Adding more memory,?
Answers:
everything that is running on the pc dumps from the harddrive into memory .. if theres not enough memory then the machine reads directly from the harddrive which is much slower . so the thing is if u have enough memory adding more doesnt do anything ... for XP 1gig is usually enough unless u game alot ... for vista it needs about 2gigs .. and memory usually runs in dual channel which means u should get two identical sticks and place them in the proper slots to total the amount of ram u want ...
First, yes it will make it much faster and it is the easiest upgrade that you can do.
If you have installed Optical drives, installing ram will be a cakewalk. Basically you just line up the module with the slot, make sure the notch in the RAM matches the tab in the slot and snap it in.
Ram is a temporary storage area for data that needs to be transferred to the processor. It's data transfer rate is very fast, so it can send data quicker than say a hard drive which has a very slow data transfer rate compared to Ram.
So instead of the processor waiting for the hard drive to transfer the data, the RAM does it a heck of a lot faster.
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the temporary working memory that the operating system, programs and documents use when your computer is running. (Don't confuse RAM with hard drive storage, which is where all your files are stashed.) For years, processors and software have been growing increasingly RAM-hungry. A decade ago, 32MB or 64MB of RAM was considered plenty for everyday use. Today, that's laughably inadequate and people are merrily putting in pairs of 512MB RAM sticks into their computers.
Start by finding out how much RAM you already have and what kind it is. To see how much RAM is installed on a Mac running OS X, choose About This Mac from the Apple Menu. You can do this on Windows by checking Control Panel / System. You can also try the Crucial Memory Advisor Tool or System Scanner to find out what kind of memory is recommended for your system. Depending on what type of RAM you need, you may be able to buy 1 GB of RAM for about $US100. Buy only the types of RAM recommended by the manufacturer, and don't put more RAM in your processor than it can use. It's a waste of money.
Most motherboards (the large rectangular circuit board inside your system unit that everything plugs into) have plenty of room for a RAM upgrade. You can add additional RAM yourself with relative ease but before you start, be aware that if you have a warranty or a service agreement, you are likely to invalidate it by popping the hood and tinkering inside. Also, in certain Compaq and Hewlett Packard models, the RAM can't be accessed without removing the hard drive or other components, so you may want to have your new RAM installed at a service center.
But before you go to the trouble of buying and installing additional RAM, think about buying a whole new computer. Prices of desktop PCs have been steadily falling, so if your unit is outdated (more than 2-3 years old) it may be that for a little more than you will spend on more RAM you can upgrade your whole system. See Buying a Computer for more info.
Note for Windows Vista Users: Windows ReadyBoost is a new feature in the Vista operating system that gives you another option for adding system memory. ReadyBoost lets you use USB flash drives as additional RAM, without having to add memory "under the hood." But there's a trade-off... your computer can access a flash drive faster than data on a hard drive, but it's slower than "real" RAM.
Installing RAM
DDR2 DIMM slots First, make sure the area you are going to work in is dust free. Vacuum and wipe surfaces down if necessary. For safety, power down the system unit and disconnect all the peripherals. Remove the cover of the system unit and ground yourself by touching a metal surface on the inside of the computer to discharge any static electricity. Next, locate the vacant slots or clips for additional RAM sticks. Depending on the age of your computer, you'll be using either a Single in-line Memory Module (SIMM) or more likely various types of Dual in-line Memory Module (DIMM) such as 168-pin SDRAM, 184 pin DDR SDRAM or 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM, which is the latest turbo driven state of the art stuff.
Hold the RAM stick carefully by the edges, without touching any of the pins or circuits. Gently insert the new memory module into a vacant slot, perpendicular to the mother board and parallel to the existing RAM. If you are working with a SIMM, insert it into the vacant socket at an angle of about 30 degrees, maneuvering it into position until you feel or hear it click into the holders. With a DIMM, there are retaining clips on each side to secure it.
When you are confident the memory sticks are firmly seated, reattach the peripherals, power up and check to se if the CPU recogtnizes the additional memory. If it doesn't, power down and see if the RAM is properly installed, and reinsert if necessary.
Check this out...
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/questi...
It is an easy job to do yourself. Visit http://www.coastmemory.com and look up the EXACT RAM that will work in your system.
RAM is the workforce that makes it all happen. All data from websites and programs and your documents are loaded into RAM first. It is then displayed on your display device for you to read, or change. The more RAM that you have, the better. You see, when you don't have enough RAM, your computer will store some stuff on your hard drive in so-called Virtual Memory. Virtual memory is DOG SLOW, so your computer runs very slow.
Of you have 256MB and run Windows XP, you would get much more speed with just 512MB. But while you are upgrading, you might as well get MUCH MORE. 1GB would be awesome.
If you have Windows Vista, you would want 2GB of RAM to be awesome.
Good luck and Happy Computing!
To use analogy.
Lets say you are working on a car and you have a small tool chest that only can hold like 10 tools, You would not be as efficient right. You would have to walk and get the tools you need from inside the house. Now if you had a huge toolbox that could store every tool known to man, then you would be nmuch more effecient.
Ram works the same way. It gives the processor a place to store things it is working. The more you have the more effecient the CPU can be becasue it doesnt have to read and write back and forth to the Hard Drive.
You will see a huge improvement going from 256 to 2 gigs.
Its pretty easy to install.
Your PC can't operate all programs within a 256MB memory space. It has to use the hard drive for virtual memory. Virtual memory is swap space/file on your hard drive.
In your particular case, your swap space is probably 512MB-768MB large. The 256MB of real memory will cache virtual memory .. meaning parts of the 256MB will represent the most used parts of the 768MB virtual space.
Programs only operate in real memory, not virtual.
So when a program tries to access a memory location that is not currently in the 256MB of real memory, then the operating system flushes some of the real memory not being used, makes a copy from virtual memory to real, and continues.
However, if your PC had 2GB of memory, it wouldn't need to access the hard drive's virtual memory swap file as much, thus making it faster.
P.S. Virtual memory swap files are usually set between 2-3X the real memory size.
Go On Crucial.com, and follow step by step. It will till you how much memory your computer can take. If you have already opened your computer to replace the CD Rom, you should be able to replace the memory. It pops in and out just like network cards.
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