Ubuntu now requires more RAM than Windows 11

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Nature of the New 6GB Requirement

  • Many see the 6GB figure as a recommendation for a decent user experience, not a hard block; Ubuntu will still install on less.
  • Several note the article itself says the change reflects modern workloads (many browser tabs, web apps, multitasking), not a fatter core OS.
  • Some think Canonical is mainly setting expectations and deflecting support complaints from users with under‑specced machines.

OS vs Applications in RAM Usage

  • Strong consensus that browsers (especially many tabs, Electron apps, web-heavy workflows) dominate memory use, not the Linux kernel or basic desktop.
  • Multiple anecdotes: lightweight setups idling well under 1–2GB vs “normal” dev/office workloads easily filling 8–16GB regardless of OS.

Ubuntu, GNOME, Snap and Perceived Bloat

  • Several complain Ubuntu feels slower/heavier than Debian/Fedora/Arch on the same hardware, sometimes blaming GNOME, sometimes Snap packaging.
  • Snap is widely criticized as bloated, slow, and intrusive; a few users left Ubuntu specifically because of Snap issues.
  • Others report Ubuntu GNOME idling around ~2GB, calling that reasonable for 2020s desktops.

Comparisons with Windows 11 and macOS

  • Many argue Windows 11’s official 4GB minimum is “dishonest”: it boots but runs poorly once typical apps (browser, Outlook, Teams, security tools) are open.
  • Some maintain Windows is actually quite memory‑efficient; others describe Windows 11 as bloated and sluggish even on 8GB.
  • macOS is said by some to handle memory pressure more gracefully and remain responsive at high utilization.

Desktop Environments and Alternative Distros

  • Several point out that Ubuntu ≠ Linux; minimal distros and lighter DEs (XFCE, LXQt, openbox, tiling WMs) run comfortably with 1–4GB.
  • GNOME/Wayland stacks are viewed as heavier but more user‑friendly; others praise old GTK2/X11 days as “snappier”.

Memory Management, Compression, and ZRAM

  • Linux features like zram/zswap are cited as ways to stretch 4GB into something usable, though Ubuntu reportedly doesn’t enable them by default.
  • Windows and macOS memory compression are mentioned as advantages under pressure.

Broader Reflections on Bloat and “Linux Efficiency”

  • Some say Linux’s famed efficiency advantage is shrinking on mainstream desktops; others counter that the ecosystem still offers ultra‑lean options.
  • General agreement that rising RAM needs come from modern software stacks, abstraction layers, garbage‑collected runtimes, and web‑centric apps—because “we can,” not because of strict necessity.