When people talk about upgrading their computers, they’re usually talking about increasing computer memory. Computer memory is where your processor stores information to be accessed at a later time. Also called random access memory, computer memory is basically responsible for your system speed and capacity; the more memory you have, the faster and more efficient your computer is.
Computer memory comes in small chips or modules, which are installed on your motherboard. Most modern motherboards have room for two or more memory modules. However, not all modules work with all systems, and it’s important to get the right computer memory to avoid system errors. Here are some things worth keeping in mind when looking for computer memory.
current activity and the programs you frequently use. If your games are sluggish and jerky, or if your programs crash when you try to run them at the same time, you’re short on computer memory and you need an upgrade. It’s recommended that you double your memory if you use heavy programs such as Photoshop, Dreamweaver, or CAD imaging.
Find out the type of computer memory you currently use
Computer memory comes in several types, and one will not always work with the other. You don’t have to know the technical differences between each type, but you do have to know which ones are compatible with your computer. DDR and DDR2 memory are the most commonly used types today. Also, remember that laptop and desktop memory have different form factors, so your DDR2 module can’t be installed in a DDR2 laptop or vice versa.
Choose an appropriate computer memory size
The minimum computer memory for a typical system is 512 MB. However, this is a bare minimum—it won’t let you do much besides office work, browsing, and a few built-in games. A memory of 1GB is recommended to run modern operating systems (Mac OS X, Windows XP and Vista), but 2GB is best for heavy users. If you’re a hardcore gamer, you may need to pair it with a fast processor as well.
Don’t always go for the fastest computer memory
You may hear advanced users talk about memory clock speed. Simply put, clock speed refers to how fast your computer memory can communicate with your computer. Often, the difference is in fractions of a second and won’t matter much to the average user. However, speed is always limited by your motherboard, so getting a faster speed than your current module can actually cause problems, Experts recommend getting the same clock speed as your existing memory, unless you’re changing the entire system.
