Buy Desktop Computer Memory

What is Computer Memory?

A computer is constantly processing information. Whether you are just turning your PC on, maintaining its functionality, or running an application, it needs to move data along where it needs to go. The reason you need memory is to help your computer out by giving it a temporary location called “random access memory” (or RAM) to store information so it can process it more efficiently. If your computer did not have any memory and had to access the hard drive every time it needed data, your computer would run extremely slow.

The RAM on a computer is very useful. Whenever you load up software on your PC it opens up only the most crucial information needed, and adds more as you need it. When you close your application, the data stored in RAM is released, freeing it up for more requests.

How Much Memory is Needed?

The configuration of your PC is what determines how much RAM memory you can get. It depends on how fast your computer processes information in bits per second to its CPU (the brain of the computer). The processing speed is referred to as the bus width and bus speed. The faster the total bus cycle is, the more memory you will need to handle it. So when you are looking to upgrade and buy desktop computer memory, you need to find out your computer’s bus speed. If you get the wrong memory that does not match your computer’s speed, it can cause problems, or it will not work with your PC at all.

What kind of Desktop Memory do you need?

Finding out what kind of desktop RAM memory you is not difficult. Unless your PC was custom built, you can find out what you need by just knowing the brand and model name of your PC. You may even have a computer manual that has this information. If you don’t have this available, you can find out easily online by going to the computer brand’s website: Dell, Gateway, Toshiba, Compaq, etc. You can also find this on Google or another search engine.

Once you find out what kind of memory your PC can handle, now you can determine if you can add more and then shop for an upgrade. At this time, new computers will have DDR SDRAM type memory. If you have an older PC, you may have the DIMM or SIMM configuration. If your computer can handle it, 1GB of memory will result in a smoother processing speed. For optimal speed, 2GB of memory is even better and will let you use more complex programs such as games with intense graphics, photo editing software, and video and music editors without problems or insufficient memory errors.

Where to Buy Desktop Computer Memory

Now that you know what you need, where do you buy it? Memory is not always that cheap, so you have a few options. Your computer brand’s website will most likely carry memory cards for you to buy, but it may not offer the best prices. This is why you really need to make sure you know what kind of memory you need (aside from compatibility issues), so you can price compare with other places.

The following locations are a great place to start looking to buy your desktop computer memory:

• Frys
• Office Depot
• Circuit City
• Staples
• eBay – Be sure you know what you need first before bidding
• Buy Computer Memory.com

If you are inexperienced with adding new hardware to your computer, you may want to seek installation help from a computer repair shop or a knowledgeable friend. Improperly installed memory can damage your computer, requiring far more than just a simple upgrade to fix.