How RAM Determines Computer Speed
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RAM Transmits Data to the Processor
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Computer experts often recommend that you upgrade the RAM on your computer over other hardware components in order to increase computer speed. While this makes economic sense--since RAM typically costs substantially less than new processors, video cards and other components--it's also commonly the best solution from a computing standpoint. Random access memory, or RAM for short, is a type of short-term memory which is installed into a computer's motherboard as small circuit boards called chips, sticks or modules. RAM sticks provide space for data to be stored from the hard drive, which the processor then uses to run programs. RAM can transmit data to the processor much faster than a hard drive since it doesn't need to spin to access data.
Why More RAM Is Better
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In general, more RAM is better than less, although it may not always help and could produce diminishing returns. The argument to install more RAM to increase computing speed is this: Since the processor needs to access data from the RAM, if there's not enough space on the RAM to store the necessary data to run all of the programs and processes you're using, the RAM will occasionally have to swap out some data for other data on the hard drive. Every time the RAM must make room for new data and load it from the hard drive, there will be some lag time before the processor can access the new data. By having more RAM, the chances that the computer will run out of temporary memory space to run its programs will be reduced, so the number of times the computer will experience slowdowns will fall. That said, the more RAM one installs on a computer, the less likely it is to exceed the storage capacity of the RAM. So if a computer already has a fairly large amount of RAM installed, increasing it further may yield little or no benefit to performance.
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RAM Speed and Bus Speed
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RAM speed and memory bus speed are two other factors that determine how much RAM can influence a computer's speed. Every computer motherboard has a maximum memory bus speed, which is the highest rate that data can be transferred from the RAM to the processor. RAM modules also have a speed rating, given in megahertz, which indicates the maximum speed they can transfer data. Installing RAM that can transmit data up to a motherboard's highest allowable speed ensures that the computer is running as fast as possible. RAM that can transmit data faster than a motherboard can accept it will have to run at a frequency slower than its full potential. It should also be noted that ultimately, it's the processor that makes the calculations required to make the computer run. A slow processor may not be significantly aided by additional or faster RAM.
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