How Much RAM Does a NAS Need?
One of the most common questions from NAS users: “How much RAM should I buy?” The answer depends entirely on your workload. This guide breaks down RAM requirements by use case.
Quick Reference
| Workload | Minimum | Recommended | Optimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic file storage / NAS | 2GB (default) | 4GB | 8GB |
| Time Machine backups | 2GB | 4GB | 4GB (8GB if other services) |
| Plex media server (500 items) | 2GB | 4GB | 8GB |
| Plex media server (2000+ items) | 4GB | 8GB | 16GB |
| Docker containers (5–10) | 4GB | 8GB | 16GB |
| Virtual machines (1–2) | 8GB | 16GB | 32GB |
| Surveillance system (50 cameras) | 4GB | 8GB | 16GB |
| Database workloads | 8GB | 16GB | 32GB–64GB |
| High-load mixed workloads: | 16GB | 32GB | 64GB+ |
