A Guide for Buying RAM

As computer operating systems become more and more powerful, the amount of memory space you have stored on your computer becomes a serious issue. If your computer is running with insufficient memory it can cause a lot of technical issues. If your computer is running slow, Windows is taking a long time to load, or other programs are conflicting with each other the most cost effective way to improve the performance is to install memory. Computer memory is called RAM, and in conjunction with your computers motor board keeps the computer working as it should.

You can't just go out and buy any kind of RAM either. Certain motor boards only work with certain types of RAM. Because RAM is temporary memory, or random access memory, it is not used in the same way your hard drive uses memory. When you open a new application or window the data is transferred by CPU into the RAM. Your computer then runs the program from RAM so that you can easily access files and folders. A *.tmp file is named for your temporary application files and stores each byte of information used by your PC during the operation. *.tmp files can be accessed through the system folders for Windows if you wish to delete old files.

So, how do you know what kind and how much of RAM you need? Where can you get it? Most RAM used in computers today is called dynamic RAM or DRAM. This kind of RAM refreshes itself hundreds of times per second and once the computer is shut off or the program disabled the data is no longer available. DRAM is simply temporary memory that allows you to pull up files and internet pages in an instant.

If a program or file is too large of complicated to fit in RAM the overflow is stored in virtual memory. In Windows, virtual memory is called the paging file or swap and is primarily used as a dumping tank for excess data in RAM. The less RAM that your computer has the more paging is used, which ultimately causes a system slow down. When this happens it's like your PC becomes crippled because data is now moving much slower than the desired RAM speed. Of course, it would be ideal to never use paging but the fact is that most computers do, especially for large files.

So what does that mean to you? Simply stated, it means you must install the largest amount of RAM possible to handle your average work tasks and play. When it comes to buying RAM you have two choices; DDR or DDR2. Both work in the same manner and have similar names, but they cannot be interchanged with each other. Even if you wished, you couldn't replace a DDR with a DDR2 because the technology is different. Both DDR and DDR2 are synchronized with the FSB speed and provide users with much faster performance than standard DRAM used in most computers.

It's pretty obvious now that more RAM will give you better performance and faster speed, but how which one do you need and how much? The naming system for your DRAM and DDR memory can be quite confusing if you are not familiar with technical terms. It can be hard to tell what kind you need but there is an answer. It's simple really; they are all the same memory. I know I said they were incompatible but here's what you need to look for. Take off the side plate of your processor, open the locking levers on the DRAM and gently remove it.

For example, if your memory says DDR400 it means that you are running 2 reads per cycle at 200MHz, which equals 400MHz. A DDR400 also means that your computer is processing 3,200 MBs per cycle equaling a PC rating of 3200. A DDR600 would read 2 reads per cycle at 300MHz and so on. It is really very simple to figure out. Speeds above PC 4000 are generally reserved for computers that are overworked or high performance.

The CAS (Column, Address, and Strobe) Latency or what is called CL is also very important to check. The CL refers to the number of clock cycles it takes to access the memory. DDR and DDR2 usually have a rating of 2.5 or 3 for clock cycles which is what you should look for. If you do choose a lower latency DDR make sure it runs at the same clock speed as a higher model. Lower latency models running at the same clock speed as a more powerful DDR will actually provide faster memory performance when running multiple applications. There are many models to choose from ranging from low to high CL, and many different speeds. Choose what is necessary for your regular work load and will also be compatible with your motor board.

After you have made the big RAM purchase and you've got it home there's not much left to do except install it. Before you even take the RAM out of the package make sure that the locking levers on the memory slot are in the open position. If these levers are closed there is no way the memory will fit and you may damage it. Read the instructions to make sure that the memory is facing the right direction before you insert it into the space. Usually there is a notch on the side of the memory that must line up with the socket and key. The memory should slide in easily sitting firmly in the grooves and locking. Don't force the memory if it doesn't fit. Re-read the instructions and make sure the model fits your computer. Sometimes you do have to apply slight pressure on the top of the memory to get it to lock into place, but it should only be about a second of pressure at the end. If the piece doesn't lock in automatically it is not oriented in the right direction.

Once you have installed the device run the operating software that came with it on your computer. Usually there is a quick start guide that will give you step by step instructions for installing the software on your computer. Once the new RAM is installed you will have better speed, performance, graphics, and ease of use.