Random access memory (RAM) is your computer’s short term memory. It helps your processor perform tasks as quickly as possible.
Whether you click on a link to go to a website or play a video game, a series of switches and capacitors in RAM work to translate that data into the web page you see or the action you take in the game.
What is RAM?
RAM is a computer chip that acts like your brain’s short term memory, holding the information that the CPU needs for the moment. This allows your computer to work faster, perform multiple tasks at once without slowing down, and handle large files and memory-intensive apps and video games.
In short, your computer can’t do anything without it. It would take ages to load apps, browse the web and edit documents if it relied on the long-term data storage on its disk drives (HDDs or newer SSDs).
This is because RAM is non-volatile, meaning it maintains the current state of your computer’s system even when power is cut, but storing this data on disk drives would be much more difficult. This is why RAM is so important, and why upgrading your laptop, desktop or MAC with more RAM can really improve its performance.
How much RAM do I need?
Modern computers need lots of memory to run their applications and games. Without it, you might notice a lot of slowdown and even freezes when attempting to multitask.
For most everyday users, 8GB will be more than enough to handle light multitasking, word processing and some photo editing software. 16GB is an ideal starting point for gamers, and is enough to run demanding games smoothly at medium settings (although the graphics card also plays a significant role).
Increasing RAM beyond your current requirement won’t give you any additional performance benefits. Buying more than you need is a waste of money. Rather, focus your budget on more important upgrades such as the CPU and graphics card. However, if you’re struggling with memory-intensive software and gaming, then it may be worth upgrading to more RAM.
What are the benefits of RAM?
If you’re noticing unresponsive programs or a general slowness on your computer, the chances are that it is running low on RAM. Upgrading to higher capacity can speed up your PC significantly.
RAM is a temporary storage location for data that the processor needs to access. It is much faster than the longer-term storage offered by SSD or HDD. Without sufficient RAM, the CPU is forced to constantly swap data back and forth between memory and storage which can be inefficient and frustrating.
Most computers have expandable RAM slots in the motherboard that can be used to add new modules when needed. It is important to choose memory that is compatible with your motherboard and CPU, or the system may not function correctly. RAM comes in sticks that snap into the RAM slots on the motherboard and is available in several different capacities, frequencies and brands. Some brands of RAM offer error correction capability (ECC) which can help correct small errors in the data being stored.
How do I choose the right RAM?
There are a few things to consider when choosing RAM for your computer. First, you need to determine the capacity you need. The higher the capacity, the more applications and games you can run at once.
The type of RAM is also important. You want to make sure your motherboard supports the type you’re looking at purchasing. You will also want to decide whether you need single channel, dual, or quad-channel memory. Single channel uses a single module of RAM, while dual and quad-channel use two or four modules of RAM respectively.
Finally, you will want to consider the speed of your RAM. You want to ensure it’s fast enough to meet your needs, but you don’t want to pay for a lot more than what you need.
Other specifications to look for are whether the RAM comes with a heat spreader and the height of the module. The latter is important if you’re using a small case or mini PC with limited space.