4 Things to Know About RAM for Photoshop RAW Editing

16GB is enough for most RAW editing Unless you are stitching huge panoramas or stacking dozens of layers, 16GB handles large RAW files from typical 24-50MP cameras just fine.

32GB only helps with extreme files Upgrade to 32GB only if you regularly work with 100MP files, gigapixel composites, or heavy HDR merges. For single RAW photos, 16GB leaves plenty of headroom for Lightroom, Chrome, and Spotify.

GPU and CPU matter more than RAM Your graphics card and processor have a bigger impact on smooth brushing and filter speed. Spend your money on a good monitor or a faster SSD instead.

Ignore the “more RAM = faster Photoshop” myth Photoshop’s memory management is solid—it swaps to disk when needed, and with a fast SSD you will not notice the difference. Do not overspend on RAM you do not need.