The computer memory and
upgrades
Computer memory is usually
called RAM or Random Memory Access memory.
This is because ram can be written to or read
from as needed by the running process. More
you have ram in a computer, faster big
programs or data software will run, so it's
good to have enough in a PC, so it will not
have to do memory swapping on the hard drive.
There are a lot of different
memory types like DIMM, RIMM, SIMM and many
others and these have a speed limit. In order
to do a RAM upgrade on a computer, must know
what kind of memory the main board will accept
and what kind is already installed in the
computer. Mixing RAM speed and type can make
the computer freeze or not even boot.
The minimum PC RAM
configuration is usually 128 MB but most base
system configuration will come with 256 MB. If
you do not have enough memory in a computer,
the OS or Operating System, like Windows will
do what is called memory swapping. This is to
save some of the active memory data on the
hard disk to free memory in order to load
other data to process. Hard disk being much
slower than RAM, the system will run slower.
This swapping usually
happens when you run many applications or have
a lot of data to load in RAM to process. More
you applications you open, more the computer
will slow down because of the lack of free
memory. When you have to run many applications
simultaneously, you need more RAM to be able
to work at a comfortable speed.
Some computers may
have two memory sockets or more. If all
sockets already have memory installed in them,
you have no choice but to remove a memory
stick and replace it with one of higher
capacity. Some main board may require to have
memory sticks installed in pairs. So you have
no choice to look in the motherboard manual
and look in the computer to know if you can
and how you will upgrade your PC RAM with the
proper memory upgrade.
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