Computer Memory

[rov1200]

Why would anybody wish to increase the computer memory from 1 Gb?

[tigersam258]

the main reason is that all applications (programs) running on the PC use up RAM (memory) and the more memory you have the more programs you can have open. It also means that the computer will not 'hang' (freeze) whilst one process is working.
Windows Vista using its highest spec settings takes up a high amount of memory now and 1GB will just about cope with it so increasing the amount of memory will allow the user to have this and other software running.

[rov1200]

Will this still apply if the processor is not a duo core one?

[tigersam258]

yes. the dual core processor just enables two calculations to be processed 'at the same time' thereby adding a performance increase. even with the latest processors they are still dependant on the amount of RAM that can temporarily store the information that it needs to process the calculation.

it is generally considered that the cheapest way to improve performance (even if only slightly) to a PC is to add/replace the memory cards in the PC. a new processor will help but these are usually more expensive than memory cards and more tricky to fit.

[VHG]

>Why would anybody wish to increase the computer >memory from 1 Gb?

Remember that not all computers are home computers, thousands are used in business or as servers.

While for home use 1Gb or 2Gb is probably enough for a business or a server you may want 10Gb or 100Gb or more.

In fact for computers that calculate the weather or other large projects you can have thousands of computers all joined together that may use many hundreds of gigabytes of memory.

[VHG]

A bit of further info about memory.

The Windows that most of use at home is called "32 bit".

Being "32 bit" it can only use just under 4Gb of memory.

If anyone runs 32 bit Windows there is not point in putting more than 4Gb of memory in the computer as it wont be used.

But there is also a 64 bit version of Windows and currently some versions of it can support up to 128Gb of memory.

The next version of Windows will support up to 192Gb of memory.

So many people want to run a computer with more than 1Gb of memory.

[rov1200]

Thanks