Deciding on computer memory for most of us doesn’t mean much. For those who do understand, they know that selecting the right computer memory can mean a world of difference in performance of your computer. It’s been said that you can never have enough money, and the same holds true for RAM, especially if you do a lot of graphics-intensive work or gaming. Next to the CPU itself, RAM is the most important factor in computer performance. If you don’t have enough, adding RAM can make more of a difference than getting a new CPU!

RAM is the best known form of computer memory. RAM is considered “random access” because you can access any memory cell directly if you know the row and column that intersect at that cell. When you think about it, it’s amazing how many different types of electronic memory you encounter in daily life. Many of them have become an integral part of our vocabulary: RAM, ROM, Cache, Dynamic RAM, Static RAM, Flash memory, Memory Sticks, Virtual memory, Video memory, and BIOS.

If your system responds slowly or accesses the hard drive constantly, then you need to add more RAM. If you are running Windows XP, Microsoft recommends 128MB as the minimum RAM requirement. At 64MB, you may experience frequent application problems. For optimal performance with standard desktop applications, 256MB is recommended. If you are running Windows 95/98, you need a bare minimum of 32 MB, and your computer will work much better with 64 MB. Windows NT/2000 needs at least 64 MB, and it will take everything you can throw at it, so you’ll probably want 128 MB or more.

We will discuss the benefits of memory and how to decide how much memory your custom computer or custom laptop should have. You can always upgrade later, but it is best to get the right memory first.

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