Make your computer faster with this best bang-for-the-buck upgrade

Adding RAM (Random Access Memory aka “Memory”) is the usually the best bang-for-the-buck hardware upgrade to make your computer faster.

After you start your computer, the operating system (Windows) and various background programs such as anti-virus and other programs that are evident by icons in the system tray by the clock are loaded from the hard drive into RAM. Once you start opening programs such as your internet browser or word processing software, those programs also load into memory. It’s not uncommon to have 50 or more programs running on your computer before you start your first program. At some point you can have so many programs running that the RAM becomes full. At that point rather than just keeping you from starting any more programs your computer will then start to run programs from virtual memory which is a dedicated space on your hard drive. Using virtual memory dramatically slows down your computer, and puts excess wear on the hard drive.

To prevent needing to use virtual memory and slowing down your computer, RAM can be added to most computers. RAM prices have come down over the years, and it’s now possible to upgrade to up to 1 GB (1024 MB) of RAM for under $50. Computer Techs can install the memory for you in about 1/2 hour or less.

You can check to see how much RAM your computer has by going to Start > Control Panel > System and looking on the General tab. These days to get the best computer performance you should have a minimum of 512 MB to 1 GB (1024 MB) of RAM, depending on what programs you use on your computer.

If you’d like Computer Techs to help speed up your computer by adding more RAM, give us a call. We can acquire the memory that is compatible with your computer and install it for a part+labor total that is often less than $100.