When faced with a RAM shortage and dropping PC sales, companies have limited options. PC makers can't do much to increase the supply of memory chips in the short term, and expanding production takes time. That leaves app makers and developers under pressure to make their software more memory-efficient.
Microsoft led the charge recently in optimizing apps for systems with less RAM, though Discord also made a strong effort by ditching Electron. Everything from Windows 11 features to built-in Microsoft apps have been upgraded to use less RAM.
Microsoft is enforcing "memory budgets," such as restricting PCs with 8GB of RAM from having bloatware.
My question is, why did it take a RAM crisis for Microsoft, Discord, or any other company to care about efficiency?
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Windows 11 has gained a number of improvements and optimizations designed specifically for devices with 8GB RAM, and it's all already rolling out.
Microsoft has been busy making Windows 11 more memory-efficient, and we decided to put the recent announcement to the test on an Acer Swift Air 14 with 8GB.
People used to upgrade a PC when it felt slow, but that's no longer possible because of rising hardware costs. Microsoft's strategy is evolving to meet this new reality.
Discord's new Rust-based desktop client uses less memory and power than the Electron app it replaces.
With Microsoft and third-party developers working to make apps more efficient, PCs with only 8GB of RAM should perform better (though it's worth noting 8GB of RAM is already fine for some workflows). It's a welcome change, but I can't help but wonder why it's needed.
The latest version of Windows 11 proves that the operating system can run more efficiently than what we had even just a few months ago.
A lot of factors contributed to Windows 11 getting too bloated and RAM-hungry. The operating system has grown significantly since launch, adding features and expanding preexisting functionality. It seems that much of that growth happened without RAM overhead being a priority.
There also wasn't as much pressure to optimize apps until the RAM shortage kicked in. RAM was relatively inexpensive and many systems allowed you to upgrade later if you ever needed more memory.
Just as one example, back in 2023 we covered a deal that dropped the Corsair Vengeance 32GB 5200MHz to $180. Back then, it was noteworthy because the same module had previously cost $250. That price remained stable until about September 2025.
Now, that same RAM costs over $500.
Considering the relatively low cost of even a 32GB DDR5 RAM module back then, Windows 11 could chug along while eating up memory without affecting performance.
Now, out of necessity, Microsoft needs to optimize Windows 11 and as many apps as possible to reduce the total RAM demand across the PC industry. If companies like Discord hop on board, all the better.
Shopping with Sean
Due to the ongoing RAM shortage, it is increasingly difficult to find PCs with 16GB of RAM paired with premium specs for under $1,000. The current discount on the Acer Swift 16 AI slashes $550 off a laptop that can handle local AI workloads and creative work like video and photo editing. It also has an OLED panel our friends at Tom's Guide called its "standout feature" due to its sharp image quality and 120Hz refresh rate.
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