For computers and mobile devices, multitasking can also become an issue over time.
In both cases, biological and mechanical, memory is required. And in both cases, as most of us are well aware, problems with memory can cause issues.
This week we’ll explain how memory works on computers and mobile devices, and how upgrading it could potentially save you a ton of frustrating waiting.
People often say that their device or computer is “running out of memory” when they are referring to storage space. This is something of a misnomer really, as the term ‘memory’ in computing actually refers to the RAM (random access memory) of a device and not its storage space.
RAM is your device’s short-term memory. Information requested by your processor (CPU, your computer’s ‘brain’) is passed from the main drive (SSD or HDD) to the processor. The processor uses the RAM as temporary storage space to keep track of its various tasks, such as which software you have open and what you’re doing each of these windows or apps.
RAM differs from Storage in one key area – speed. It’s much, much faster for your processor to request some data from its RAM than from the storage, even if it’s an SSD. RAM is purpose-built to be used as short-term memory.
Not enough RAM therefore means your computer has to keep sending and requesting data from the storage drive – which ultimately slows it down.
Over time, as technology advances, so does the software using it. Additional features, better security and other improvements often mean that a piece of software makes increasingly higher demands on your device’s processor and RAM as time goes by, and older machines may start to struggle with current software.
Running multiple pieces of software at the same time and switching between them can also be quite demanding on the RAM.
Depending on how you use your pc or laptop, adding RAM can sometimes help to breathe life back into older models. Most PCs and laptops built from 2017 or so and onward should have 8GB of RAM. If you’ve less, it’s probably worth investing in some, as Windows may struggle to operate smoothly if you’ve less than 8GB.
If you are frequently using many applications at once, or your applications place high demands on your system, you may benefit from upgrading your RAM.
If you’re struggling with applications loading slowly or experiencing sluggish performance when you switch between them, your systems may benefit from both a RAM upgrade and an SSD, if you don’t already have one.
Upgrading the RAM of a tablet or mobile device is usually not possible, due to how these devices are built. In this case, if your older mobile devices are struggling, we’d recommend upgrading to a newer model with a better specification – feel free to contact us for advice on this!
If you’re interested in upgrading to a new device or updating your current tech but don’t have a clue where to start, get in touch with us! We’ll be happy to look over your systems and devices to help you figure out what improvements and upgrades may be useful for you – and we’ll help you to find something to suit your budget.
