UPGRADING COMPUTER MEMORY – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you’re someone that uses their computer often, you know when it’s time to upgrade your memory. You can tell that things just aren’t working as quickly as you want them to be. It might start with your computer simply being unable to run two programs at the same time without troubles or you simply find that programs don’t work as well as they did in the past. However, when you diagnose your problem, you need to learn more about memory before you can add more.

Why you need more memory

In every computer, there is a certain amount of memory that is available to run programs you have installed. When you first have your computer, this memory may only be partially taken up. But the more programs you have and more files you have stored, the more of this memory will be used up. When this happens, you will not be able to run programs at the same time because there isn’t enough “room” to do so. This can lead to frustrating computer crashes, slowed performance, and troubles with installing new programs.

Before you buy new memory, you might want to remove any excess files or programs you have on your computer. This can be done by simply going to your computer’s Control Panel option on a PC and going to “Add or Remove Programs” and then removing the programs you don’t use.

The limitations on upgrades

But if you don’t want to get rid of anything on your computer, you will need to look for ways to increase the memory storage. However, depending on your computer, you can only add so much memory. Most computers have a certain amount of slots that can be used for additional memory. Right now, most PCs have an average of 2GB worth of slots, allowing you to have that much memory. So, if you have only 1GB of memory installed on your computer right now, you can probably add another 1GB.

To find out how much more memory you can add, you’ll have to refer to your computer’s user manual to see how you find this out.

Where to find upgrades

When you’re ready to buy more memory for your upgrade, it’s best to go directly to a third party source. They will be able to give you certified memory that is compatible with your specific computer – and will be able to help you with installing it if you choose to do so. You can also find upgrades at local computer supply stores and directly from the manufacturer, although they are typically more expensive.

Can you do it yourself?

The good thing about upgrading your memory is that you can usually handle this job on your own if you have basic knowledge about how computers work. Simply purchase the memory from a certified dealer who can help you decide what is best to buy for your situation and then follow the directions to install it.

When to call in a specialist

If you’re trying to add a lot of memory – beyond 2GB – you might want to call in a specialist. You will also want to have someone else do it if you just do not feel comfortable tackling the project. If you find at any point in the installation that you are having troubles, you can also call for help to get the memory in properly.

Visit Upgrade Computer Memory to find the correct memory upgrade for your computer. Click here to view this blog in PDF.

Tags: Computer Memory

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4 Signs Your Computer Needs More Memory

Most computer users have had it happen to them. Their screens start to pop up with weird notifications and the state of the art system they thought they had bought is running at a snail’s pace. The chances are very good that the only thing wrong with the computer is a shortage of memory. Before you run out and buy a bunch of memory for your system, you want to be sure that is truly the problem. There are four tell tale signs that your computer needs more memory to operate at its highest potential.

1. The first thing to look for is sub par or poor performance from your PC. A classic sign is when you try to open a program and it either doesn’t respond or seems to take forever to open. Memory problems can crop up quickly and the system may gradually start to act strangely or the situation may pop up all at once. Either way, a lack of memory is simple to correct and are less expensive than calling in professionals that will only tell you need more memory.

2. The second sign that your computer is forgetting things are the notifications that are beginning to pop up on your screen. They typically say things like low memory or out of memory. In this case, the problem is pretty obvious. The system needs more memory.

3. Another signal of memory issues is display problems. You pull up a page and it either only partially loads or refusing to load at all. This can happen online or in a saved document or file you are trying to work in. The problem may manifest as a blank space where the data should be or by simply not showing anything on screen at all.

4. In unusual cases, the PC may not operate at all. In other words, when you open anything, the system will not respond. You are left looking at your home page instead of seeing any operation progress. Once again, correcting a memory problem in your computer is easy to do and takes very little time.

When you bought your computer the chances are good that you were told it had everything you would ever need in terms of disk space, memory, and all of the possible bells and whistles. Naturally the salesperson wasn’t going to tell you that memory is one of those things that simply run out. To help you understand exactly why your system is refusing to cooperate, you have to understand about the different types of memory and what your computer does with them.

Both types of memory are important to maintaining the computer in proper working condition. RAM or Random Access Memory is the memory your computer uses first. Its operation is to run any program you call up. When RAM memory is low, the computer automatically files the information in the system’s virtual memory. When the information is moved to the virtual memory, it frees up space in the RAM memory to properly run the program itself.

A low memory problem results when the computer runs out of RAM and has to rely on virtual memory. There are programs available that take up a lot of space and can quickly deplete your computer’s memory space. This type of problem can also be the result of having a program installed on your computer that you no longer need, but it hasn’t freed up the memory space. You may read or hear this referred to as memory overuse or as a memory leak.

Fortunately it is a simple process to install additional memory and/or clear out unnecessary, unused programs. Both methods will help restore your computer back to its original operating speed and efficiency.

Visit Upgrade Computer Memory to find the correct memory upgrade for your computer. Click here to view this blog in PDF.

Tags: Computer Memory Signs

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Taking your Laptop to the Next Level by Adding Memory

When you’re on the road a lot and you need to access your work or just the internet, your laptop becomes a crucial part of your life. It’s the accessory that you just can’t live without. But while bringing your laptop with you will make things more convenient for you, are you really getting all that you can from this portable computer?

Signs You Might be Cheating Yourself

Your laptop is only as good as the features it includes. When you first buy a laptop, it’s all shiny and new, but after you’ve used it a few times, you may find that you need more and more from it in order to work as well as it did in the beginning. If you’re noticing these signs, you might be ready for some laptop upgrades:

• Your laptop crashes more often than it used to
• Your laptop doesn’t run programs as quickly
• You have troubles opening multiple files at the same time
• Your computer stalls

Your laptop is supposed to make your life easier, but when you’re suffering from issues like these, it’s harder to utilize it in the most efficient ways possible.

Diagnosing the Problem

When your laptop isn’t running as well as you would like, your first instinct may be to think that you need to replace your laptop with a newer model – but this isn’t always the case. If you’re not completely computer literate or if you’ve never fixed your computer before, you might want to get a second opinion on the diagnosis of the problem – via your computer’s manufacturer. Call their support team to see if you can figure out what the problem is by running the laptop through various tests.

While this seems like a time consuming step, you may find out that you are actually just suffering from a program installation issue or perhaps a virus that has gotten into your hard drive. These are fairly simple fixes, but if you’re not aware of how to detect them, they can prove frustrating.

However, in many cases, these aren’t even the main problems you are having. That’s when you need to consider the idea of adding memory to your laptop.

Adding Memory, Adding Power

Your laptop is a smaller version of your desktop, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t work just as well. If you’ve determined that your problems aren’t being caused by viruses or software problems, you might want to consider adding memory. This can help reduce the burden of the memory that is being used by your laptop and allow you to have faster running programs and fewer crashes.

Memory is what is needed to give ‘space’ for programs to run. If you’re not giving your laptop enough space in which to run programs, they will have troubles running.

When you have more memory on your laptop, you will be able to:

• Run ‘heavier’ programs like games and music players
• Watch DVDs and online videos without interruptions
• Reduce or eliminate the system crashes
• Run multiple programs at the same time

How to Boost Your Computer

To see how much memory you can add to your laptop, you will again need to contact the manufacturer. They can walk you through a simple process of finding the maximum memory storage for your laptop by looking at your unique laptop settings. These vary from laptop to laptop, so checking with the help desk or owner’s manual is the best way to find them.

Once you find the memory capabilities, you will want to either send your laptop into the help center to have them install the memory for you. This is generally recommended if you don’t have a lot of experience with computers and when you don’t need to have your laptop immediately. You can also bring it to a computer repair center to see if they can install the memory for you.

But in reality, installing memory for a laptop is quite simple. All you need to do (for most models) is remove a small panel on the underside of the laptop and replace the memory chips that are in there at the moment. Depending on the model, you might need to place multiple sticks in there or just one. This is done with the computer off and unplugged, and then the cover is replaced, your laptop is turned back on, and you are ready to go.

You can take your laptop to the next level when you add memory – and quite often, you can do this on your own. You will need to purchase the memory from a qualified dealer of your brand’s memory to be sure it works with the system you have.

Visit Upgrade Computer Memory to find the correct memory upgrade for your computer. Click here to view this blog in PDF.

Tags: Laptop Memory Guide

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