Optimize PC|Windows Computer Tips and Resources

Today’s computers differ greatly from the PCs that you grew up with; namely, there is a lot more that can be done with a computer today than 20 years ago. With programs, software and applications becoming ever-more demanding upon our computers’ resources - there will be a time when you need to ask yourself: “Is my computer’s memory adequate, or is it time for an upgrade?”. This is what we’ll attempt to help you to determine today.

What is computer memory?
Your computer’s memory, also known as RAM, is for all intents and purposes the power that allows your PC computer to operate. Now, we’re not talking about the A/C power that you pay for every month from the utility company, it’s more like the energy that you have that allows you to perform day-to-day activities. While this is kind of a loose comparison, hopefully you’ll get the gist of what we’re saying.

To further explain this comparison - imagine that you are your computer and your computer’s programs are weights that are being placed upon your back. The more weight you have on you, the more energy you will need to perform daily tasks. When you’re looking at this from your computer’s perspective, running a multitude of programs can cause your PC to slow down - and in order to keep up with the workload and perform sufficiently, it needs more “energy”.

Indications that you need more PC memory (RAM)
Really, the most visible indication of needing a computer memory upgrade is overall slow PC performance; slow boot up, slow startup and programs loading slowly are indicative of a computer with inadequate memory.

You may also run into error messages indicating that your system is either low on memory or doesn’t have enough memory in order to complete a certain operation (generally running a memory-intensive program). In this case, you really need to upgrade your computer’s memory, but a quick fix in these situations is a simple computer reboot.

How much computer memory do I need?
This really depends on what you use your computer for and the Windows operating system that you’re running. If you’re running Windows XP or older operating systems, 512k memory should be suitable for moderate computer usage, though 1Gb of RAM is recommended. If you’re running any version of Windows Vista, you probably need a minimum of 2Gb of memory just to perform adequately and up to 4Gb if you’re using programs that eat up a lot of resources.

Regardless of your operating system, if you are currently or plan on using any audio, video or graphics editing tools - you’ll probably want to invest in as much memory as you can so that your system will operate smoothly.

Where can I buy affordable computer memory for my PC?
We recommend memory from NewEgg when you’re looking for RAM for your computer. NewEgg.com has a ton of computer upgrade hardware (such as RAM) as well as peripherals and software. Self-proclaimed computer geeks love NewEgg and their prices are amongst the best you can find online.

Upgrading your computer’s RAM is a cost-effective and relatively simple way to improve your PCs performance. If you’re suffering from a slow PC and you’ve already tried some of our computer optimization tips, upgrading your computer memory is a step that you should consider if you want to keep your existing computer but want it to run faster and smoother for day-to-day tasks.