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RAM, or Random Access Memory, is a very important factor in the speed of a computer. The more RAM you have, the faster your computer is. And just as the opposite: The less RAM you have, the slower your computer is. Even if your computer isn’t slow to begin with, adding RAM can allow your computer to run faster.

On top of making your computer a bit faster, RAM also plays a role in how many programs you can have open and running at the same time. For example, the new Windows 7 requires a minimum of 1 GB (gigabyte) of RAM to run smoothly. However, if you notch that up to 4 GB, you will not only get great running performance, but will also gain the ability to have many programs running at the same time. This can be essential if you want to have Adobe Photo Shop, Microsoft Word, Power Point, and Excel, some Windows Gadgets, an internet browser, and more running nicely all at the same time.

It is also very easy to upgrade RAM. RAM is available both online and at many computer or office stores, such as Staples, and sometimes even Wal-Mart. The size of the RAM (in GBs) will alter the price. For example, a 1 GB piece of RAM could cost 25 dollars. A 2 GB piece of RAM could then cost 45 dollars.

Before upgrading your RAM, it is vital to check the type of RAM that your computer takes, because forcing the wrong type of RAM into your computer can destroy it. Some popular types of RAM in computers today are DDR2, DDR3, and even SDRAM. SDRAM is common in laptops, and it is beginning to lose popularity.

One should also find out the maximum amount of RAM that the computer or laptop can take. If too much RAM is put into the computer, then it is destroyed, and usually cannot be repaired.

Simply put: The more RAM in the computer, the faster the computer runs. But it is important not to “overdose” on RAM and it is also just as important to find out the type of RAM that the computer takes. RAM can really make an overall difference in the computer’s performance.