Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 requires a minimum of 512MB of RAM and a 1GHz processor for installation. Users have noted that version 8 successfully installed with only 256MB of RAM, suggesting that older versions may be an alternative. Upgrading RAM is recommended, with 1GB being standard and 2GB being a cost-effective option. Installing RAM is generally straightforward, and users can often do it themselves, though the process may vary depending on whether the computer is a desktop or laptop. There are discussions about potential workarounds for RAM limitations, but these methods, such as "fake RAM," can severely degrade application performance and are not advisable.