Computer Memory - Do I Have Enough?

 With all of the high powered and sophisticated software applications being used by most people today, the simple answer to this question is Probably Not. But the question remains, How much do I need?

 Thanks to a tip from Don Yenche, a visit to CRUCIAL.COM may help answer this question.

 In Windows computers, there are essentially two types of memory.  Random Access Memory (RAM) that is the primary "working space" where your software applications are loaded and run and the "swap file", a portion of your computer's hard disk that is used as an overflow area when the running applications need more memory and run out of RAM. Each time the computer must access this swap file, which moves data back and forth about 1/10 as fast as RAM, then your computer starts running slower.

 One useful tool built into Windows 95/98 is a small program called the  System Monitor that will give you a graphical display showing how the memory in your computer is currently being utilized. To run this program, click on Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Monitor.

 You will then see a display that looks like this:

 Selecting Edit-Add Item will give you the following pop up window where you then want to select Memory Manager from the Category  window and then select "Free Memory" and "Swap File In Use" from the Item window. You select multiple items by clicking your mouse on the first item and then while holding down the "Ctrl" key on your keyboard clicking the next item on the list.   

After you have selected these two items from the list and click on OK, the following window will be displayed:

 The first graph shows you how much RAM memory is currently available for use and the second graph depicts how much additional memory is needed from your hard drive swap file to support the running applications. Under ideal circumstances, the second graph would remain at or near zero. Now minimize this window and start using your computer as you normally would, opening and running the applications that seem the slowest to you. After a while, click on the System Monitor icon in the Windows Task Bar to maximize the display  and examine the results. Adding additional memory equal to the size of the swap field will yield a significant improvement in overall performance.

This page last updated on Thursday, December 14, 2006