Upgrading Computer RAM: The "Instant Upgrade"

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The biggest bang-for-the-buck computer upgrade is more RAM. Without enough RAM, your computer uses your (much slower) hard drive as virtual memory. You need at least a Gigabyte of RAM for an audio-oriented computer, but if you're really into it, install the maximum your system can handle.

Note that 32-bit operating systems are limited to 4GB. Typical systems access somewhat less than 4GB due to some memory being mapped to video or other hardware resources. This limitation does not apply to 64-bit operating systems, which can access far more than 4GB of RAM (the exact amount varies, but the theoretical maximum is millions of gigabytes).

If you don't  know what kind of RAM your computer needs for expansion, there are several online memory configuration apps. For example, PNY has one at http://www.pny.com/configurator. Search for your machine, and you'll find out what type of memory you need to get. --Craig Anderton