When it comes to speed and performance, the amount of RAM your computer has is absolutely essential. In today’s fast paced world 256 MB ( that’s megabytes) is pretty much the bare minimum amount of RAM that you can get away with, and a new computer today will boast much more than this ( 4 gigabytes is now considered almost standard). To check out how much RAM your PC has, just click on the System Information tab in your Control Panel. If you run a lot of graphics or are a gamer and you have less than 1 GB of RAM, my suggestion to you is to get yourself some more.

What RAM does

RAM or Random Access Memory is a stick of solid state circuits with no moving parts that is able to perform task at lightening quick speeds.  If your PC does not have enough of this memory available then it needs to use its virtual memory cache that is kept  on your PC’s hard drive. While virtual memory is helpful, the problem is that your PC needs to poke around in a movable drive in order to access it and this ends up taking time and consequently leading to “page file” errors which will make you computer seem slow and unstable.

How to RAMp it up

Adding more RAM to your computer may be one of the simplest operations that you can perform on your computer. It only takes a few minutes and it will make you feel like a genuine professional computer geek type. RAM can be found in most electronic goods stores and comes in 128, 256, 512, and 1024 MB sizes. There are  different types of RAM ranging from RD RAM (a pair with metal casings), SD RAM ( has two notches and is being phased out, DDR SDRAM (the most popular type of RAM with two notches).  The RAM modules are green with black tubing and are located on the Mother Board. RAM also comes in two speeds (233 or 266) and this is usually written on the side of the RAM chips.

Once you purchase your new RAM (most likey the DDR SDRAM) you sill need to unplug your PC and take off the removable panel. After making sure you touch the metal casing to discharge any static electricity, locate the RAM Modules and remove the RAM your are going to replace. Line the new RAM with the slots and press down firmly.

Once the RAM is snug, the clips that hold it should snap into place.  Now plug your PC back in and check your system information. If everything was done correctly, your PC should show an increase in RAM (this might require some addition and subtraction capabilities on your part in order to determine this). If your PC does not show a bigger amount of RAM, make sure that the chips were properly set in place and that you bought some that was compatible with your PC. Once you get everything in good working order, you should experience a much faster PC.