| How do you know when to buy more memory
| |
| | Radeon 9800 Pro comes to mind).When
|
| for your computer? Or how much memory
| |
| | Adding Computer PeripheralsIf you add a
|
| you'll need? If you can afford it, you
| |
| | printer or scanner to your system, you
|
| should always buy as much memory as you
| |
| | should also consider buying more memory.
|
| can, since it boosts system
| |
| | Printers consume system memory
|
| performance.But not all of us need 1 GB
| |
| | particularly when printing huge files.
|
| of RAM - most home users need only about
| |
| | Scanners consume memory when handling
|
| 512 MB of RAM. Besides, computer memory
| |
| | large image files.When Your Hard Disk
|
| is very expensive - a 512 MB piece of RAM
| |
| | Starts 'Chugging'In general, you can tell
|
| costs about $50. This article will help
| |
| | whether you should be buying more memory
|
| you analyze when you need to buy memory
| |
| | by listening to your hard drive. Yes, by
|
| and much memory is required in various
| |
| | listening to your hard drive. If it makes
|
| scenarios.When to Buy More MemoryThinking
| |
| | a long drawn 'chugging' noise whenever
|
| back on my experience with building
| |
| | you copy or edit large files, you can be
|
| computers, there are usually five
| |
| | sure you need a memory upgrade.You see,
|
| scenarios under which you'd buy memory
| |
| | when your system is low on memory, it
|
| for your computer:
| |
| | borrows space from your hard disk to make
|
| When upgrading your operating system
| |
| | 'virtual memory'. This process is called
|
| When installing new applications
| |
| | 'paging' and it's very, very slow and
|
| When installing multimedia cards
| |
| | irritating . Get that memory upgrade and
|
| When adding computer peripherals
| |
| | avoid this problem at all costs!How Much
|
| When your hard disk starts 'chugging'
| |
| | Memory Do You Need?Depending on the type
|
| Let's look at these in turn.When
| |
| | of software applications you are using,
|
| Upgrading Your Operating SystemEach time
| |
| | the amount of memory you need will
|
| I upgrade my operating system, I find
| |
| | differ. As a bare minimum, computers
|
| that I need to buy more memory. Your
| |
| | these days need at least 256 MB of
|
| operating system is a huge memory hogger.
| |
| | RAM.Refer to the list below to see how
|
| Windows XP , for example, requires at
| |
| | much memory you will need based on the
|
| least 512 MB RAM to run smoothly (at
| |
| | type of software you use.
|
| least on my PC). Windows 2000 needs at
| |
| | Administrative: Word processing, email,
|
| least 256 MB RAM. Always check the
| |
| | spreadsheets, surfing the web, general
|
| operating system manufacturer's
| |
| | gaming, not many applications open at
|
| documentation carefully - they always
| |
| | once. Get 256 MB to 512 MB of
|
| tend to understate memory
| |
| | memory.Executive/Professional: Word
|
| requirements.When installing new
| |
| | processing, email, spreadsheets,
|
| applications: Business software like
| |
| | presentations, videos, photos, surfing
|
| Microsoft Office, video editing
| |
| | the web, general gaming, several
|
| applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and
| |
| | applications open at once. Get 512 MB to
|
| games like Half-Life 2 really need a LOT
| |
| | 1 GB of memory.Graphics Design/Software
|
| of memory. Some will refuse to run if
| |
| | Development: 3D CAD software, enterprise
|
| they find your memory lacking. Other
| |
| | programming suites, simulation or
|
| applications will run but will crawl like
| |
| | modeling software. Get 1 GB or more of
|
| a snail. Newer software these days assume
| |
| | memory.
|
| you have a huge amount of memory. Again,
| |
| | ConclusionThis article has explored the
|
| check the manufacturer's documentation
| |
| | various scenarios when a memory upgrade
|
| carefully for memory requirements.When
| |
| | is necessary. Once you determine you need
|
| Installing Multimedia CardsTwo types of
| |
| | a memory upgrade, decide how much memory
|
| cards come into mind - video cards and
| |
| | you want. Remember that your motherboard
|
| sound cards. Video cards have a built-in
| |
| | has a limited number of slots for memory,
|
| memory but they also consume main system
| |
| | so check that whatever memory you buy can
|
| RAM. Don't be fooled by that fancy video
| |
| | fit into those slots. Good luck and happy
|
| card that says it'll deliver fantastic 3D
| |
| | shopping!Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site
|
| graphics performance. Video cards depend
| |
| | on building computers. Visit his
|
| a lot on your main system RAM. Without
| |
| | website at for tips and
|
| sufficient memory, the video cards will
| |
| | tricks on assembling a PC, as well as
|
| still perform poorly even if they are the
| |
| | buying good computer components.
|
| latest and greatest versions (the ATI
| |
| |
|
