To get the right amount of memory it really
depends on what you are doing.
It is safe to say that in general, the
more the better.
When it comes to adding system memory,
the general rule of thumb is the more, the better.
Most new
computers ship with the minimum amount of memory necessary to make the OS
application run. Research shows that, in most cases, doubling the amount
of memory in your computer make a noticeable difference in overall speed.
This is especially true with today's newer office applications and
graphics intensive games. In short, by adding more ram you will be able to
run more programs at once, and your system will be less likely to freeze
up or act strangely.
Money Saving Tip
If
the memory upgrade you are looking at will fill all the slots in your
system, get as much memory (in megabytes) as you can. Once your slots are
filled up, you'll have to remove one or more of the existing memory
modules to make room for newer, larger ones.
How Much Total
Memory Do You Need?
Well you have already learned that
more memory is better, but perhaps you are asking what's the minimum
amount of memory you need? In general, most current operating systems run
best with at least 256MB of RAM, and preferably 384MB or more. For each
application you plan to run you need to calculate and additional amount of
memory. We have created a handy chart for you below that should be of
help.
| Here's what you do: |
Here's what you need: |
Home & Family
Some word processing, some
e-mail |
256MB 512MB |
Advanced Home User
Word processing, e-mail,
some games, simple graphics programs, spreadsheets, and typically
two applications open at once
Note: Very few modern games
will run well with less than 512MB |
512MB 1GB |
Small Business / Advanced Multimedia &
Games
Word processing, e-mail, Educational games, and
spreadsheets, business graphics programs, typically three or more
applications open at once |
512MB 1GB |
Heavy Graphics Design / Professional &
Gamer
Advanced CAD and/or modeling software, High end
games with multitasking |
1GB Minimum
Preferably 2GB and
up | |
