Microsoft Edge is positioning itself as a high-performance alternative to Chrome, without the unnecessary features that can slow down browsing. In its latest move, Edge has taken inspiration from Opera GX by introducing a new Resource Controls feature.
According to Windows Latest, Edge now allows users to limit the amount of RAM the browser uses. This feature is particularly useful for gamers or those performing resource-intensive tasks. Users can even set the browser to limit RAM usage exclusively during gaming sessions. It’s possible to allocate as little as 1 GB of memory to the browser, but keep in mind that this may restrict the number of active tabs and slow down page loading times, especially for websites with video content.
However, if you find yourself in need of more available RAM while running Edge in the background, this feature could be worth considering. For example, if you have 16GB of RAM and are playing a game, you can limit Edge to use only 4GB of RAM. This allows you to quickly check emails or refer to a walkthrough without impacting gaming performance.
While Resource Controls has previously been available in beta, Microsoft is now rolling it out to the stable build of Edge for Windows. To access this feature, ensure your browser is updated to the latest version by going to “Settings” > “About Microsoft Edge.” Then, click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and navigate to “System and Performance” using the sidebar that appears.
Scroll down to “Manage Your Performance” and enable “Resource Controls.”
Credit: Khamosh Pathak
Within the Resource Controls settings, you will find a RAM slider that allows you to choose the desired amount of memory, ranging from 1GB to the total amount installed on your PC. Edge will provide a warning if your selection is likely to slow down the browser, but it will not prevent you from proceeding.
Finally, you can choose whether to limit RAM usage only during PC gaming or at all times. Personally, I find it more convenient to limit RAM usage exclusively during gaming sessions, as there is no need for such restrictions when not playing.
