One of the worst things about buying a new computer is that it starts to become obsolete as soon as it gets plugged into the wall for the first time. The good news is that with computers and laptops getting cheaper and cheaper, it is not quite as painful, but we would all like to see our PC purchases last as long as possible. This is where computer upgrades, hardware upgrades, and memory upgrades come into the picture. One of the easiest upgrades to do is increasing the RAM (random access memory) memory your computer has available. The more memory you have, the better your computer runs, allowing you to have many programs and windows open at once without your system bogging down or locking up.
With Windows XP, you should have a minimum of 512MB of RAM, while 1GB is even better, allowing you to do things like video editing without problems. Installing a memory upgrade is fairly simple, however, it does involve opening your PC. If you are not comfortable doing this, you can also take your computer or laptop into somewhere like CompUSA where they can do it for you for a small charge. Check either your computer manual or the website of your computer manufacturer and look up "memory upgrades" - you will find out what kind of RAM module you need, and how many slots you have available. You can often buy 512MB of RAM for less than $70. Memory chips look like little mini rulers - basically little plastic panels with chips on them. On your motherboard inside your computer, there are slots where these click in. You can visit this site: MemoryX.net for specifications on the memory requirements and expansion capabilities of just about every PC or notebook made by every manufacturer (Apple, Acer, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Sharp, Compaq, Dell, Sony, Fujitsu, Toshiba, Gateway). They also have a little applet that will run and diagnose your computer and tell you what kind of memory you have and what slots are available for upgrades.
Where to buy computer memory upgrades online?
Once you know what kind of RAM you need, you buy it (either at a store or online), then pop it in the available slot on your motherboard and reboot your computer. Your computer will automatically recognize the additional memory and begin using it. Sometimes you will need to remove the old chip and insert the new one, sometimes you can simply add an extra RAM chip. Either way, additional computer memory can easily extend the life of your computer by another year or two - that means you future PC or notebook you buy will cost even less and have even more futures, when you finally getting around to buying a new one! A number of sites sell computer memory upgrades and motherboards and CPUs. Start with TigerDirect - a leading, reputable vendor. As a recent example, they list a Ultra 512MB PC3200 DDR memory RAM upgrade for just $35. They sell all the leading memory makers: Kingston, Viking, Crucial, Ultra, SimpleTech, PQI, PNY, Corsair, OCZ, Mushkin. Newegg.com is another good site with pretty much every memory product under the sun. Keep in mind that memory chips are pretty generic, so it doesn't really matter much what vendor you buy from. Crucial.com is another leading vendor.
You can follow a couple of online picture guide demonstrating the actual memory upgrade installation process - check out ComputeMemorUpgrade.mysuperpc.com. You should find your computer runs more reliably and does things like open windows and switch between windows much faster after a memory upgrade.
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