No less than 2 gigs of RAM too. Some systems are coming standard with 3 gigs now.., so the more the better. Some software apps will say it'll run on 1 gig RAM.., but that's BARE BONE'S minimal.. (they won't tell you the moment you start using the software's effects and mixing all that with audio that 1 gig of RAM will blow the back end out of you PC)