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+--- Thread: Laptop RAM 4GB will it struggle? (/t-laptop-ram-4gb-will-it-struggle)
Laptop RAM 4GB will it struggle? - Bladefin - 2025-06-22
Hi
I want to use my laptop as my Jellyfin server and move away from my power hungry windows desktop, I have had it in mind for a bit as the CPU will able to handle it, but one thing I haven't thought about is the available RAM 4GBÂ installed only 3.80GB useable.
It's just for one user but I do have some films with subtitles. At the moment it will be 1080p films but will eventually go to 4k.
Will it be possible for it to run smoothly?
My plan for the future will be to get a nuc but that won't be for some time.
Thanks
RE: Laptop RAM 4GB will it struggle? - Generator - 2025-06-22
I run jellyfin on Raspberry Pi 4 4GB, a laptop should handle without issues if you're not going to transcode video
RE: Laptop RAM 4GB will it struggle? - Bladefin - 2025-06-22
The only transcoding would be subtitles would this be a problem?
RE: Laptop RAM 4GB will it struggle? - bitmap - 2025-06-22
Yes. That amount of memory will probably cause a bit of struggle as well.
RE: Laptop RAM 4GB will it struggle? - Bladefin - 2025-06-22
(2025-06-22, 03:16 PM)bitmap Wrote: Yes. That amount of memory will probably cause a bit of struggle as well.
Ok I have just looked into things looks like I can upgrade the ram will upgrading to 8gb be fine?
RE: Laptop RAM 4GB will it struggle? - bitmap - 2025-06-22
You'll be in a better spot. Just throwing out there that "subtitle transcoding" means the CPU will be transcoding the entire file. If subtitles trigger transcoding, they are burned into the video, which requires transcoding the video as well. So I would recommend avoiding that entirely if possible.
Any time you trigger transcoding, you want a CPU new AND powerful enough (Intel 8th gen+, preferably newer) to use QuickSync effectively in the absence of another method for hardware-accelerated transcoding (i.e., a dedicated GPU). If you avoid transcoding, 8 GB will be fine. If that laptop has an Intel chip newer than ~10th gen, you'll be fine for transcoding.
RE: Laptop RAM 4GB will it struggle? - Bladefin - 2025-06-22
It's a intel 6305 CPU (Tigerlake)
I don't have any problems with my older CPU on my desktop so it should be fine for transcoding, it's just the RAM I need to get right.
Looks like I can put in 16gb of ram so that should be ok,as that's what I'm running now on my desktop.
Actually by adding 16gb it will bring it up to 20gb as that's including the fixed 4gb that's not removable.