Sunday, February 7, 2010

Week 5: Clear: Decreaing Memory = Decreasing Speeds

A computer's Random Access Memory (RAM), better known as memory, is a temporary storage system for instructions and data. This allows for the computer to get to it more quickly. Hence, the more RAM you have the less your computer has to retrieve files from your storage disk which is much slower. When memory is technically in "normal" mode it stores most of the operating system and the open applications.

When a computer starts running low on RAM it then gets noticeably slower. This is how freezes happen, when the computer locks up because it is so low on memory. Each operating system or application has their own requirement for RAM usages. Some however, require more than others so there is no set amount of memory a computer should have, it is solely based on the user and what they use.


For example, Windows 7 is an operating system that requires 1 GB of memory and Adobe Photoshop CS4 is an application that requires 512 MB of memory. Simple math adds these to 1.5 GB of memory that is required for the usage of both at the same time. However, if a computer has exactly 1.5 GB of memory capabilities then it will run extremely slow and potentially lock up. Therefore, it is necessary for a computer to have more memory built in it than the user will potentially use. This will allow for flexibility and a higher probability of a computer running smoothly.

Business World


In the business world memory is vital to say the least. If the computers that businesses use have low amounts of memory then the business will run much slower and wont be as efficient as is potentially could be. This would probably result in loss in business due to it being much slower than competitors. The way things are going now easily explains how the future will be for memory. Memory will become smaller in size but bigger in capabilities. This will result in the growing of businesses and the economy.

A Related Article

This link explaines what RAM is and how it is used. It also goes in depth about what it is capable of and the future of it. It also explains why random access is used. I think it is a good website to learn from if someone is having trouble understanding.

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