| Many aspects of the personal computer have | | | | better would be to get faster memory, it just |
| increased in leaps and bounds in terms of | | | | runs down at the computers speed, even if it |
| performance and what they are capable of | | | | is designed for more. |
| doing. | | | | |
| | | | Another aspect of memory has come into play, |
| Computer memory, often referred to as Random | | | | being highlighted mostly by the enthusiastic |
| Access Memory (RAM), has become of greater | | | | overclocking crowd, and that's latency. |
| and greater performance as time has gone on. | | | | |
| | | | Memory is a bank or table of places where |
| One of the famous quotes from back in the | | | | information can be stored. In order to get |
| eighties was one made by Bill Gates when he | | | | the specific rows and columns certain things |
| said that no one would ever need more than | | | | have to be activated within the memory. In a |
| 640KB of memory. Well that has been passed | | | | nutshell latency refers to how long it takes |
| for ages now, with high performance machines | | | | to be able to acces another part of memory. |
| sometimes sporting over 1GB of it. | | | | The shorter the time it takes, the quicker it |
| | | | is. |
| There are many advantages that can be had | | | | |
| with more memory. | | | | Low latency memory comes at a huge price |
| | | | premium, with 512MB of top class memory |
| - Programs run faster | | | | costing more than some processors. |
| | | | |
| - Less waiting time for programs to load | | | | But does it actually benefit you? |
| | | | |
| - More programs can be run at a time | | | | If you are into high-speed 3D games then |
| | | | there could certainly be a difference. For |
| - Overall computer speed is increased | | | | the rest of us, there probably won't be much |
| | | | difference. It's still worth it however to |
| Double Data Rate (DDR) memory is the staple | | | | keep latency in mind when shopping around. I |
| of the consumer market. It has taken off due | | | | would certainly choose a lower latency model |
| to public demand and now comes quite | | | | when buying. |
| reasonably priced. | | | | |
| | | | Dual channel memory is another recent |
| Computers don't generally come with less than | | | | addition to memory technology. What it does |
| 256MB of memory nowadays. My computer after | | | | is it puts the memory into pairs, the two |
| freshly installing Windows 2000 (no, I | | | | pairs together can increase on the |
| haven't gone to Windows XP yet) takes about | | | | performance and speed of the memory by up to |
| 80MB or memory. That is the very least, with | | | | 10%. The motherboard has to support it, and |
| no additional programs or anything else | | | | the memory has to be the dual channel kind. |
| installed. After I have installed all the | | | | Dual channel will work even when not in a |
| graphics drivers, Internet connection | | | | pair, but normal memory will have no |
| software for ADSL, virus protection and | | | | advantage when put in a pair. |
| firewall it takes around 160MB of total | | | | |
| memory. | | | | Finally, DDR2 is a newer addition available |
| | | | for Intel systems. It has 240 pins (the |
| From my previous experience, 256MB will do, | | | | little copper strips at the end that plugs |
| but after it becomes quickly filled when | | | | into the slot) as opposed to DDR memory's 184 |
| running a few programs, Windows reverts to | | | | pins. In this respect the two are completely |
| using the hard drive for memory. It's a way | | | | incompatable. DDR2 is by design meant to be |
| to fake more memory, by using the hard drive | | | | in pairs, they don't have to be, but they all |
| as a temporary store. 512MB now does it for | | | | have dual channel capability. Only Intel |
| my needs, but if you run many programs or | | | | processors with LGA775 socket type use this |
| memory intensive ones, 768MB or even 1GB will | | | | memory, but it is much faster. |
| do better. | | | | |
| | | | So, whenever looking for more memory, try to |
| But is memory size the only factor? | | | | bear these factors in mind... |
| | | | |
| An equally important factor is the memory | | | | - Do you need DDR or DDR2 (LGA775 systems) |
| speed. It is measured in MHz. Most systems | | | | |
| use 400MHz DDR memory. This would be the safe | | | | - What speed do I need? Usually 400MHz (named |
| bet with almost any processor you may have. | | | | PC3200) or faster? |
| 400MHz has also become the most common to | | | | |
| buy, there is not much slower than that left | | | | - 256MB minimum, preferably 512 or up to 1GB |
| to buy. | | | | |
| | | | - Dual channel pairs. Do you need them and |
| Memory from a reputable manufacturer will | | | | does your computer support them? |
| ensure that you don't have problems with it | | | | |
| and will also provide a certain amount of | | | | - Latency, lower the better, but not |
| overclocking if you are into that. Even | | | | essential. CAS of 3 is normal. |