Do I need 32GB of RAM if my peak usage is 14GB?

Probably not. 16GB is still the sweet spot for almost everyone. If your peak usage is 14GB, you’re not even touching the 16GB limit, so 32GB would just sit there doing nothing. The only real reason to go to 32GB is if your workflow consistently pushes past 16GB, like heavy video editing or multiple VMs. Future-proofing with extra RAM is a trap — by the time you need it, you’ll likely want a faster machine anyway. Spare the cash for a better monitor or chair.