Installing and upgrading your computer RAM is a very cost-effective method of creating a large enhancement to your computer’s performance and speed. Upgrading your RAM can be performed by two different methods. Firstly, you can change your previous memory stick with one that possesses a bigger capacity. Secondly, you can utilize the additional RAM slots on your motherboard to affix new memory sticks.

Before you are able to upgrade your RAM, though, you require knowing the type of RAM that your computer utilizes. There are three types of RAM currently in the consumer market. The longest type in the market is the DDR SDRAM or double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM. The DDR SDRAM has mainly been eliminated by the more familiar DDR2 SDRAM or double data rate, which second generation SDRAM. The newest type of RAM is the third generation DDR3 SDRAM. DDR3 SDRAM has quicker data transfer speed levels compared to DDR2 SDRAM and DDR SDRAM, with DDR SDRAM being the slowest type of memory.

Several motherboards can just facilitate a single type of RAM. Therefore, constantly perform research before you go and purchase new RAM modules. Specific RAM architecture is also controlled to a motherboard. To guarantee that you have the proper RAM, you can take out your RAM stick and show it to the store during purchase.

Guarantee that your computer is switched off and unplugged from the electrical socket when you take out your RAM module. This will prevent electrical shocks for both your internal computer components and you. Additionally, do switch on your computer without a minimal one RAM module connected to the motherboard. Basically, your computer will not boot without the presence of RAM.

For additional information on the methods to upgrade your RAM, consult your computer user’s manual. It should include plenty of tips and advice on how you remove and add new RAM modules to your personal computer.

It is advisable to install as much RAM as possible when you are considering the amount of RAM for a personal computer you intend of building from scratch. Random Access Memory or more popularly known as RAM is quite useful for every computer, primarily for high-performance computer systems such as a gaming PC.

Computers must access certain types of data frequently when they are running programs. The computer saves these data inside your RAM. Thus, the more RAM your computer possess the more likely it is capable of managing a larger amount of applications.
If your RAM is full and your computer system still requires accessing much data, it will save the excess data into your computer’s hard drive. This can cause problems since the data saved in the computer’s hard drive cannot be retrieved as quickly as the data stored in the RAM. So, you may encounter substantial loading times and lags when you are multi-tasking on a computer with low RAM.

RAM is classified and measured in megabytes or gigabytes. You may purchase RAM memory modules in different storage capacities and capabilities, which include 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GN. Your motherboard determines the amount of memory modules that you may use. Motherboards generally possess just two slots for memory sticks or cards. Current motherboards may permit you to utilize more than two RAM modules.
If you wish to employ Windows Vista as your computer’s operating system, manage to get a minimal of 2GB of RAM. Vista is a very demanding operating system that will require a robust system.

Also, your motherboard dictates the type of RAM that you can utilize on our computer. Currently, there are three types of RAM memory utilized: DDR, DDR2 and DDR3. DDR is a quite new technology thus just the newest motherboards are capable of supporting it.
Thus when you are building a computer, always try to get as much RAM as possible. More RAM will not just allow you to operate several programs at once but it will also drastically enhance the speed of your home built personal computer.

A video adapter installed in your computer system implements a segment of your system’s initial megabyte of memory to store character information or graphics for display, although this generally is utilized or operated when in standard VGA mode.

Keep in mind that although the current video card may have 256MB or more of onboard memory, just 128KB of this memory seems accessible to the computer system in the video RAM section. The remainder of the memory is available just by the video processor (on the video card) directly, or by your system processor through a memory aperture located close to the 4GB top of the system address space. Since different cards may configure this aperture variously, it is wise to refer to the technical documentation for your chipset or card for additional information. A majority of motherboard ROM possesses BIOS Setup options for managing the video card memory aperture (used principally with AGP video cards), although you are encountering some sort of difficulties associated with the video card, it is advisable to keep those options at their default settings.

Basically, when in standard VGA mode like when running in Windows safe mode or when at a DOS prompt, your computer’s processor can immediately gain access of up to 128KB of the video RAM from address A0000BFFFFh. Also, every current video card possess onboard BIOS usually addressed at C0000C7FFFh that is a section of the memory space set aside for adapter card BIOS. Basically, the higher the color capabilities and resolution of the video adaptor, the more system memory the video adapter utilizes, although, that added memory (past 128KB) is not generally accessible by the computer’s processor. In its place, the system informs the video chip what must be presented, and the video chip produces the picture by placing data exactly into the video RAM on the card.

In the typical system-memory map, an overall of 128KB is set aside for use by the video card to deposit presently displayed information when in standard VGA modes. Thus, the reserved video memory is situated in segments B000 and A000. The video adapter ROM employs extra upper memory room in segment C000. Still with the recent multiple monitor element in Windows 98 and later, just a single video card (the main video card) is in the memory map; all others employ no low system memory.

Note

The position of video adapter RAM is accountable for the well-known 640KB DOS conventional memory barrier. DOS can employ every accessible adjacent memory in the initial megabyte of memory up to the point where the video adapter RAM is encountered. The utilization of early video adapters like the MDA and CGA, may allow DOS access to more than 640KB of system memory.

The memory bus is utilized to transfer the data between the central processing unit (CPU) and core memory RAM in your computer system. This bus is generally attached to the motherboard chipset North Bridge or Memory Controller Hub chip. Based on the type of memory your chipset (and consequently motherboard) is produced to manage, the North Bridge operates the memory bus at different speeds. The most optimal solution is if the memory operates at the exact same speed as the processor bus. Certain systems that use PC133 SDRAM possess a memory bandwidth of 1066MBps that is similar to the 133MHz CPU bus. Based on another example, Athlon systems operating a 266MHz processor bus also operate PC2100 DDR-SDRAM that has a bandwidth of 2133MBps and is exactly equal as the processor bus located in those systems. Also, computer systems operating a Pentium 4 with its 400MHz processor bus implements dual-channel RDRAM memory that operates 1600MBps for every channel or a united bandwidth (both memory channels operates at the same time) of 3200MBps that is quite similar as the Pentium 4 CPU bus. Pentium 4 systems possessing the 533MHz bus operates dual-channel DDR PC2100 or PC2700 modules that equal or surpass the throughput of the 4266MBps processor bus.

The Requirement for Expansion Slots

Basically, the I/O bus or expansion slots allow your central processing unit to communicate with other peripheral tools. The bus and its related expansion slots are required since the standard systems cannot suit all the needs of everyone who purchases them. The I/O bus allows you to add tools and devices to your computer in order to enhance its capabilities. The very standard computer components like video cards and sound cards may be plugged into these expansion slots; it also allows you to plug in more specific tools and devices like SCSI host adapters, network interface cards and others.

Note

In almost all recent PC systems, arrays of standard peripheral devices are manufactured in to the motherboard. A majority of systems now possess at least dual (primary and secondary) IDE interfaces, a floppy controller, four USB ports, a parallel port, two serial ports, keyboard, and mouse controller manufactured exactly into the motherboard. These tools and devices are generally dispersed between the Super I/O chip and the motherboard chipset South Bridge.

Several manufacturers insert even more items, like a video adapter, built-in sound card, SCSI host adapter, network interface or IEEE 1394a port, that are also manufactured in to the motherboard. These items, though, may not be manufactured in to the motherboard chipset or Super I/O chip; they are at times configured as extra chips installed on the board. However, these built-in controllers and ports still utilize the I/O bus to communicate with the central processing unit. In conclusion, although they are manufactured in, they operate as if they were cards plugged into the system’s bus slots, as well as utilizing system resources in a similar manner.

Every computers need memory to function. The main computer memory is known as Random Access Memory or RAM. The data contained in it can be accessed in random order. It is developed on small circuit boards in the form of sticks, which are oftentimes referred to as sticks of memory. Information is put in the memory as it waits being processed by the central processing unit, or CPU. It is essential to have the right type and speed of memory to ensure your system is functioning optimally.

RAM or Random Access Memory is temporary memory that is wiped out when the electricity turned off. Program directions and information held in RAM can be accessed and saved much quicker than that held in permanent storage. Therefore, files needed to function a program and data that is being processed are held in RAM while they are in use. The amount of RAM you require depends at least partly on the operating system( a program that takes all the basic functions of a computer such as including commands from a keyboard, displaying input on a monitor screen, and controlling disk drives and some other peripheral devices) you select as well as the type of programs you intend to run.

Types of RAM: There are several types of RAM out there; the list below provides types that are most popularly used and you will most likely encounter.

DRAM : Dynamic Random Access Memory
DRAM is the most common type of RAM.

SRAM : Static Random Access Memory
It is faster and more efficient compared to DRAM but it is also very costly to manufacture.

VRAM: Video Random Access Memory
Being used for video cards and on-board video memory for motherboards. It provides memory for monitors.

You must keep it in mind that RAM loses all information when it is switched off as it doesn’t have the capacity to store the data that it gathers when it is turned on. So, it will be a good idea to save your document often.