What the Hecks in Your Computer - Part 4: RAM

Memory, also called RAM (random access memory) is another component that deserves some focus since it has evolved in the personal computer over the years. There is fast cache RAM on processors and hard drives but the best known memory is the type configured in sticks and added to slots in the motherboard.  This is the main system RAM. The best analogy I know of for what function RAM provides is as follows: it is like the surface or workspace on the top of your desk – the larger the surface is (the more RAM you have) the more documents you can lay out and access quickly – with too little desk space (or RAM) you begin to need to pile up documents and access to them slows down as you search for them through piles– you work slower and far less efficiently. With extra RAM your computer runs smooth and fast. With too little RAM your computer slows  and reacts in a choppy fashion as you have used up physical RAm and now windows is using your hard drive as virtual RAM. Remember your hard drive is exponentially slower than real RAM. 

In days gone by upgrades to computers were very popular, everything from CPUs to video to hard drives.  Many of those upgrades have fallen out of favor and no longer make sense financially. Currently the best value in upgrades is more RAM. Adding RAM improves many aspects of computer function for relatively not much money.

The increased amounts of RAM in new systems is driving the adoption of 64bit operating systems. To take advantage of more than 4 gigabytes of ram requires a 64bit version of Windows XP or Windows 7. 32 bit versions of windows will simply not use more than 4 gigabytes because it was not designed to. Windows 7 Professional 64 bit will support up to 192 gigabytes of RAM.  Seems like a lot today but in the future will seem common place.

Do you have enough RAM? It really depends how you use your system and if it appears slow in certain programs a ram upgrade is certainly something to consider.  Power users who write software or edit photos and videos or play graphic intensive games will almost always benefit from more RAM. For the rest of us the sweet spot can usually be judged by how much you see your hard drive light flashing.  If it’s on constantly instead of intermittently then more RAM should be of benefit.  If you are RAM shopping it is best to have it professionally installed as there is a very real risk from static discharge that can destroy your new upgrade. Also remember the RAM needs to be matched with the existing RAM in your system for speed and type, all things a  Northern Computer technician can determine for you.

Click here for Part 1: The Motherboard
Click here for Part 2: The CPU
Click here for Part 3: The Hard Drive

-Paul C, Service Bench Supervisor

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