How to learn if your PC has adequate memory

There are usually a variety of reasons why your computer is running slow like its harddisk being nearly full or fragmented or a virus or that there is not enough memory in your computer to run your programs effectively. This article considers the last of these reasons and explains the best way to speed up your PC with additional memory.

An significant feature that determines how fast a computer operates is the amount of memory referred to as RAM (Random Access Memory) that is in the computer system. If you have a small amount of memory for the application programs you happen to be running the computer is going to need to spending time (processor time) swapping information in and out from the limited quantity of memory into the harddrive. If the processor is spending time swapping data in and out of memory it's not spending time on running your applications. With more memory added to the computer system (assuming space is available) more applications or data can remain in memory, reducing the amount of time wasted swapping information in and out of memory to the hard drive.

When you have had your computer or laptop for several years and you may notice that it is running slower than it did when it had been new. This may be caused by new software you added to the computer or any software you upgraded as these could be bigger programs and therefore will probably be using up more of the available memory.

To obtain an idea if memory is likely to be a problem for your slow computer confirm the RAM memory usage by opening the Windows Task Manager. To start the Task Manager merely press Ctrl-Alt-Del at the same time (Vista users will have to click Start Task Manager) and then click the Performance tab. If the number next to 'Available' (or 'Free' in Vista) in the 'Physical Memory' section is getting near to zero, for example if only approximately 10% of memory is free, you most likely need more RAM.

Usually a normal Windows XP user will find that 1GB of RAM will provide them satisfactory system performance. Should you be a user running many demanding programmes simultaneously or the programmes do lots of working with digital video or other large graphics files then you must have 2GB or more of RAM.

When upgrading your PC to run a more recent Windows operating system try to have no less than 1GB of memory, but as these Windows operating systems can use more memory themselves it might be a good idea to have 2GB or more of memory.

Adding new memory to your system can only help enhance its performance, so if you decided to increase the quantity of memory in your computer you have to answer the following questions:-

1. Are there vacant memory card slots in the computer?
2. Will you have to get rid of some of the current memory to make room for new memory?
3. What type of memory does my computer utilize (yes unfortunately there are different types of memory)?
4. Is the computer using dual-channel memory, if so then you have to install memory cards in pairs?

To find the answers to these questions you can read your computer’s manuals, but the easiest thing to try first would be to surf to one of the dependable memory card manufacturer’s web site using the computer you want to upgrade. The leading memory supplier internet sites contain online tools for identifying the correct RAM for the computer you are using to surf to their website. These tools can let you know what memory you are currently using, if you have any empty memory slots and what upgrade choices are available.

These simple to use online tools will quickly let you know your upgrade options and will help you make sure that you purchase the correct memory for your system.

When your new memory is delivered you must study your computer manual to know the right way to open up your computer and properly add the new memory. One thing to remember when handling memory is that static electricity can damage these memory chips and your computer’s other delicate circuits. So read your computer manual as it should explain that you must unplug your computer from the mains electric supply before opening the computer, and then you need to earth yourself to the metalwork inside your computer, before removing your new memory from its protective wrapper and adding or removing items inside your computer.

If you want to know of an appropriate internet site that includes a web-based memory upgrade tool click a link inside the Author Resource information section for this article to go to my web site for more information.

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