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Computer Memory Guide

 
  Cheap laptops Guide Home » Laptop Parts » Computer Memory  
     
     
  Introduction to laptop computer memory  
     
        Don’t we all wish that we had a better memory? With your laptop, however, you can actually control the amount of memory you have for all of your computer needs. Memory in a laptop is called RAM (random access memory), and sometimes referred to as virtual memory. On your laptop, the more memory you have, the more programs you can run at the same time.  
     
     
  Types of memory  
     
        You can also change the memory in your laptop over time, adding as your needs increase. There are three different kinds of memory that you want to be aware of:  
     
 
  • SDRAM
  •   : New laptops no longer use SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), but many older machines can benefit from it.

  • DDR SDRAM
  •   : Today, most laptops use DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM; this allows memory to deliver data to the computer processor almost two times faster than with SDRAM.

  • DDR2 SDRAM
  •   : This memory has a faster clock speed than DDR SDRAM—meaning it’s even faster than DDR SDRAM.
 
     
     
  Single VS Dual Channel  
     
        If you’re looking to do a lot of hard core gaming with your computer, the best advice is to have as much memory as possible. However, some users don’t see any difference between single and dual channel memory options. Single memory is best for basic laptops that need only minimal processing functions, but dual channel can be a great way to vastly improve the speed of your system – if you’re doing more than just word processing.  
     
     
  Upgrading memory  
     
        There are plenty of reasons that you might make you want to upgrade your memory :  
     
 
  • You have an older system
  • Your programs seem to be running slower
  • You want to start more complicated functions – games, etc.
 
     
     
  Conclusion  
     
        For laptops today, there are many answers to the question of how much memory is best. If you’re a person that wants to use your laptop for a long period of time, it’s always better to start out with as much memory as you can afford so that your laptop can grow with you. However, if price is an issue, you can always add onto your memory as your needs increase. Think about your laptop and what you want to do with it – that will give you the best answer as to how much memory you need (or don’t need).  
     
     
     
     
     
     
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