This amount of memory could handle single applications. Memory capacity : The more GB your memory module has, the more programs you can have open at once.Ģ-4 GB: This was the standard RAM capacity and shipped with computers running Windows Vista or XP. Before you upgrade your RAM, ensure that your operating system will support the new amount of memory. Microsoft has an excellent listing in the hyperlink below listing Windows versions and the amount of RAM supported: Memory Limits for Windows and Windows Server Releases Some computers have older designs and use a 32-bit (X86) operating system. Today, most computers are equipped with a 64-bit operating system. RAM has two main attributes that affect your computer's performance: memory capacity and memory speed.
However, adding RAM is a better solution because your processor can read data from RAM faster than from a hard drive.
If your computer is running slowly due to a lack of RAM, you might be tempted to increase virtual memory because it is less expensive. Generally, the more RAM your computer has, the larger the digital countertop you have to work on and the faster your programs will run. Your computer places your programs in RAM, or the digital countertop, temporarily while you are working with them so that the processor can access that information faster and more easily. Once the files are retrieved, the computer needs a workspace to manipulate the data and allow you to interact with it. When you start a program, your processor gives a command to retrieve the program from the hard drive.
System memory is not permanent storage, like a hard disk drive that saves its contents when you turn off your computer. Your computer's system memory is made up of physical memory, called Random Access Memory (RAM), and virtual memory. This article describes how system memory (Random Access Memory - RAM) affects computer performance.