32GB RAM is worth it for 4K video editing.

Yes.

16GB will work if you’re cutting simple timelines with proxy files and not touching Fusion or After Effects. But the moment you stack color grades, stabilization, multiple 4K streams, or heavy effects, you’ll hit the swapfile and your timeline becomes a slideshow.

32GB is the actual floor for comfortable 4K work, especially if you’re editing in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro and don’t want to micromanage your memory. It’s not overkill — it’s the point where the software stops fighting you.

If your motherboard can take it, do it now. Future you will not be sad about having fewer half-hour export crashes.