ELM Bulletin - March 31, 2010
Performance Enhancing Tip # 3 – Add Memory
ELM Computer Systems will be closed for Good Friday but will be open as usual on Easter Monday. We hope that you will have a blessed and joyous Easter weekend.
In the last two ELM Bulletins I have discussed some free ways to improve a computer’s performance; in this ELM Bulletin I’ll show you how to spend a little money to greatly improve computer responsiveness.
Like all software, Microsoft Windows has a minimum memory requirement. This is the minimum amount of memory that Windows needs to be able to operate; the memory needed for optimal performance can be significantly greater. Since new computers often include only the minimum memory, Windows may not run as well as it can. (When you buy a computer from ELM Computer Systems this will not be a problem since we’ll make sure to include enough memory to properly run Windows and any other software you use.)
You can tell how much memory is installed on your computer through the following steps:
- Right click on the “Computer” icon on your desktop or in your Start Menu (Windows XP users should look for “My Computer”)
- Select “Properties” from the sub-menu
Along with some technical information this will display the version of Windows in use and the amount of memory installed.
If Windows does not have enough memory it will will make extensive use of temporary storage on your computer’s hard disk. A hard disk is far slower than physical memory and so the computer will slow down noticably. This problem can easily be resolved, typically with remarkable results, simply by installing more memory,
The guidelines below can help you determine how much memory to install for optimal performance. These figures are for the 32 bit version of Windows (which until recent months has been the most common); the 64 bit version of Windows requires about double the amount of memory.
Windows XP
- Minimum memory required: 128Mb
- Recommended minimum: 1Gb
Windows Vista and Windows 7
- Minimum memory required: 1Gb
- Recommended minimum: 2Gb
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this or any other issue.
Past issues of the ELM Bulletin are available from our website, feel free to forward them to anyone you wish.
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Peter Rhebergen Telephone |
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