32GB is the real upgrade for Blender and After Effects.

16GB is better than 8GB, but you’ll still hit memory limits in heavy scenes or compositions.

8GB is basically unusable for either program once you go beyond simple projects. 16GB will let you work—but you’ll be babysitting your RAM usage, closing other apps, and watching for crashes on complex renders or long timelines. After Effects especially likes to eat memory for breakfast.

32GB is where the annoyances stop. You can keep Chrome open. You can render while previewing. You can work on a 4K comp without your machine begging for mercy.

If you have to choose between 16GB now or saving longer for 32GB, save. Buy 32GB from the start. That extra $50–100 is the difference between a machine that feels capable and one that feels like it’s always running out of breath.

Future You will thank you. This is not where you save a few bucks.