Field Report: Is the HP ProBook 640 G4 Still Usable in 2026? (8GB RAM Test)
Test Machine Specifications: HP ProBook 640 G4
Before diving into the stress tests, here is the exact hardware configuration of the laptop used for this field report.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i5-7200U (7th Gen) @ 2.50GHz to 2.71GHz |
| Memory (RAM) | 8.00 GB (7.85 GB usable) |
| Storage | 256 GB NVMe SSD (Samsung) |
| Graphics (GPU) | Intel HD Graphics 620 (Integrated, 128 MB dedicated) |
| Operating System | 64-bit OS, x64-based processor |
| Display Input | Standard display (No pen or touch input) |
Is 8GB RAM Enough? The HP ProBook 640 G4 Stress Test Setup
I started this test with my battery charge at 73% and screen brightness set to 82%, because this is the average setting I normally use during the day. To push the force test, I also turned on the laptop’s built-in speakers (Conexant ISSTAudio).
Is the HP ProBook 640 G4 Still Worth It? My 6-Month Daily Driver Review
RAM Tests: Google Chrome
The 9-Tab Test
I opened 9 tabs in Chrome to see how the system handles a standard multi-platform load. The active tabs included:
- YouTube (playing a video in 1080p HD)
- TikTok
- BBC News
- HP laptop website
- GitHub
I ran this test for exactly 6 minutes and 14 seconds. During this time, the results of the RAM hits fluctuated heavily between 6.4 GB to 7.9 GB.
Windows Task Manager tracking memory allocation metrics during the 9-tab browser baseline run.
The Extreme 34-Tab Test
Then, I tried to push double the load. I opened 34 active Chrome tabs filled with videos, websites, and tools.
The laptop got frozen at that exact moment, even while some of the tabs were still loading. When I clicked the right mouse button, the cursor was just refreshing and not working.
System Error: A message popped up on the screen showing “Chrome not responding.”
It took me 9 minutes just to successfully close the tabs. After that, I took the laptop off the table and put it directly in front of the AC to cool down and recover its performance.
Emergency cooling: Managing thermals manually following the extreme 34-tab system crash.
Zoom Video Call Meeting Test
To test the thermal performance, I opened a Zoom meeting with my partner Fahad for 23 minutes.
Here are the temperature results I recorded when the camera, microphone, and speakers were all being actively used:
| Component | Baseline Temp (Idle) | Peak Temp (During Call) | Average Temp |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU (Processor) | 49°C | 68°C | 50-52°C |
| GPU (Integrated Graphics) | 46°C | 59°C | 50-52°C |
CapCut RAM Test: 5-Minute 1080p Video Load
For my final test, I uploaded a 5-minute 1080p video into CapCut to see exactly how much RAM the software is hogging.
- Upload Time: It got uploaded in 4 minutes and 55 seconds.
- RAM Usage: After 4 minutes and 55 seconds, the RAM hogged was sitting between 6.3 GB to 6.5 GB, showing just a little fluctuation.
Observation: The upload duration was because the Pakistan Cybernet connection is usually slow during day working hours. However, this slower network speed actually helped the tests by allowing me to see the laptop’s long-term performance under a sustained load.
Conclusion
Based on the tests I ran on my HP ProBook 640 G4, I can conclude that the 8GB of RAM is pushed to its absolute limits during standard modern usage.
When I kept my workflow moderate like running a 23-minute Zoom call, uploading a video to CapCut, or browsing with 9 active Chrome tabs—the laptop managed to survive, though the RAM was heavily hogged, peaking right at 7.9 GB.
However, my extreme test showed a clear breaking point. When I tried to force heavy multitasking with 34 tabs, the system completely failed, froze up, and required me to put it in front of the AC just to recover. Ultimately, I found that this 8GB setup is perfectly fine for basic, everyday tasks, but it definitely cannot handle heavy, intense multitasking without completely locking up.
About the Author: Shahzaman Bin Aziz
Shahzaman Bin Aziz is a software developer, technical systems analyst, and commercial enterprise operator based out of Rahim Yar Khan. He designs localized, real-world stress configurations to isolate true system hardware boundaries, offering direct performance clarity separate from manufacturing specifications sheets.
