RAM

Introduction

Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of computer memory that can be read and changed in any order, typically used to store working data and machine code.  The data stored in RAM can be accessed almost instantly regardless of where in memory it is stored, so it’s very fast — milliseconds fast. RAM has a very fast path to the computer’s CPU, or central processing unit, the brain of the computer that does most of the work.

RAM is used for temporary storage. The hard drive is capable of storing information after the computer turns off, but RAM is not. Once your computer turns off, any data that was in your RAM is lost.

• How to check Computer RAM 
• How to check RAM usage
• How much RAM do you need

How to check Computer RAM 

This section will help in figuring out how much RAM you have for either a PC or MAC.

To find out how much RAM is installed on your PC, perform the following steps:

• Click the Windows icon in the bottom left hand corner of the screen.
• Click the Setting icon (gear shaped) in the lower left side of the Start window. This will open the Settings window.
• Click System - It's a laptop-shaped icon in the upper-left side of the window.
• Click the About tab - You'll find this in the lower-left corner of the System window. This opens a list of information about your computer.
• Review the Installed RAM section. It's in the "Device specifications" section near the middle of the page. The number to the right of the "Installed RAM" heading indicates how much RAM your PC has installed.

To find out how much RAM is installed on your MAC, perform the following steps:

• Click the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of your screen
• From the drop down options, click About the MAC
• In the window that pops up, click the Memory tab to get a detailed look at the RAM in your MAC
• In a box in the upper-left corner of the window, you’ll see a number that shows the current total amount of RAM installed. It will read something similar to “8 GB Installed.”

How to check RAM Usage

This section will help in figuring out how much RAM you are using for either a PC or MAC.

To determine how much RAM you are using on a PC, take the following steps:

• Hold down (Alt + Ctrl) and press Delete - doing so will open your Windows computer task manager menu.
• Click Task Manager - It's the last option on this page.
• Click the Performance tab - You'll see it at the top of the "Task Manager" window.
• Click the Memory tab. It's on the top-left side of the "Task Manager" window - You'll be able to view how much of your computer's RAM is being used in graph format near the top of the page, or by looking at the number beneath the "In use (Compressed)" heading.

To determine how much RAM you are using on a MAC, take the following steps:

• Click on the Finder app from your Mac’s home screen.
• Then, click on Applications from the right side.
• Now, click on the Utility folder.
• After that, double click on the Activity Monitor icon.
• Finally, click on the Memory tab to check RAM usage on Mac.
• You can view the Memory Pressure to find the graph of memory usage.

How much RAM do you need

It's not always easy to diagnose insufficient memory, so here are some simple yet telling signs that your computer could benefit from a memory upgrade.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, you may need to add computer memory:

• Everyday tasks are plagued by poor or subpar performance
• Programs frequently stop responding
• Typing constantly involves waiting for your computer to catch up
• Clicking or selecting an icon has a delayed response
• Multitasking with more than one app or program is nearly impossible
• Working on spreadsheets slows your system to a crawl
• You get system notifications about low memory
• System updates stall productivity because your computer is slow
• You have display problems, like pulling up a page that either partially loads, doesn't load at all, or shows a blank space where data should be.
• You try to open apps or documents and the system stops responding