How much RAM to get if I use virtualization software (Parallels)?

[Luba]

If I use virtualization software (Parallels) would that take me out of the “general use” realm and then 16 GB RAM would be recommended?

 

[Ma2k5]

I’ve done it with 8GB before, I guess it depends how much you are doing on both the main and virtual machine, and whether it’s simultaneous.

 

[nutmac]

You should go with 16 GB. macOS allocates up to 1.5GB for GPU, so 8GB RAM could be as low as 6.5GB from the get go. Windows 10 needs minimum of 4 GB to run well, leaving only 2.5 GB for macOS and its applications.

Because MacBook Air has such a speedy SSD, if you only need to run VM on occasions, you might be able to get by with 8GB. But don't expect smooth performance.

 

[RegularGuy09]

You can get by with 8GB. But if its something you plan on doing often and for long, get the 16GB one.

 

[raqball]

Agree for Parallels go with 16GB..

 

[auduchinok]

It depends on how much memory you are going to give to VM.
I've managed to use Windows 10 in Parallels VM on 4 GB memory on MacBook Air in the past but I had to give it only 768 MB so the Mac had room left for itself and its integrated graphics.
Nowadays I'd need to give at least 8 GB to VM for my job so using it on 8 GB of RAM wouldn't be OK for me. If you don't need to give that much memory to VM, you'll be fine with either 8 or 16.