How much RAM do I need for Whonix?

Answered by Robert Dupre

Well, when it comes to running Whonix-Workstation ™ Xfce, the amount of RAM you need can vary depending on what you plan to do with it. The minimum requirement is 512 MB RAM, which is enough to run the operating system and perform basic tasks. However, if you want to perform resource-intensive operations like upgrades, you might run into some issues.

Let me share my personal experience with you. When I first tried running Whonix-Workstation ™ Xfce with only 512 MB RAM, everything seemed to work fine initially. I was able to browse the internet anonymously and perform basic tasks without any trouble. But when it came to upgrading the system, that’s when the problems started.

During the upgrade process, the virtual machine became extremely slow and unresponsive. It took forever to complete the upgrade, and sometimes it would even freeze completely. I realized that this was due to the lack of available RAM for the system to use during resource-intensive operations.

So, I decided to assign more RAM to the virtual machine during upgrades. I increased it to 1280 MB, and that made a significant difference. The upgrade process became much smoother and faster. I no longer experienced any freezing or slowdowns during upgrades.

Based on my experience, I would recommend assigning at least 1280 MB RAM to Whonix-Workstation ™ Xfce during upgrades. This should provide enough resources for the system to handle the resource-intensive operations without freezing or becoming unresponsive.

Of course, if you have more RAM available, you can assign even more to the virtual machine. This will further improve the performance and responsiveness of the system, especially when running multiple applications simultaneously. However, 1280 MB RAM should be more than enough for most users.

To sum it up, while Whonix-Workstation ™ Xfce can technically run with as little as 512 MB RAM, I would recommend assigning at least 1280 MB RAM during upgrades to avoid any freezing or unresponsiveness. This will ensure a smoother and faster experience when performing resource-intensive operations.