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Computer MemoryWhat is it used for?
Computer Memory - Going back in history....Older computer systems used Dual Inline Packages (DIPs) for memory storage. These were upgraded to the Single In-Line Memory Modules (SIMMs). There were two basic types of SIMMs. The 30-pin module and the 72-pin module. These SIMMs were used in some of the 32-bit 80386 and higher systems.Nowadays, we have SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, Dual Channel DDR SDRAM and DDR2 RAM. How much computer memory do you need for your computer?You might have experienced what it is like to use a computer that does not have enough memory. You would see the 'hour glass' appearing on your computer monitor screen often. The amount of memory that you need depends on:
The amount of computer memory that you will require for a desktop computer will be different from what is required for a server. Memory requirements for a desktop computer Your memory requirements for a desktop will depend on :
256MB is now considered by some people as the minimum computer memory configuration but you can get by with 256MB for light tasks such as word processing, e-mail and basic multimedia. In addition to the above tasks, if you are multi-tasking such as doing spreadsheets and some graphics simultaneously, you should consider getting at least 512MB. If you will be multi-tasking with more than 2 high intensive applications which could include gaming, intensive multimedia and web development, you should get 1GB. Using AutoCAD, doing extreme gaming, complex photo-editing, etc. will need at least 2GB. If there is a shortage of memory (RAM), the system will revert to a memory management technique called 'swapping' or virtual memory. While using virtual memory, information is broken up into small bits of data called pages. If more memory is required, the operating system (OS) determines which pages are the least likely to be required next and writes them to the hard disk. If these pages are required again, the system re-loads them into memory and displaces other pages of information. Since a hard drive is slower than RAM, using virtual memory a lot can negatively affect your system's performance. Therefore, if you do a lot of memory-intensive work which always uses up large amounts of virtual memory, you should consider adding more RAM.
Computer Memory Requirements for a Server A server needs more memory if there is disk swapping. To decide on the amount of memory a server needs will depend on what it is used for, its operating system, the number of users accessing it at one time and the number and type of processors installed on the server. Final ThoughtsDo not mix different types of computer memory modules. For example, do not mix SDRAM with DDR SDRAM, etc. Click here to learn to install computer memory Click here to get the best deals on cheap computer memory
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