Does My Computer Need More Memory?

Before you can determine if you need more memory, you need to know how much memory you have and you need to consider your usage. So, first, finding the how much memory you have:

Windows XP: Look for “My Computer” on the Desktop (the screen you first see when you turn on your computer – or what you see when you close all windows). If you see it there, right click on it and select Properties. Don’t see it there? No problem: click on your Start Button and right-click on “My Computer” there. You will get a screen that looks much like the one in the image:For Vista users, the process is almost the exact same, but you will see “Computer” instead of “My Computer”, and the listing in the System Properties is listed more clearly.

System Properties

For OS X users it is even easier. Go to you Apple meny and select “About this Mac.” It will clearly list “Memory” with how much you have (and what type, which is very helpful if you do want to add more!)

Your RAM (memory) will be shown in either MB (Megabytes) or GB (Gigabytes). There are 1024 MB in a GB, so the “512 MB of RAM” I show above is one half of a single GB. For computers more than a few years old, 512 MB is not uncommon. So how much do you need?

For XP or OS X, you might be able to get by on the 512 MB of RAM I show above. For most users, though, I suggest 1 GB or more. The more you do with your computer the more you need. Even if you “only” surf the web with your computer, modern web needs are high – your web browser (such as Internet Explorer, Safari or Firefox) open up “helper” programs to let you see videos, play games, and do more. That uses a lot of RAM. You also are likely running, at least on Windows, virus protection software (if you are not, you should!) and other software.

For Vista, I suggest a minimum of 1 GB, more if you do quite a lot with your computer.

One last tip: before you get more memory, even if your computer is slow and has a small amount, it is very much worth it to check what items are starting on your computer, especially for Windows. I will write about how to do that in a future post.