Your computer uses RAM to store information that’s needed for immediate processing. Compared to long-term storage, it’s much faster.
It’s important to understand how RAM impacts PC performance, especially since software becomes more demanding over time. Having enough RAM can help ensure a smooth user experience and extend the life of your system.
How RAM Works
RAM is your computer’s short-term memory. It holds data that your CPU (central processing unit) needs to access quickly, so it can execute programs and process information as fast as possible.
Each memory chip has a capacitor that acts like a small bucket storing electrons, with each bit representing a 1 or a 0. As you read each memory cell, the sense-amplifier determines whether the capacitor is full or empty and sends this information to the CPU. This happens thousands of times per second, in milliseconds.
While the speed of RAM is impressive, the capacity is limited. When your computer’s operating system runs out of physical memory, it must swap the information you’re using between the hard disk drive and RAM, which takes a lot of time and slows down performance. This is called paging, and it is why your laptop might feel sluggish after you’ve used it for awhile. More memory can alleviate this problem by reducing the number of times that your CPU must swap data.
What’s RAM?
When you play a game or stream a movie on your computer, it loads the data for those applications into RAM. This memory is crucial because it allows the computer’s central processing unit (CPU) to complete the complex tasks necessary for a good experience.
The CPU is constantly reading and writing data to and from RAM, which is why it’s so important that RAM be fast. Accessing data from a hard disk or solid-state drive takes longer than reading it from RAM.
Computers today come with 4GB of RAM, but if you’re an avid gamer or user of high-end editing software, you may need more. RAM is typically sold in modules about the size of a stick of gum and can be easily upgraded when you need more capacity. It’s also commonly integrated into the processor and other ICs on the motherboard. There are two types of RAM, static RAM (SRAM) and dynamic RAM (DRAM). Both use a transistor and capacitor to store data.
How Much RAM Do I Need?
If you’re using your computer for basic tasks like internet browsing, emailing, word processing and light gaming, then you don’t need much RAM. However, having enough RAM to keep up with your CPU speed is important to prevent games from taking a long time to load or glitching mid-game.
Video editing programs, 3D graphic design software and other professional-grade software usually require a lot more computer memory than regular applications. For example, some video gamers prefer 32GB of RAM to avoid lag or crashes in resource-intensive titles.
Luckily, finding the right amount of RAM for your computer isn’t too difficult. For the average user, 8GB is typically sufficient for everyday computing tasks and playing modern games. It may even be enough for amateur creatives who use programs like Photoshop or Premiere Pro. The exact amount of RAM you need depends on your specific setup and usage, though.
How Do I Know If I Need More RAM?
If you’re experiencing sluggish performance while running multiple programs, browsing the web, or playing games, it could be time to add more RAM. This simple upgrade can improve your computer’s speed and make everyday tasks more effortless.
Newer computers typically come with 4GB of RAM, but for heavy multitaskers and those who need high-end photo editing software, 8GB or more is recommended. Serious gamers should opt for 16GB or more to get a smooth and uninterrupted gaming experience.
Adding more RAM can dramatically improve the speed of your computer, but be careful not to overspend. The sweet spot is where more RAM won’t negatively impact performance, but not so much that it becomes the bottleneck for other functions like data transfer or central processing. This will vary from computer to computer. You can easily determine how much RAM your computer has by opening the Task Manager and clicking on the Performance tab. Here you’ll see the amount of RAM your system has and how much it’s using, as well as other useful usage information.