The amount of crap and junk which they brush aside/keep out is heart warming.

So, after all that waffle, am I surprised that Ubuntu needs more ram to 'function' ?

No.

Hope you enjoyed/sufferred gladly, the waffle.