Why Upgrade Your PC’s RAM?

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Slow computers are incredibly frustrating. The good news is, purchasing a whole new computer isn’t always necessary. You can improve your computer’s performance by upgrading the RAM.

Let’s have a closer look at what RAM is, and why it’s worth upgrading.

What is RAM?

RAM – random access memory – is used to store data currently being accessed.

In an article comparing RAM and computer storage, we explained RAM with this simple analogy: think of RAM as your computer’s desk. You can open files and applications on the desk, and when you are done, take them back off the desk.

The desk does have limitations – it’s only so big, and can only fit so much stuff on it at one time. When there is too much clutter, things slow down, and tasks become difficult.

To combat this issue, you need a bigger desk.

The same logic applies to computer RAM. The more RAM you have, the better your computer can cope with multiple tasks and particularly strenuous applications.

Who should consider upgrading their RAM?

There are two main groups of people who should consider upgrading their RAM: those of us that perform heavy-duty computer tasks on a regular basis, and those of us with old, slow computers.

Today, most new computers come with a fair amount of RAM – around 8GB or more. This should be enough for those that use their computer to word process, browse the web, read the news, and check emails.

For those that play the latest video games, edit photos and videos, or do other heavy-duty computer tasks, you may want to invest in more RAM from day one.

If you have an older computer with, say, 4GB of RAM, you may struggle to do fairly straightforward computer tasks. That includes opening a whole bunch of browser tabs, or working on multiple Word documents at once.

Do keep in mind that, after installing new RAM, you may not experience an increase in speed. Instead, you’ll notice improved performance. To up the speed of your PC, you’ll need to switch to an SSD, invest in a new CPU, or something similar.

How to upgrade your RAM

Upgrading your RAM is a cheap and easy process.

First, you’ll need to purchase new RAM. This will cost anywhere between $100 and $400, depending on the capacity and type.

The amount of RAM you can install on your PC is limited to its capacity. So, it might be worth finding out your device’s RAM limit before purchasing additional RAM.

Then, you or your computer technician can install it. If you know what you are doing, it really is as simple as opening up your PC, and clipping the RAM into place. If you are not confident, it’s best not to go poking around.