Choosing the right amount of system RAM is one of the most important decisions you make when buying a laptop for professional work. This is especially true for court reporters, voice writers, and anyone who runs multiple demanding programs at the same time.

This guide explains how much RAM you really need, why it matters, and how different workloads benefit from 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, or more.

1. What RAM Actually Does

RAM (system memory) is where your active programs live while you are using them. When you run out of RAM, Windows starts using your storage drive as temporary memory. This is called paging or swapping.

• RAM is fast and designed for constant reads and writes.
• Storage (even fast NVMe) is much slower than RAM.
• When Windows has to use storage as memory, everything feels slower and less responsive.
• During realtime or long sessions, running out of RAM can cause lag, audio glitches, or application instability.

In short: enough RAM keeps your system smooth and predictable, especially under heavy load.

2. How Much RAM Do Typical Users Need?

For light or general use, you do not need extreme amounts of RAM. But for professional work, especially realtime, you should plan for headroom, not the bare minimum.

• 16GB RAM: Now considered entry level. Suitable only for basic web browsing, email, and light office work. Not recommended for professional workloads.
• 32GB RAM: Good baseline for general productivity, multiple browser tabs, office applications, and light media work. Can be acceptable for some reporters with simple setups, but leaves limited headroom.
• 64GB RAM: Strong choice for court reporters, voice writers, and professionals who run several applications at once. Provides room for CAT software, audio tools, browsers, PDF viewers, and background services without constant pressure on memory.
• 96GB RAM and above: Best for heavy multitasking, large audio or video projects, multiple virtual machines, or very complex realtime setups. Also useful for future proofing if you know your workload will grow.

3. RAM Needs for Court Reporting and Realtime Work

Court reporting and voice writing place unique demands on a system. You may be running:

• CAT or reporting software.
• Realtime speech recognition (such as Dragon or Speechmatics front ends).
• Audio recording and monitoring tools.
• Multiple browsers and research tabs.
• PDFs, exhibits, and document viewers.
• Email and messaging in the background.

Each of these uses RAM. Over a long day, memory usage tends to creep upward as programs open, close, and reload data.

For this type of work, we generally recommend:

• Minimum: 64GB RAM for serious realtime and daily professional use.
• Preferred: 96GB RAM if you run many programs at once, keep many browser tabs open, or work with large audio or video files.

More RAM does not make the CPU faster, but it allows the CPU to work without waiting on storage. This is critical for smooth realtime performance.

4. Why More RAM Improves Stability

When a system is low on RAM, Windows has to move data back and forth between RAM and storage. This can cause:

• Short pauses or stutters in applications.
• Audio glitches or delayed text during realtime.
• Slower switching between programs.
• Increased wear on the storage drive over time.

With enough RAM, your active programs stay in memory and do not need to be constantly swapped out. This leads to:

• Smoother realtime output.
• More predictable performance during long sessions.
• Less risk of slowdowns when you open additional documents or applications.

5. RAM, CPU, and Storage: Working Together

RAM is only one part of the performance picture. For the best experience, you want:

• A strong CPU that can sustain high performance under load.
• Fast NVMe storage for quick loading and saving of files.
• Enough RAM so the system does not need to use storage as emergency memory.

Our systems are designed so that CPU, RAM, and storage are balanced for professional workloads. This means you are not pairing a powerful processor with too little memory, or fast storage with a system that is constantly swapping due to low RAM.

6. Future Proofing Your RAM Choice

Software tends to use more memory over time, not less. New features, larger files, and more complex workflows all increase RAM usage.

If you plan to keep your system for several years, it is wise to choose more RAM than you need today. This helps you avoid:

• Upgrading sooner than you planned.
• Working around memory limits by closing programs constantly.
• Performance issues as your workload grows.

For many professionals, 32GB is a strong starting point, and 64GB to 96GB offers excellent headroom for the future.

7. Our General Recommendations

• General home and office use: 16GB RAM.
• Professional productivity and light realtime: 32GB RAM.
• Court reporting, voice writing, and heavy multitasking: 32GB as an entry point. For strong day in and day out realtime performance, 64GB to 96GB RAM, depending on how many programs you run at once.
• Advanced users with complex workflows or virtual machines: 64GB RAM or more.

If you are unsure which option is right for you, we are happy to discuss your specific software and workflow and recommend a configuration that will stay reliable for years.

Our goal is not just to meet the minimum requirements, but to give you enough RAM to work smoothly, even on your busiest days.