How to Choose the
Best Computer Memory
This article helps you choose the best computer memory (RAM) for your gaming computer. RAM (Random Access Memory) is the memory in a computer used to store running programs. The more RAM you have, the faster your games and other programs will run. Investing in a decent amount of RAM from one of the best computer memory makers is a smart idea. The performance of your gaming computer will be greatly affected by the type and amount of RAM you have onboard. Firstly, let's take a look at the different types of RAM available to you.
 
Types of RAM
These days there are three main types of memory you can buy for your computer, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, and RDRAM. The memory type you select will depend on that supported by your motherboard.
- SDRAM. This is an older form of memory that has now been superseded by DDR SDRAM. Although it’s not the fastest memory available, they are still trusted memory chips that you can find for a very cheap price.
- DDR SDRAM. The most common type of memory used today, DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM performs faster than its predecessor. There’s no reason not to get this type of memory for your system.
- RDRAM. Also known as Rambus, RDRAM is the latest type of memory that was originally designed for the Pentium 4. It’s the fastest, and consequently, the most expensive type of memory.
How Much RAM Do You Need?
You might be asking “How much RAM do I need?”. The simple answer is “as much as you can afford”. Adding memory to your system will show real results, and RAM prices are forever getting cheaper.Windows XP needs at least 128MB of RAM just to be usable, although with such little memory you are bound to have problems. Add a few applications and you’ll quickly find that 256MB, and even 512MB, becomes necessary. And that’s just for normal computer users. To run Windows Vista decently, you will be required to have at least 1 gig of RAM. If you’re a gamer, and I assume most of you are since you’re visiting this site, then you will require even more RAM. 1-2 Gigabytes is the absolute minimum these days to play decent 3D games, but you should really look into buying a little more. It’s really worth your money, especially if you’re interested in upcoming releases which will require even more grunt from your system.
Buying Your RAM
Buying the best computer memory for your gaming computer involves knowing which type you need, and then choosing how much you want. One thing to watch out for is the brand of the memory you buy. I recommend that you buy from a quality manufacturer, such as Kingston, Crucial, Corsair, or Samsung. Buying cheap memory from an unknown manufacturer is risky. Find the best online deals on computer memory and RAM here.
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