How does adding memory help your computer?
85763
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question175.htm\n\nUp to a point, adding RAM (random access memory) will normally cause your computer to feel faster on certain types of operations. RAM is important because of an operating system component called the virtual memory manager (VMM).\n\nWhen you run a program such as a word processor or an Internet browser, the microprocessor in your computer pulls the executable file off the hard disk and loads it into RAM. In the case of a big program like Microsoft Word or Excel, the EXE consumes about 5 megabytes. The microprocessor also pulls in a number of shared DLLs (dynamic link libraries) -- shared pieces of code used by multiple applications. The DLLs might total 20 or 30 megabytes. Then the microprocessor loads in the data files you want to look at, which might total several megabytes if you are looking at several documents or browsing a page with a lot of graphics. So a normal application needs between 10 and 30 megabytes of RAM space to run. On my machine, at any given time I might have the following applications running:\n\n    * A word processor\n    * A spreadsheet\n    * A DOS prompt\n    * An e-mail program\n    * A drawing program\n    * Three or four browser windows\n    * A fax program\n    * A Telnet session \n\nBesides all of those applications, the operating system itself is taking up a good bit of space. Those programs together might need 100 to 150 megabytes of RAM, but my computer only has 64 megabytes of RAM installed.\n\nThe extra space is created by the virtual memory manager. The VMM looks at RAM and finds sections of RAM that are not currently needed. It puts these sections of RAM in a place called the swap file on the hard disk. For example, even though I have my e-mail program open, I haven't looked at e-mail in the last 45 minutes. So the VMM moves all of the bytes making up the e-mail program's EXE, DLLs and data out to the hard disk. That is called swapping out the program. The next time I click on the e-mail program, the VMM will swap in all of its bytes from the hard disk, and probably swap something else out in the process. Because the hard disk is slow relative to RAM, the act of swapping things in and out causes a noticeable delay.\n\nIf you have a very small amount of RAM (say, 16 megabytes), then the VMM is always swapping things in and out to get anything done. In that case, your computer feels like it is crawling. As you add more RAM, you get to a point where you only notice the swapping when you load a new program or change windows. If you were to put 256 megabytes of RAM in your computer, the VMM would have plenty of room and you would never see it swapping anything. That is as fast as things get. If you then added more RAM, it would have no effect.\n\nSome applications (things like Photoshop, many compilers, most film editing and animation packages) need tons of RAM to do their job. If you run them on a machine with too little RAM, they swap constantly and run very slowly. You can get a huge speed boost by adding enough RAM to eliminate the swapping. Programs like these may run 10 to 50 times faster once they have enough RAM! \n\n---x---\nupgrading memory is a cheaper option than buying a new pc
287285
What you are referring to as memory is called hard drive space.  These are two different things.\n\nYou can purchase a new hard drive with a larger capacity, or simply add another hard drive to the system.  The drive containing your Operating System (Most likely a version of Windows) is the system drive.  Installing a second drive as a slave will allow for additional space.  You can save your music, videos, games, etc here and, if you want, install a different Operating System (which you could do on your system drive as well).\n\n60GB should be plenty of space for you to install and play your game.  If you are low on space, this will slow your system down anyway.  Therefore, you should get rid of content on the drive that is useless such as programs you no longer use and trash files.
895413
All of the answers given to you are excellent.  Plus you have to defrag., if you have not performed the task.   \n\nIf you really think that a free pc boost will help go to http://www.majorgeeks.com   There you will find loads of free pc boost, or memory boost programs.   You can take your choice.  \n\nI don't recall the name, but one if you have Windows XP, there is a specific program for memory boost XP that is free of embedded spyware or trojans.   (Just search their webpage).  \n\nPerhaps with all the excellent advise, you will have to purchase an upgraded chip, which cost about $40.00\n\nClinical Psychiatrist, France
559020
You've got to have more RAM.
1015063
You need to buy a bigger harddrive or just buy another hard drive and make it a slave drive. You can always get an external hard drive which is connected by just a USB, and that will let you use it as a different drive for storage. You can buy a lot of cheap hardware from either http://www.tigerdirect.com or http://www.newegg.com but make sure you check the warranty on them first. \n\nRAM is a different kind of memory. Its the memory that helps you open more programs all at once without your computer crashing on you. It helps the speed of the scanning of your hard drive while your computer is loading up programs.\n\nIt really depends on how much hard drive memory you use. Do you download a lot of music? Play a lot of games? I think you should get about 60GB to have a pretty good storage space for games and music.
661544
This is because if you have 4gb of ram, and add anymore, it would make little difference in terms of performance. This is because you will always be limited by the speed of the bus that links the CPU and RAM. There will be a limit on how much ram you put in before adding more will have no effect.
743783
It is actually very easy to add RAM to your system.  (Technically, the CPU is the main chip, even though many people and computer classes will tell you that the whole "box" is the CPU).\n\nAdding RAM is about the easiest upgrade you can do to your system, and is usually the most cost effective performance upgrade you can do for it, if it is a fairly recent system.\n\nIf you don't know what RAM to get, and don't have the books for your system, I always suggest www.crucial.com to look.  There, you can look up your system and exactly what RAM it takes.  Plus, if you choose to buy from them, they have decent prices, and they also guarantee compatibility with you system.  On top of that, the RAM is of top quality and is often used by the big name system manufacturers.\n\nThey even include good instructions to tell you how to actually install in (usually, you just snap the module in place).
435979
you have more ram than my desktop and my laptop put together you have enough memory
803756
the more RAM memory the more applications (programs) you can run at the same time without slowing down
331586
Your computer has a type of memory called RAM (random access memory). It is temporary memory that is used when running programs and doing other tasks. The more RAM you have in your computer the faster it will run b/c it has more "working space"\n\nRAM is sold as a stick-like thingy that looks like this:\nhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm \n\nIt comes in different sizes and speeds and configurations.\n\nthat is a memory stick.\n\nhope that helps :)
831001
Great question. Your memory is being managed by your Microsoft Windows XP or whatever you're currently using. By allowing other programs to take part in that memory, you'll be causing a bad conflict that will eventually cause the machine to start reporting false and inaccurate CRC information and free disk space. Windows offers you "Task Manager" which is, of course, the very best that's offered. Microsoft products for Microsoft Applications. Larry Radio Shack 01-9590
501333
Keep in mind your computer needs memory to operate efficiently. Now for example, when you first bought your computer it didn't have too many programs loaded on it, over time you add programs that create startup items (programs that load when the desktop loads) and this increased the time it takes for the computer to load your desktop. Now when your tech came out and installed anti virus software on the computer, this added another program to load at startup, thus increasing the time for the desktop to load. Best thing to do is upgrade your memory (RAM). RAM isn't to expensive and will definately speed up your computing.
588540
Check your computer's specifications...usually found online someplace if you look up the model number and make.  Sometimes it'll tell you what the maximum memory is for your computer.  It doesn't matter what sizes you put in there to make up the numbers as long as (I'm thinking) it's within your max memory.  I seen some older computers only a max of 128RAM....was time to ditch those badboys.  I'm running 512mb right now...two 256 sticks.  Computer runs great even doing videos while running other programs.
860700
ram is ur phisical memory so if u hav low ram ur computer is slow and u cant open so much windows and ther are some games which need loads of phisical memory so if u have low ram and the game needs many ram it wont open or it will be slow
762509
Right click onb the My Computer Icon and click properties. You should see a wealth of information about your computer, and of course you RAM size
895998
Separate hard drives you can buy to increase memory for your computer, they are worth the money.
275553
(m)\n\nThis is system memory that is simulated by the hard drive. When all the RAM is being used (for example if there are many programs open at the same time) the computer will swap data to the hard drive and back to give the impression that there is slightly more memory.