How Much Memory (RAM) do You Need?

When it comes to adding system memory requirements, the general rule of thumb is the more, the better. On average, doubling the amount of memory in your system will give you sample "space" to work and will make an obvious difference in overall speed. This is especially true with today's memory-hungry applications such as office programs, multimedia editing packages, and graphics-intensive games. More memory allows you to run more programs at once, and our favorite programs will be easier to use.

Learn more about how to find computer memory that is compatible with your computer.

It's not always easy to diagnose insufficient memory, so here are some simple yet telling signs that your computer could benefit from a memory upgrade.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, you may need to add computer memory:

• Everyday tasks are plagued by poor or subpar performance
• Programs frequently stop responding
• Typing constantly involves waiting for your computer to catch up
• Clicking or selecting an icon has a delayed response
• Multitasking with more than one app or program is nearly impossible
• Working on spreadsheets slows your system to a crawl
• You get system notifications about low memory
• System updates stall productivity because your computer is slow
• You have display problems, like pulling up a page that either partially loads, doesn't load at all, or shows a blank space where data should be.
• You try to open apps or documents and the system stops responding

How you use your computer influences how much RAM you need to run the various programs. If you multi-task or use complicated graphics programs, you will need more memory. If you do only a few things, you won’t need as much RAM.

Although a computer will run an operating system with the minimum requirements, the response time will be poor. Switching between programs or running programs with complex graphics will cause noticeable slowdowns. Any future upgrades might require higher minimum requirements, as well. You will want to have more than the minimum required memory.

When deciding how much memory you need, consider what you use your computer for, the operating system needs, and any software you use that is particularly memory-hungry. Installing the right amount of RAM will enable you to multi-task with ease.