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Has your old computer lost its get up and go? Or perhaps you've just invested in a brand spankin' new PC and you're thinking life is good… until your son tries his role-playing game over the Net, or you want to open four applications at once. You find that the animation just isn't quick enough, and neither is your multitasking. "But I have a new computer," you say. "It should be lightning fast!" Just because you have the latest, doesn't mean it's the greatest — in terms of performance. Good news! Help is easy and relatively inexpensive: upgrade the memory. |
Upgrading your computer's memory (RAM) is one of the quickest, most efficient and most cost-effective ways to boost performance. Many new computers come with only a bare minimum of memory installed. Adding more RAM can add more zip to your system. And installation is not that complicated. Sometimes getting the case off takes more time than installing the actual RAM itself.
How much memory is enough? An average computer user is probably okay with the basic 128MB to 256MB of RAM. But as fast as technology changes, so will your need for additional memory. Just remember: more is better. 256MB is what most average users need. But if you're looking to make your processor really work for you — like for high-end applications, intense gaming and multimedia work — upgrade to even more RAM. You'll notice a significant performance gain all around.
Take a glance at what a memory upgrade can do for you
Smoother multitasking
Like to have your charts and e-mail, too? Do you open several programs at the same time and switch between them frequently — and does your current PC moan and groan when you do? Then a memory upgrade is essential for smooth, effortless multitasking. It gives your computer an extra boost so it doesn't have to use the hard drive to manage data.
Faster Web surfing
Are you a surf-aholic? If you like to spend countless hours on the Internet, but don't like when your system slows to a crawl, you'll want to add RAM. No matter how fast your Internet connection is, a memory upgrade can help your browser display pages faster. When your computer can store more data in RAM, it has to swap out less memory to the hard drive. Web sites use rotating banners, Flash and Shockwave animation, streaming audio and other plug-ins as dazzling effects to entice visitors. A computer memory upgrade can give your computer the zip it needs for today's browsing.
Enhanced printing
Do you print large files like presentations with photos, clip art, graphics and charts? Are you tired of your pokey printer? A printing bottleneck can be fixed easily with a simple memory upgrade. And the boost in performance can have a big impact on productivity, especially in a networked environment where several PCs may be sharing one printer.
A printer memory upgrade effects both quality and speed. The quality will improve because additional memory allows you to print better at higher resolutions. And you'll be able to print faster because a printer buffers (or holds data temporarily) part of a print job before actually printing. The more memory you have the more that can be buffered, and the faster you will print. (Note: Not all printers are upgradable. Check your owner's manual for details.)
More efficient video editing
If the video-editing bug has bitten, you'll want to add RAM. Editing is fun — or can be if it's not too slow. Because video files are very large, you'll not only need a big hard drive to store the file, but a quick processor and lots of RAM help speed things up. Video editing software like iMovie and Adobe Premiere typically recommend 64MB of RAM, but once again, more is better. 256MB or more should have you editing without waiting for your computer's hard drive to catch up.
Optimized Windows processing
Microsoft's Windows is power-packed with enhanced multimedia, gaming and Internet capabilities. It's touted as faster, easier to use and better for remote computing. What's not to like? So take full advantage of all the incredible features by optimizing the performance with a RAM upgrade.
Windows ready-labeled computers must meet minimum hardware requirements for the software. But meeting these requirements does not ensure the system is configured for maximum performance with Windows. Typically, just meeting minimum requirements for software means minimum performance. Like before: more is better. You'll need at least 128MB, but 256MB is recommended. For the optimal Windows experience load up on RAM.
Spectacular gaming
A new graphics card is nice, but it isn't enough for today's cutting edge gaming. Revolutionize your 3D gaming experience by adding more memory. Added RAM supports color at higher resolutions and gives you the power for enhanced 3D rendering, with amazing character realism and texture versatility. Enjoy crisper, brighter images and excitingly fast 3D video and animation for a powerful, virtually real gaming experience.
Enhanced multimedia presentations
Intense graphics use and memory-laden programs, such as multimedia, publishing and graphics arts, demand more RAM for the optimal computing experience. Flash and ROM take up a lot of space. You're going to need at least 128MB, with 256MB or more needed for best performance. Once again, more is better. The applications respond much quicker with faster image drawing.
What is RAM anyway?
RAM is where your computer
remembers things like
When your computer has to
remember more things than it
can save into RAM, it saves
it on your harddrive
instead. Getting information
from the harddrive is a lot
slower than getting it from
RAM.
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