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Adding more RAM to speed up your PC is a cheap boost
By Steven Dale
Adding more RAM (Random Access memory) to boost your PC
Computers consist of various hardware components such as motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drive, CD-ROM/DVD Drive and peripherals such as monitors, keyboard and mouse. Over time computers invariably slow down and operate less efficiently. This is for several reasons including: • Hard Drive becomes full with data and applications
• Files become disorganized (known as 'fragmentation') and the computer takes longer to find information
• Applications become larger and require more system resources This latter can lead to available free RAM becoming diminished, slowing down performance. The solution to this is more RAM. Often a computer will be shipped with just 1GB RAM (1 Gigabyte). This is is adequate for the OS (Operating System - Windows/OS X/Linux) and one application to run efficiently. However, the more applications you run, the less free RAM there is as each application demands its own allocation. This eventually slows everything to a crawl. One solution is to run only one application at a time, but this isn't always ideal. Also, some applications (like Adobe Photoshop, video-editing applications and 3d animation and Graphics) require more RAM than other applications. In this case, only more RAM will do. How to choose RAM:
Which kind of RAM you need depends on your motherboard (AMD or Intel) and the CPU (Processor). Consult your motherboard manufacturer as to which type you need. RAM comes in different speeds too, with faster RAM usually more expensive. You can search online for compatible RAM using sites such as Crucial. Buy as much RAM as you can afford but bear in mind that the available memory slots on your computer's motherboard may already be filled. Typically, cheaper computers have cheaper motherboards and these can often have just two RAM slots. if your computer came with 1GB RAM, this may be in the form of two memory modules of 512MB each. If you want to increase your RAM to say 2GB, then you will need to effectively throw away your two memory modules to install either one 2GB module or two 1GB modules. bear in mind too that if your computer is quite old, that your motherboard may only be able to use 1GB modules. However, a BIOS upgrade may overcome this limit. In any case, Windows XP can only utilize 4GB RAM in total. Cost of upgrading your RAM:
The price of RAM fluctuates up and down, sometimes by a large margin. Currently, its relatively cheap and so now is a good time to upgrade. expect to pay approximately $40 per 1GB (£35 in UK). As its relatively simple to remove existing RAM and add new you should be able to install itself, rather than pay someone to do it for you. be sure to follow your computer manufacturer's manual though or consult one of the many online guides (check out the computer magazine sites and search for 'RAM upgrade' in their tutorial section). Precautions to take:
Never put your hands inside a computer case whilst it is still connected to the mains electricity. Always follow these steps: 1. Shut down your computer normally
2. Once it has shut down, unplug it from the mains electricity
3. Once you have opened the computer case (having consulted the manual first to familiarize yourself with the steps needed to carry out the upgrade), be sure to earth yourself. You can use a special tool to do this or simply touch the metal case.
4. Locate the RAM (usually close to the CPU which will have a fan on top) and press down carefully but firmly on the retaining clips at each end of the RAM module.
5. Gently remove the module from its slot and place it on a flat surface.
6. Carefully remove the new RAM module from its packaging and orientate the correct way over the empty slot. There will be notches in the bottom of the module and these line up with ridges in the slot.
7. Firmly seat the module in its slot and secure the retaining clips - a firm pressure is often needed to to do this.
8. Once you have replaced all the modules you can then close up the case, reconnect to the mains and power up. If all has gone according to plan your computer should start up and you will notice a speed boost even in the start-up sequence. If your computer refuses to boot, repeat the steps above in case you didn't seat the module properly in its slot and try again. Assuming it all goes according to plan you should be able to check how much RAM you now have installed and it should be more than you had before. For instance, if Windows reported you had 1GB before and you have added another 1GB, then it should say you now have 2GB. If you have a mere 512MB in a single slot and have added a single 1GB module, it would say you have 1.5GB. The end result should be that your computer will run faster than before and that you will be able to run more applications at the same time than before. If you combine a RAM upgrade with a clean-up of your hard drive (getting rid of applications that you no longer use by using Add/Remove Programs in XP for example) and de-fragment your hard drive, then you will get even more benefit. Additionally, if you use a program like CCleaner from Filehippo you can then keep your computer in tip top condition by running it on a regular basis. CCleaner s a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused and temporary files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster, more efficiently and giving you more hard disk space. The best part is that it's fast! (normally taking less than a second to run) and Free. For the Mac there is Onyx and OmniDiskSweeper, both of which are free.
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I need to know this information. I will soon be in the market for RAM myself and now I know how to go about it and that I can put it in myself. Thanks,
Adpower
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