Choosing RAM (Random Access Memory) has become much simpler these days. Intel has adopted AMD's standard DDR memory for PC motherboards. DDR (Double Data Rate) RAM technology was originally developed by graphics engineers as video card memory. DDR is more efficient and affordable than the RDRAM (RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory) that Intel was using. Recently, engineers have pushed the DDR technology to DDR3 increasing motherboard bus speed even more.
Windows Vista is a a bigger memory hog with a minimum 1GB and 2GB or more recommended. Windows Vista is a a bigger memory hog with a minimum 1GB and 2GB or more recommended. 4GB is recommended for serious gamers. For Windows 98 any flavor, 256MB is the minimum and 1GB is recommended. Other operating systems such as Linux or Mac are similar. If you are an avid PC gamer or video editor 1GB is the minimum recommendation. Simply put, more is better. Skimping on RAM is one way PC builders hold down prices. The average pre-built PC comes with 128MB or 265MB of RAM installed. If you want to do anything more than surf the net and send email, that is not enough. If you buy more RAM than you "think" you need, you will be a much happier computer user a year later. By rule of thumb, if you buy a pre-built computer, double the amount of RAM offered by the builder. The cheapest way to buy a new PC: Upgrade your old PC. Install a minimum of 1GB of RAM and add a high performance video card with as much additional video RAM as you can afford. The increased performance and system stability of the additional RAM will amaze you. If you are buying new and want to save a few bucks, buy a less expensive monitor and don't buy a floppy drive, you won't need it. Also get a CD-DVD+RW combo drive instead of 2 separate CD-ROM drives and ransom the family pet. But don't skimp on RAM. |
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