Random Access Memory is ultra fast flash storage where your computer stores all the data it’s currently working with. This makes data processing much faster than constantly reading and writing to a hard drive, which is much slower. The problem arises when a computer doesn’t have enough RAM to accommodate all running services and processes, and data needs to be stored to the hard drive in an area called a paging file.
Upgrading your computer’s RAM will frequently give you the best bang for your buck in terms performance; RAM is cheap and offers a noticeable speed boost. Installing more random access memory will make multitasking a lot smoother, and your whole computer will feel faster as it will stop swapping data between your hard drive and memory.
Upgrading your RAM is as simple as adding new chips or replacing current chips. Laptops have a separate cover dedicated to access to your memory (in the technical world – memory refers to RAM, not storage space) which provides easy access to the chips. A PC can be opened and the chips will lie right on the motherboard. RAM upgrades will usually not void the manufacturer’s warranty.
How much memory does your computer need to run quickly? This significantly depends on your usage (for example, gaming and 3D graphic work keep a lot stored in RAM, whereas simply sending emails and editing documents will use far less), but Windows 7 should be running on at least two gigabytes to keep everything smooth. Gamers and graphic designers should work with 4GB or more.
