Memory Upgrades

Computer buyer’s guide for newbies!

You’ve been thinking about buying a new computer. Why? Is it due to the poor performance of your current PC? Are you finding it takes longer and longer for pages to upload? Is your monitor freezing with increasing regularity? Or, most irritating of all, is your desktop or laptop crashing? If the answer to any of these questions is "Yes", then maybe the problem is with the computer memory rather than the machine as a whole.

The first step is to check your computer’s memory. A quick trawl through the Internet will show you that there are a number of products available which act pretty much in the same way as a trip to the mechanics does when you get your car serviced. Basically, there are computer programs, which can scan and clean your computers hard drive, and in doing so, may well give you back some vital memory space. However, if you’ve scanned and cleaned your hard drive and dealt with any computer viruses that may be lurking in the system, and you’re still suffering from a lack of computing power or performance, then maybe it’s time to investigate a memory upgrade.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Adding Random Access Memory (RAM) to your computer can be an extremely cost effective way of improving your PCs capabilities. Rather than going out and buying a completely new computer and going through the hassle of researching which computer upgrade suits you most and where to find the best computer deals, to say nothing of the inconvenience of moving all of your programs and files across, a memory upgrade could be the ideal solution.

In a perfect world, your computer should hold as much memory as possible, yet this is rarely the case when you purchase it. As you use you computer, adding programs and creating more and more files, it will simply become a matter of time before you consider memory upgrades.

The beauty of RAM upgrades is that they can be added to most laptops and desktops quite easily. Indeed, you can probably install them yourself with a little bit of preparation as RAM upgrades can be slotted directly into the motherboard.

Which memory upgrade is best for me?

The first bit of good news is that the make of computer that you use does not dictate which memory upgrades you have to buy. Memory modules can be swapped between models of computer, but this does not mean that you can plugged any old RAM upgrade into your PC. You can either check with the computer and memory module manufacturer, or invest in some kind of computer memory compatibility checking product. If you choose the latter option, you’ll be supplied with a comprehensive breakdown of all the memory upgrade alternatives open to you, without the possible bias that you might come across from a computer dealer.

Is the fastest memory upgrade the best?

Don’t just rush out and buy the newest, fastest RAM upgrade. As computers have developed and changed, so have memory upgrades and it’s important to choose memory that your computer can support, otherwise you should not install it at all. When you’re considering RAM, you should be aware that it has evolved and as it has changed, it has been renamed to ease confusion. The oldest form of RAM is SDRAM and this is usually best suited to older computers. The subsequent memory upgrade developments have been DDR, DDR2 and now, DDR3. Obviously, DDR3 is at the cutting edge of memory upgrades, but is only the fastest and most efficient memory selection if it is teamed with an appropriate PC. Often it is quite clear if you have the wrong type of RAM upgrade chip for your computer as it may well not fit into the slot on the motherboard. Other times it is not so apparent, so you need to be careful.

Is computer memory unlimited?

No. It isn’t. At some point your computer will be unable to take anymore memory upgrades and at that point you’ll need to give serious thought to buying a new computer. Often is it as simple as running out of slots for memory module chips on the motherboard. Having said that, most computers are not working at their fullest memory capacity when you buy them and it is best to get as much memory space out of you desktop or laptop as you can. RAM upgrades can give you that extra edge, without costing you the earth.