My once-new computer is getting a little older now, and its slowed down a bit. Is there any way to speed it up?
Computers change faster than almost anything else we use. As the months and years pass by, computer applications grow larger and more complex while your PC stays the same – at least until now. One sure-fire way to improve your computer’s speed is to add more memory. More memory means your computer can run more, larger programs and work with bigger files with less sluggishness.
Caution! Whenever you’re working with the internal hardware of your computer, certain steps must be taken to protect yourself from electric shock and the machine from static currents. You should always unplug the computer before opening up the case, be sure to wear an anti-static wristband, and ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal part of the computer case.
The first step to increasing your computer’s memory is to figure out what type of memory you need. To do this, you’ll need open up your computer’s case. Cracking open the case may sound daunting if you’ve never done it before, but I assure you there’s nothing to it. Grab a philips head screwdriver and locate the screw(s) along the rear edge of the case that are holding the machine’s cover in place. Remove the screws, put them in a safe place and slide off the cover. Now take a look at the motherboard and locate your computer’s present memory. They’re long, thin chips that will be sitting in slots attached to the motherboard (the large circuit board that everything inside the case is attached to, one way or another). If there is any empty slot you have room to upgrade, so pop out one of the present chips by releasing the clips on either end of the slot and pulling it straight out. Try to locate a sticker or label that states what type of memory chip it is – either SD, DDR or RD RAM. If there is no label present, make sure to buy a new chip that matches the one you are holding in your hand. One of the crucial characterists you should look for is the number of notches there are in the side of the chip that has gold connector pins. Typically there are one or two notches. Ultimately, if you are not completely sure what type of memory your computer has, put the chip that you just removed in a plastic bag and show it to the salesman in the store. He’ll set you up with a matching RAM upgrade. By the way, you should purchase at least 128 mb of new memory. Whenever possible, I double whatever amount the computer currently has installed.
Now that you’ve got yourself a new RAM chip (or chips), you want to install it in your machine’s next available slot. Choose the one closest to your existing memory. RAM chips only insert one way, so line up the notches in the chip with the keys in the slot. Place the chip in the slot and gently push it straight down with your thumbs. The chip will sink into the slot, and the clips on either end of the slot will snap into place, grabbing the RAM chip with a “click” sound. Once you have replaced the original memory chip that you removed and inserted your upgrade chips, replace the computer’s cover, plug it in and turn it on. You should notice a significant speed upgrade, and going to Start > Control Panel > System will tell you how much memory your computer has.
Troubleshooting: if your computer does not boot up, ensure that bought the right memory chips and inserted them correctly.
Why does adding memory speed up my computer?
Computers actually have two types of storage – RAM memory and hard drive storage. RAM chips are significantly smaller in capacity than hard drives, but much can transfer data much faster. The computer initially stores all your programs and files on its hard drive. When you start a program or open a file, it’s copied into the faster RAM memory. Slowdown occurs when programs or files are too large to fit in RAM – the computer compensates by spilling over a portion of data from RAM onto the hard disk. The more the computer is forced to read and write from the hard disk, the slower it operates. By upgrading your RAM, you increase the capacity of your computer’s memory and reduce the amount of time it has to spend reading and writing to and from the hard disk.
