Memory
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Memory |
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Your computer has three kinds of memory, physical, storage, and virtual. Each type of memory is for a different purpose. PHYSICAL MEMORY Physical memory is referred to as RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM is the biggest bang for the buck upgrade you can do to your computer and something you can do yourself. The hardest things about installing RAM is getting the right kind and opening your case. I recommend the following amounts of RAM: Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and ME - 256MB To find out how much RAM you have in your machine you can go to your System Properties by Right Clicking My Computer and selecting Properties, it is on the General tab in the Computer section. If you need more memory I recommend Crucial Memory. You can use their site to find out how much memory you can install in your machine and if it needs to be installed in pairs. If your computer takes RAMBUS memory I recommend looking into the purchase of a new computer due to the cost of the memory, Crucial does not carry RAMBUS memory. RAM is used to store information for the short term, it is cleared when your computer is shut off. The things that are stored in RAM are the Windows OS (Operating System), Applications you are using (Internet Explorer, Word, etc.), and data (the amounts in your spread sheets). RAM rarely goes bad as it has no moving parts.
STORAGE Storage is long term memory, hard drives, CDs, DVDs, thumb/USB drives, memory cards, floppy disks, Zip Disks, and data tapes. Currently most storage is on magnetic media, with the exceptions of USB drives, memory cards, CDs and DVDs. Magnetic media is sensitive to magnetic fields from things like speakers, phone handsets, and actual magnets. If they are too close or the magnetic field is too strong you will lose the information stored on them. CDs and DVDs are optical media and can be damaged by scratching the disk. Memory cards and USB drives are similar to physical RAM in that they have no moving parts, but their design allows them to store information with out being connected. Things that are stored in storage are the actual files that make up Windows, your applications, and your data (pictures, music, spreadsheets, etc). Information stored on a storage device keeps the information when the computer is turned off.
Virtual Memory Virtual memory is actually space on your hard drive, with Vista you will also be able to use a USB drive. Virtual memory is used when Windows does not have sufficient physical memory. Short term this isn't an issue, if your computer is using virtual memory frequently it means that you don't have enough RAM for how you use your computer and you are adding more wear and tear on your hard drive. When your computer is using virtual memory it will run slower because hard drive access times are measured in microseconds and RAM speeds are in nanoseconds. Virtual memory is stored in the Page File. This is a file that is hidden and protected from being deleted. The Page File is not deleted by default and can have information stored in it when you turn your computer off. The information stored in the page file when the computer is off is not used when the computer is turned back on, but can be a security issue. If you are extremely concerned about security you can have the page file cleared when you shut down your computer, but it will add minutes to the time it takes your computer to shut down and is not recommended. |