Tips when Buying a Memory Upgrade

Considering a Memory Upgrade to speed up your computer? If you have been running Microsoft Windows for very long, you are probably aware that it loves memory.

In fact, if your computer is sluggish, unless you have a virus or malware, chances are it is because Windows is starved for RAM (Random Access Memory) and has to constantly swap out data to your hard disk.

How much RAM is needed? Well, an awful lot of computers that shipped with Windows XP Home Edition or even XP Professional shipped with only 128 megabytes of memory.

I have seen some very sluggish computers really come alive when doubling that to 256 megabytes. But with computer memory being as cheap as it is today, there is no reason not to upgrade memory to at least 512 megabytes and maybe even 1 gigabyte.

Some authors have written that Windows XP's "sweet spot" with memory is 2 gigabytes. Truthfully, unless you are running some serious graphics applications, I doubt you will see much added benefit to going beyond 1 gigabyte of RAM. In fact, most users are thrilled with 512.

What about Windows Vista? Well, if you are running the sleek new Aero interface of Windows Vista, you hopefully have a good video card with RAM of its own. Vista itself will not even run the Aero interface without having a computer with at least 1 gigabyte of RAM. Vista will run much better with 2 gigabytes and you may want to consider going for 4 gigabytes.

If you have Vista and do not max out your motherboard with new RAM, try buying the RAM in large enough sticks that you are left with some empty slots for later on.

How do you know if your computer is worth a memory upgrade?

At this point in time, the lowest machine that I would consider upgrading memory for would be a high Pentium III; probably 750 - 800mhz. Pentium III 1000's still do pretty well for basic word processing and internet. If you have a Pentium 4 of any kind, there is no reason it should not still be a viable computer, so I have been upgrading memory on a bunch of those machines, and doing it for less than $100.

Here are 3 tips to speeding up your computer with a memory upgrade