16GB will fix your swapping problem.

Probably. Chrome with 40+ tabs plus Slack is a RAM hog. 8GB is just not enough for that workload. Upgrading to 16GB will stop the constant swapping and make everything feel responsive again.

Your CPU is almost certainly fine. Unless you’re compiling code or editing 4K video, a modern laptop processor handles browsing and Slack without breaking a sweat. The real pain point is the OS desperately shuffling data between RAM and your swap file. That’s what makes everything lag.

One caveat: make sure your laptop actually supports 16GB (most do) and that you’re not locked into soldered RAM. If you can upgrade, do it. If not, you’re stuck with closing tabs like it’s 2010.

Future you deserves a stutter-free browser.