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How to add more memory to your PC to speed it up.

By: James Hudson

The amount of computer memory known as RAM (Random Access Memory) in your PC is an essential factor in determining how fast your PC runs. This is for the reason that if you have a small quantity of memory for the application programs you are running, the PC will be spending time (processor time) swapping information in and out of the limited quantity of memory to your hard drive. Processor time spent swapping data in and out of memory is time that could be spent performing the activities of your running applications. If extra memory is added to the system (assuming space is available) then more applications and or their data can remain in memory, reducing the quantity of time wasted swapping information in and out of memory.

If your PC appears to be running slower and is a few years old it is possibly because further software or software upgrades that you have added to the system are putting evermore demands on the available memory.

To understand if memory might be a problem for your sluggish PC, then make sure your PC's RAM usage by opening the Windows Task Manager. You can start the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del at the same time (Vista users will have to click Start Task Manager) and then click the Performance tab. If the figure next to 'Available' (or 'Free' in Vista) in the 'Physical Memory' section is getting close to zero, for instance if only 10% or so of your PC memory is available, you possibly need extra RAM.

Typically a typical Windows XP user will discover that 1GB of RAM should give them satisfactory system performance. For users who run loads of demanding applications simultaneously or they work extensively with digital video or other large graphics files then they should have 2GB or more of RAM.

You may be thinking about upgrading your PC to run Windows Vista, if so you can run Vista with 1GB of RAM, although to get a better Windows Vista experience it is better to upgrade to 2GB or more of RAM.

Having determined that you need to improve the amount of RAM in your system to enhance its performance you then have the subsequent questions to resolve:-

1. Are there any unfilled memory card slots free in your system?
2. Will I have to take out some of the present memory to make space for additional memory?
3. What kind of memory does your system require?
4. Is your PC using dual-channel memory, if so then you have to install a pair of memory cards for maximum performance?

You can actually read your PC’s guide to solve these questions and others, but the best thing to try first is to surf to one of the reliable RAM manufacturer’s web site via the PC you wish to upgrade. The main RAM supplier websites have internet based tools for identifying the precise RAM for the PC you are using to surf to their internet site. These tools can let know you what memory you are presently using, if you have any unfilled memory slots and what upgrade options are available.

Using these web based tools can plainly show you your upgrade options and really helps your to understand that you are buying the correct memory for your system.

After you receive your new memory you will then ought to read your PC handbook to understand the best way to open up your PC and correctly slot in the new memory. One factor you should be aware of when handling memory is that static electricity can damage these memory items and your PC’s other sensitive circuits. That's the reason you must read your guidebook as it ought to explain that you have to earth yourself to the metalwork inside your PC, before removing your new memory from its protective cover and adding or removing items inside your PC.

For information on web based tools to discover your memory upgrade selections see the link below in the Author Resource information section.

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Click the following link for examples of internet based tools to ascertain your Memory Upgrade solutions.

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