The values in the "Recommended RAM/processor speed" column below are for tasks like recording for an hour, or editing three 20 minute tracks simultaneously. The values in the "Minimum RAM/processor speed" column will be fine for smaller/shorter tasks, especially if unnecessary programs are closed.
| Windows version | Recommended RAM/processor speed | Minimum RAM/processor speed |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 98, ME | 128 MB / 500 MHz | 64 MB / 300 MHz |
| Windows 2000, XP | 512 MB/1 GHz | 128 MB/300 MHz |
| Windows Vista Home Basic | 2 GB / 1 GHz | 512 MB / 1 GHz |
| Windows Vista Home Premium/Business/Ultimate/7 (32-bit) | 4 GB / 2 GHz | 1 GB / 1 GHz |
| Windows 7 (64-bit) | 4 GB / 2 GHz | 2 GB / 1 GHz |
Generally, Audacity works best on computers meeting more than the minimum requirements in the table above. Where Audacity is to be used for lengthy multi-track projects, we recommend using Windows 2000, XP or Vista running on machines of substantially higher specification than the minimum stated above.