What's RAM? Why is it important for a computer/laptop and what is a good amount of RAM for a computer or a laptop?
2006-12-19 04:47:34 · 9 answers · asked by chickennoodlesoup 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
*Add what everyone else said
Then take this as a way to better understand RAM. Think of it as a chalk board in a classroom. The teacher uses it to write all the information on...but when she runs out of room, she has to find something else to write on (harddrive). So the more RAM you have, the more "chalkboards" you have for your computer to "write on."
RAM is much faster to access than your harddrive, as it is chip memory as opposed to a disk.
Right now, PC's should have 1Gig of RAM...no less. This is because Microsoft XP requires 256MB of RAM, and now the new Vista requires 512MB just to run the damn thing. Then imagine if you want to surf the web, listen to music, play a video game...you will need more. So as technology improves, the best amount to have...especially if you are looking into the future...is to get around 1.5Gigs-2Gigs. Somewhere in that region is good.
www.newegg.com is a GREAT place to get cheap RAM. Just make sure it is the right configuration for your motherboard. Make sure it is either DDR or DDR2 as certain motherboards can take certain DDR. Call the manufacturer of your PC/laptop and have them tell you what you CAN and cannot get.
Hope this helps
2006-12-19 05:14:24 · answer #1 · answered by Crizzle Gizzle 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
RAM is the workspace for the computer, Most of the program is temporarily stored in the RAM while the computer is running.
Without RAM, the computer will not run. More RAM and higher speed the Ram, the computer will run more smoothly and faster, to certain degree.
The amount of RAM depends on what programs you typically runs and your computer hardware. Some computers share their video memory with the computer memory and makes it a different estimations.
I will say if you are just a typical web surfing computer user, I will say 256MB is minimum. 512 and up for the Win 2000 or XP will be better.
2006-12-19 12:53:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Random Access Memory. No computer can run without it. No one can say what is a good amount of RAM, for usually, the more the better, with this exception: The computer will only accept the amount of RAM that the motherboard and processor is built for.
2006-12-19 12:51:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
RAM is memory. When the computer is running, it needs to quickly remember certain things. For example, if you open up an e-mail, it might want to remember the contents of the e-mail temporarily. That's what RAM is used for.
A good minimum for computers is 512 MB RAM. 1 GB of RAM is better.
2006-12-19 12:51:17 · answer #4 · answered by csanon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. The RAM is used to store programs and data that you are currently using. It takes 1,000 times less time to get data from RAM than from your hard drive. Depending on what you use your computer for the aforementioned 512 MB-1000MB (1 GB) should work fine. Good luck!
2006-12-19 12:54:22 · answer #5 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_access_memory
Basically, you are probably going to want around 1 GB of RAM. You can run Windows and other operating systems with less but 1 GB is a safe bet. Most computers are coming with that amount anyway.
2006-12-19 12:53:31 · answer #6 · answered by olympikdude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
RAM means Random Access Memeory. PRetty much like brain. atleast 512 but 1GB of RAM is always good. let me know if u need more help
2006-12-19 12:54:30 · answer #7 · answered by Sagar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Random access memory.
2006-12-19 12:49:14 · answer #8 · answered by arcaemous 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
random access memory, these are needed to run programs
2006-12-19 16:59:26 · answer #9 · answered by gamer2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋