| RAM, or Random Access Memory, is used by your | | | | follow these steps! Note that this method will only work |
| computer to temporarily store information. When you | | | | for machines running the Windows operating software. |
| are typing a letter using Microsoft Word and you have | | | | First, click on the "Start" button located at the lower left |
| not yet saved your data, Windows automatically | | | | hand corner of your desktop. A menu will open. Look |
| backs up your data. The information is stored in your | | | | for the "My Computer" option and right click on it. |
| computer RAM. | | | | Another menu will open. This time, select "Properties." |
| A large RAM space will allow your computer to handle | | | | A new window will open detailing the amount of RAM |
| more applications and programs. This is very useful for | | | | installed in your computer, as well as other information |
| people who love to multi-task and those computer | | | | about your processor and your version of Windows. |
| users who play the latest PC games. | | | | Do you need more RAM? Most modern computers |
| If you run out of system RAM, you computer will | | | | usually have about 1GB of RAM installed. You can add |
| swap to the hard disk. This can create a lot of | | | | more RAM by buying a higher-capacity RAM module, |
| problems because data the hard disk is thousands of | | | | i.e. replacing a 512MB memory stick with a 1GB |
| times slower than RAM. Thus, the computer cannot | | | | memory stick. You can also increase your RAM by |
| access data as fast as it can and your computer's | | | | making use of the extra RAM slots of your |
| performance suffers. | | | | motherboard. Most motherboards can only |
| Do you know how much RAM you have? It is easy to | | | | accommodate two RAM modules, but high-end |
| know the amount of RAM installed in your computer. | | | | motherboards will allow you to use up to four memory |
| To know how much RAM your computer has, simply | | | | sticks at the same time. |