How Much RAM Do Architects Really Need? A Uganda Buying Guide

The baseline: 16GB is the floor, not the target

16GB RAM will run AutoCAD and small Revit models, but it's the minimum, not a comfortable working spec. If you only ever have one program open and small drawings, you'll get by -- but the moment you add Lumion or Photoshop alongside your CAD software, 16GB starts swapping to disk and everything slows down.

32GB: where most working architects should land

For a single architect working on villa or small commercial projects in Revit or ArchiCAD, with a browser, email and maybe Lumion open at the same time, 32GB is the realistic sweet spot in 2026. It's enough headroom that you won't be closing programs to keep things responsive.

64GB+: when you actually need it

• Large or linked Revit models -- multiple linked files, worksharing across a team, big commercial or institutional projects
• Running a real-time renderer (Lumion, Enscape, Twinmotion) alongside your CAD software, not sequentially
• Point cloud or heavy Rhino/Grasshopper work on top of your main CAD package

DDR4 vs DDR5 -- does it matter for RAM capacity decisions?

Not for the capacity question -- get the amount you need first. DDR5 is faster per-stick and slightly future-proofs a build for a later CPU upgrade, but a 32GB DDR4 kit will run your architecture software just as reliably as 32GB DDR5 today. Prioritise capacity over generation if your budget forces a choice.

Our rule of thumb for Ugandan firms

Buy for the heaviest thing you'll run this year, not the average day. If you're touching Lumion or Enscape even occasionally, budget for 32GB minimum and treat 64GB as the safe, no-regrets choice if the project size justifies it.