Computer end users often know when they need something done to their computer. They know that their computer is running slowly, or doesn’t boot quickly, or doesn’t run all of the programs they want it to run. They have often scanned their computers with anti-malware software and have cleaned it to the best of their ability. They may have even cleaned the registry and still their computer doesn’t run properly. The next suggestion that comes to mind is more memory. But the real question is: what type of memory upgrades does the customer need? Do they need more space for programs and other software? Or do they need more RAM? Customers do not always know the answer to that question.
RAM, or Random Access Memory, is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to increase the computer’s ability to handle multitasking on a computer. It is the area where the computer temporarily stores any running processes, such as applications or the operating system. How much RAM your computer has determined how many processes, programs, and applications you can run concurrently without compromising the functionality of your computer. Data is swapped in and out of the RAM as it is needed. In other words, only small pieces of programs or the operating system can be found in RAM at any given time. One of the hallmarks of not having enough RAM on your computer is when your computer’s performance degrades even after you have cleaned out any malware and have fixed your registry. Often you will get errors when you open too many applications or your computer will refuse to open any more browser windows. In this case, you may want to consider a RAM-type memory upgrade.
The hard drive is a more permanent type of computer storage. This is the piece of hardware on which you store all of your applications, pictures, music, and any other software or media. Sometimes your hard drive is partitioned into sections where one section is the root drive and the other sections are areas where you store your day-to-day items. Some hard drives do not have these types of partitions. Hard drives have a platter that spins inside a small box. Data is read off of this platter as it spins. There are various reasons you might want or need your hard drive to be upgraded:
- Since most hard drives are mechanical devices, most of them eventually fail in a mechanical way. If this happens you will hear a clear clicking or grinding sound from your hard drive.
- Hard drives can also fail in other ways that are not mechanical. Usually when this happens, part of the coding on the hard drive is disrupted by malicious programs.
- You may have filled your hard drive to capacity. In this case you will no longer be able to save anything on your drive and will need a larger hard drive.
One consideration is to upgrade your mechanical hard drive with a solid state drive or SSD. SSDs are flash-based drives and are much faster than mechanical drives.
Our company can help you make the right decision for upgrading your memory and do so with the utmost professionalism.