Can you run AI with 8 GB of RAM? We tried the weakest laptop we have
Short answer: yes, slowly. A small AI on an 8 GB laptop writes a bit faster than you read. The catch isn't speed: it's free memory. Close your other apps first.
The test
The weakest PC we've measured: a laptop with 8 GB of RAM, Intel Iris Xe graphics, no graphics card, on battery. Small model (Gemma 4 E2B), early October 2026.
| What | Result |
|---|---|
| Writing, on the processor | 9.3 tokens/s |
| Writing, on the Iris Xe graphics | 5.0 tokens/s (slower) |
| A full reply | 30–40 s |
| Free memory with other apps open | about 1 GB |
| Pictures | Can't (the picture AI needs about 7 GB) |
What we learned
1. It works for chat and study
About 9 tokens a second is a little faster than reading speed. You'll wait half a minute for a long answer, but it gets there, with no internet and no limits.
2. Free memory is the real limit
With the browser and other apps open, the laptop had only about 1 GB free. One day that wasn't enough and the AI couldn't even start. The small model needs a couple of GB to itself.
3. The built-in graphics made it slower
On this laptop the Iris Xe graphics wrote at 5.0 tokens a second, the processor at 9.3. On another laptop it was about equal. You can't tell in advance, so GreenCube tests both and uses the faster one.
Tips for an 8 GB laptop
- Close the browser (or most tabs) before you start. Browsers eat memory.
- Restart the laptop before a long study session. It frees memory other apps forgot to give back.
- Ask shorter questions, or one thing at a time. Shorter answers come back faster.
- Skip pictures. They need about 7 GB; use a bigger PC for those.
See how much faster other PCs are: we measured 7 PCs here.
Questions
Can I run AI on a laptop with 8 GB of RAM?
Yes, a small model. On our 8 GB laptop with Intel Iris Xe graphics it wrote about 9 tokens a second, a bit faster than you read, and replies took 30 to 40 seconds. It can't make pictures.
Why won't AI start on my 8 GB laptop?
Usually not enough free memory. Our 8 GB laptop had only about 1 GB free with other apps open, and one day the AI couldn't load. Closing the browser and other apps first gives it room.
Does Intel Iris Xe graphics make AI faster on an 8 GB laptop?
Not for chat. On our laptop the processor wrote at 9.3 tokens a second and the Iris Xe graphics at 5.0. GreenCube tests both on your laptop and uses the faster one.
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