As far as upgrading your PC goes, adding more RAM is one of the fastest and simplest jobs you can do. RAM doesn’t need drivers, is fairly easy to install, and probably won’t increase power consumption so much that you’ll need a new power supply.
So, if you are looking for a simple way to pump up your frames, upgrading your RAM or increasing your RAM might be a good way to go.
What is RAM?
RAM (Random Access Memory) is kind of like a computer’s short-term memory. It’s classified as “volatile”, because stuff written to it only stays stored there while the memory is getting power. This type of memory is used for computer operations that need to be done very quickly, like the stuff the processor is currently working on. This can be anything from the files of a game you’re running to pictures and scripts running on web pages.
Hard drives, flash drives, and SSDs are long-term, or “non-volatile” memory, the places where you install games or save meme folders. One indicator that upgraded RAM might help your poorly-performing PC is slow load times for web pages and games. If that sounds like what you’re seeing, then you might be in the market for a RAM upgrade.
Checking your RAM utilization
On your Windows 10 PC, if you hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc you’ll bring up the Task Manager. If this is your first time bringing it up, click the arrow in the bottom left corner of the window marked “More Details”. This adds more information about the programs you’re currently running and the resources they’re using. At the top you’ll see tabs of Processes, Performance, App History and so on. Select the Performance tab to get graphical readouts of how your computer’s components are handling their current task load.
The second graph down is your Memory (that’s your RAM) and it’ll give you a simple read of what percentage of your maximum capacity you’re currently using. If you’re not running a game at the moment, or don’t have your 30-tab Chrome browser open, it might be hovering around 10% with idle system processes. Try launching something that you notice is running slowly and see how far it shoots up. If you’re spiking anywhere close to the 90% area then yeah, you’re probably in need of a RAM upgrade.
If your findings lead you to the conclusion that more RAM would be likely to boost system performance, you might as well opt to give it a boost in style, as well. HyperX Predator DDR4 RGB and HyperX FURY DDR4 RGB can make your RAM the stylish centerpiece of your computer’s internals.
Of course, you’ll want to spend some time researching what RAM clock speeds and slot types your motherboard will accept first. To learn more about how to upgrade your RAM, check out our helpful guide.
