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The simple answer for faster gameplay: Add more RAM!

© Dan Finkelstein

By far, the most overlooked aspect of computer hardware when upgrading has to be the amount of RAM in your computer. RAM, or random access memory, is where the system places temporary files where it can access it very quickly. When you run out of RAM, the system starts to place the same temporary files on your hard drive, which is always much, much slower. As you may guess, there is a simple answer: add more RAM!

Adding RAM to your computer is a pretty straightforward task. Open up your case to see how many slots you have free, then order the amount you wish to add. There are a few other factors to be aware of, like the type of RAM (EDO, DIMM, Fast Page), and the number of pins. Also, be aware that most systems require you to add two RAM expansion cartridges at a time. So, for example, if you have 32 megs of RAM currently, you will most likely have two free slots for RAM expansion. If you want to upgrade to 64 megs, you would need to buy two 16-meg cartridges. Your computer manufacture should be able to answer any questions you might have.

Anyway, there is no question that if you want to upgrade your computer, now is the time to do it. A excess of RAM production in Asia means that prices on RAM has been at the lowest of all time, but rising steadily.

But the fact remains: What will an increase in RAM do for gameplay? The simple answer is: a lot! I just recently upgraded my Pentium II 233 from 32 megs to 64, and I immediately noticed a performance increase. Windows 95 loads faster, as well as games (Quake 2 used to take about a minute to load. Now it takes a few seconds).

In conclusion, if you're looking for a speed boost for a relatively low price (my 32 megs of RAM cost a mere 50 bucks from Tiger Direct, although their prices have recently gone up), upgrading your system RAM is the perfect answer.

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