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Laptop RAM: How to Choose the Right Amount of Memory

Laptop RAM stands for Random Access Memory which gives the processor access to the information required to run programs on your laptop computer. RAM is a temporary storage area in your laptop that helps to determine how many programs you can run at the same time and how much data can be provided to each of those programs at any given time. In general the more memory you choose the faster your laptop will run and the more applications you can simultaneously have open. More laptop RAM will also allow your laptop computer to efficiently run at the maximum resolution possible.

Laptop RAM is like a hard drive except it's much faster and only stores data temporarily. Programs on your laptop are stored on your hard drive, but when an application is started it gets loaded to the RAM. If too many programs are loaded at once the RAM gets bogged down and the virtual memory in the hard drive kicks in to try and support the overload. Hard drives are known for their storage capacity not their
speed. You want your programs to run on laptop RAM and not the hard drive's virtual memory. To ensure this happens it is critical to choose the right amount of RAM for your personal computing needs.

I would recommend buying a laptop with at least 512 MB RAM. New laptops with 256 MB RAM have become a thing of the past. As laptop prices continue to fall we will likely see 512 MB computers completely phased out as 1 GB becomes the standard minimum we see offered for new laptops. I have a laptop with 512 MB RAM that works great for web surfing and the minimal amount of file saving/downloading I do on it. If all you need is a basic wireless laptop that can efficiently perform simple tasks like web browsing, email checking, and downloading/storing a reasonable amount of files, then 512 MB will do just fine for you.

If you're a video gamer or will use your laptop computer to work on large files or with complex applications then you should consider upping your laptop RAM to at least 1-2 GB. You will be able to run more programs at the same time, enjoy better/smoother graphics, and work efficiently with large or complex projects related to business, school, or home finances. Here is a rough guide to how much memory you should choose for your laptop:

Web surfing, email, and basic word processing or spreadsheets: 512 MB or more laptop RAM

Large files(i.e. music or video) and complex productivity applications: 1GB or more laptop RAM

Video editing and digital image creation/editing: 2 GB or more laptop RAM

Serious video gaming w/ 3D graphics: 2 GB or more laptop RAM

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