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

By: James Hudson

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The total amount of computer memory referred to as RAM (Random Access Memory) in your PC is an important factor in determining how fast your PC runs. This is because if you have a small amount 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 harddisk. Processor time used up swapping data in and out of memory is time that might be spent performing the actions of your running applications. If additional memory is added to the system (assuming room is available) then more applications and or their data can stay in memory, reducing the amount 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 extra software or software upgrades that you have added to the system are putting evermore demands on the existing memory.

If you think your computer memory might be a problem for your slow PC, you can make sure your PC's RAM usage by opening the Windows Task Manager. You can start the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del simultaneously (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 example if only 10% or so of your PC memory is available, you possibly need additional RAM.

Normally a typical Windows XP user will find that 1GB of RAM should give them satisfactory system performance. For users who run loads of demanding applications at the same time or they work extensively with digital video or other huge 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, but to get a better Windows Vista experience it is better to upgrade to 2GB or more of RAM.

Having decided that you ought to improve the amount of RAM in your system to improve its performance you then have the following questions to resolve:-

1. Are there some empty memory card slots available in your system?
2. Will I have to take out some of the current memory to create room for further memory?
3. What sort of memory will your system need?
4. Is your PC using dual-channel memory, if that's the case then you must install a pair of memory cards for maximum performance?

You can study your PC’s handbook to solve these questions and others, but the best thing to try in the beginning is to surf to one of the reliable RAM manufacturer’s internet site via the PC you want to upgrade. The main RAM supplier web sites have online tools for identifying the correct RAM for the PC you are using to surf to their website. These tools can tell you what memory you are currently using, if you have any unfilled memory slots and what upgrade possibilities are available.

Using these web based tools can plainly provide you with your upgrade choices and really helps your to know that you are buying the correct memory for your system.

When you take delivery of your new memory you will then must read your PC guidebook to be familiar with the best way to open up your PC and properly slot in the new memory. One thing 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 ought to read your handbook 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 solutions see the link below in the Author Resource information section.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Click the following link for examples of internet based tools to identify your Memory Upgrade possibilities.

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