32GB of RAM is overkill for spreadsheets and Chrome tabs.

Yes.

Unless you’re running a dozen virtual machines or editing 8K video, 32GB is wasted on office work and web browsing. Most people will never hit 16GB in normal use, and 8GB is still fine for Word, Excel, and a dozen browser tabs.

The real RAM hogs are stuff like large Docker containers, machine learning, or heavy IDEs. For email, Slack, and Google Docs, you’re buying extra memory that just sits there. It’s not harmful — it’s just unnecessary.

If you’re already picking a new PC, 16GB is the sweet spot. That handles the future without paying for unused headroom today. Spend the difference on a better SSD or a nicer monitor.

Your wallet will thank you.