Understanding Computer Memory

Aloha!

Memory. This is probably one of the most confusing terms in computerland. It can refer to hard drives, RAM, flash drives, video cards, motherboard ROM, etc. As a computer tech I commonly get asked, “Do I need more memory?” I usually have to check myself before I crack a joke when answering the question. Some folks just want the facts. So I’ll try to refrain from attempts at comedy in this article, too.

So, as for the term “memory”, if what you care about most is making your computer run faster, then all else being equal, adding more RAM (Random Access Memory) to the motherboard will do the job. RAM in this context comes on a circuit board about the length of a writing pen. It plugs into a slot on the motherboard. So to install it, you crack open the case, find an open memory slot, and plug it in. Sounds simple, right?

Of course, nothing in computerland is that simple! There are different configurations of RAM based on the motherboard design. If you determine you need more RAM and are a do-it-yourselfer, I suggest surfing over to www.crucial.com. There you can scan your computer to learn what type and how much memory it has, as well as how much it can accommodate. Then you can order it online and install it when it arrives.

How much faster will adding RAM make your computer? Once again, there is no simple answer to that. It depends on how much you currently have, how much you add, and what you’re hoping the RAM can do for you. For example, if you’re aiming to get better performance to play your favorite video game, it may be better to upgrade your video card, as it handles much of the graphic processing power and includes its own RAM. And the CPU ultimately determines the horsepower of any computer, so don’t assume adding RAM will boost your three-year-old system to perform like your neighbor’s, hot off the shelf from Costco with the latest AMD CPU.

For some perspective, Windows XP runs best in my experience on at least 512 MB (megabytes) of RAM. 1 GB is better. Beyond that, unless your application calls for it, I haven’t seen much performance gain. With Vista, I recommend having 4GB of RAM, as Vista is a memory hog!

People sometimes refer to their hard disk drive as memory, and that’s fine, because it is. Just be aware most computer techs and stores think of RAM when you mention memory. But, as for hard drives, the higher the gigabyte count, the more storage space (memory) you have. So hard drive memory size does matter, especially if you plan to store lots of digital music, photos, video, etc. Keep in mind it has nothing to do with speed, only storage space.

As I often do, at this point I’ll advise the reader to remember that the most important computer memory is whatever you use for data backup - USB flash drive, external hard drive, etc. That’s the memory that affects your well-being the most if and when your computer crashes. It’s where a duplicate copy of your precious data and personal “memory” reside, which you can access from another computer while your primary computer is being repaired.

In closing, I just can’t keep my comic self at bay any longer… so to answer the question, “Do I need more memory?” My answer is: “You probably do, if you have asked that question before, get an answer, then keep on asking it.”

Wishing you akamai computing!