Windows 11 gets zippier on PCs with less RAM, which is handy as who can really afford lots of it anymore?

One way to offset the RAM crisis is for tech manufacturers and software developers is to figure out how to do more with less. Instead of just jamming more RAM into the best laptops and charging us poor saps the earth for the privilege.

Efficiency is the name of the game and Microsoft is on the case. Its latest Windows 11 update, the PC giant promises much zippier performance, especially if you’re rocking a machine with a relatively paltry 8GB of memory. In a blog post today, Microsoft says the operating system is around 20% more responsive across critical functionality like Start, File Explorer, Search, Snipping Tool, Microsoft 365 and the Edge browser.

Furthermore, when it comes to those machines with more limited RAM, Microsoft can save active memory use by only loading widgets when users open them.

“A big part of that work is making smarter use of memory and system resources. We’ve improved memory management and efficiency across Windows to help keep more of your PC’s resources focused on what you’re actively doing,” Microsoft’s Navjot Virk, the corporate VP of Windows Experiences.

“That work can make an especially meaningful difference on PCs with 8GB of memory. Windows can now keep up to 2GB more of your active data in memory instead of moving it to slower storage, helping your PC stay responsive as you open more apps or browser tabs. Windows is also making additional memory-saving improvements that reduce background memory use. For example, on PCs with 8GB of memory or less, Widgets load only when you open them, making more than 200 MB of memory available for your apps and other work.”

Microsoft has been testing out the improvements on its Insider beta testers and is now delivering them to users.