Video summary

Does Linux use less RAM?

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Main topic

  • The video tests whether Linux uses less RAM than Windows in real gaming + browser usage scenarios.
  • This follows a controversy about Microsoft/Windows 11 RAM guidance: Microsoft suggested 16GB is fine, but 32GB is “no worries.” That guidance was later pulled after backlash.

Why RAM use is a problem (as described)

  • Modern games and background apps can drive memory usage higher:
    • Games recommend or require ~8–16GB.
    • Background software like browsers, Discord, OBS adds more.
  • The video frames user sentiment that gamers blame Windows for bloat (ads/AI/unnecessary features), while still focusing on practical usage results.

Experiment setup (tutorial/review style)

  • The creator runs two identical systems:
    • Windows 11 on one PC
    • Linux Mint on the other (chosen for low resource usage, stability, and being user-friendly; other distros could be used)
  • Both systems:
    • Use fresh installs (except for the test software)
    • Have latest drivers/patches for each OS
    • Are left idle at the desktop for a couple of hours before testing
  • They use a real-time RAM usage display on screen.
  • The Linux baseline is stated to be about half the Windows baseline before tests, which influences visual context and comparisons.

What they test and what they find

  1. Light web browsing (Firefox first)

    • RAM usage tracks similarly at first.
    • Then Linux uses less, with Windows rising relative to Linux.

  2. Heavier browsing / Chrome (and Discord later)

    • Chrome is described as a “pig,” and the video notes Chrome can show per-tab RAM usage.
    • When Discord is launched and chatting begins:
      • The RAM difference is smaller than expected.
      • Explanation offered: Discord/Chrome are web apps, so the memory overhead may depend more on browser/runtime behavior than on the OS “hogging” hardware access.

  3. Gaming tests (RAM usage deltas get larger)

    • Multiple games are tested, with the overall theme that Windows RAM usage climbs faster and/or more, sometimes dramatically.

    • A C#-based game (Slay the Spire 2 mentioned)

      • Shows a notable gap: Windows reaches much higher RAM usage even before heavy rendering (including pre-rendered cutscenes).
      • The video speculates Linux may handle memory more efficiently with how modern C# engines allocate/manage memory across OSes (OS-agnostic behavior due to garbage collection).

    • A game “native on Linux” with cinematics

      • Windows shows large spikes during in-game cinematic cutscenes.
      • Later gameplay rendering looks more similar on both systems, but the cinematics are the standout RAM spike source they can’t fully explain.
      • Hypothesis: possibly AMD driver/handling differences on Linux, and AMD may invest more in Windows drivers generally—meaning this could be a one-off.

    • Baldur’s Gate

      • Windows uses more RAM, but the gap is partially “masked” because background usage becomes closer between systems.
      • Eventually, Windows still exceeds what comfortably fits within 16GB.
      • Linux does better for RAM pressure, though exact “fit” depends on timing/moment.

Overall conclusions (analysis)

  • Windows generally uses more RAM across browsing, communications, and gaming workloads in this test.
  • The speaker emphasizes:
    • You can’t conclude RAM is “wasted” because OSes cache differently (the video mentions macOS caches aggressively as an example).
    • Still, the practical takeaway is: Windows uses more RAM under today’s real workloads.
  • Whether that’s enough to switch OS is framed as a personal decision.

Limitations / trade-offs mentioned

  • The video does not test Adobe Premiere (not supported on Linux).
  • Even when apps work on Linux, there can be quirks/troubleshooting.

Key “what to take away”

  • If your priority is RAM efficiency, the results suggest Linux (Linux Mint in this test) can significantly reduce RAM pressure, sometimes enough to matter versus 16GB vs needing 24/32GB.
  • Biggest pain point observed on Windows: RAM spikes during cinematics/cutscenes.

Sponsor note

  • The video includes an ad for DeleteMe (a data broker removal service). It’s not directly related to the Linux/RAM claim, but it appears as a recurring segue.

Main speakers/sources

  • Primary sources:
    • The main YouTube reviewer/host (unnamed in subtitles)
    • A helper named “Reese” (credited with providing the “RAM is the way to go” / closing helper line)
  • Sponsor: DeleteMe (advertisement voice segments referenced in subtitles)

Original video