Covid 19 is a big challenge for many people in 2020. People choose stay home and entertain themselves with computer games. Some of them find out home use computers are out of date , and not fast enough to support games. Upgrading a computer is not just a simple click, you need to know some technical specs before you do it.
CPU, Mother Board, SSD, RAM Memory, VGA, Monitor, Chassis, Power and keyboard are main components of a computer.
CPU is a chip also called processor, it’s the brain of the computer and performs many processing functions for the system. Market is dominated by Intel and AMD brand. Generally, we don’t need to upgrade CPU .
Mother board is a PCB with many electronic components mounted on, it likes a platform that allows computer parts to communicate and interact, such as SSD , RAM Memory, hard driver, CPU , GPU. We don’t upgrade mother board, but you need to be aware of some spec points of the mother board, before you choose components to upgrade.
RAM or Random Accesses Memory is like a buffer between traditional storage and CPU. It acts like a temporary space for information that program and CPU need in order to perform a task, if you run big program, the program needs bigger storing space, then you need RAM with bigger capacity . RAM is very important for all computer systems, it’s a temporary memory for computer. It’s the fastest medium of storage in computer system when its compared to hard disk driver or SSD. RAM is responsible for multitasking as it allows for multiple programs to go at the same time .If RAM is not big enough, the computer might be stuck and response slowly. So RAM memory is a key point to upgrade speed of your computer.
How to select a right RAM for your computer ?
- RAM Capacity Limitation
Before buy a RAM , you need to know the capacity limitation of your computer system. If your computer is running a 64-bit edition, you have upgradable capability. If your computer is 32-bit version, the RAM capacity is limited to 4GB. You can check it here about upgradable capability.
- RAM Capacity
How much RAM do you need is depends on what programs you are going to run with your computer. With more capacity, your computer will act faster. More capacity, higher price. If you have budget, you can go with 16GB, 32GB RAM. Otherwise there is 2GB, 4GB, 8GB RAM for selection. But don’t forget RAM capacity limitation of your computer.
- RAM Type
There are several types of RAM,DDR DDR2 DDR3 DDR4 DDR5 RAM. The RAMs operate with the same principles but the modules are not backward-compatible. Each generation delivers higher and faster performance. Now days, DDR1 has been replaced by DDR2 DDR3 and DDR4. DDR2 and DDR3 are going to be out stage . DDR4 is getting very popular. DDR5 is not available in the market , but SK Hynix announced that the company was going to lunch its DDR5 RAM in Q3 2021 and it would double the speed of DDR4 RAM.
- RAM Frequency
RAM frequency is the speed of the ram. It is measured in MHz. Principally higher frequency means faster speed, but there is slight difference between a RAM running at 2133MHz and 2400MHz, normal users wont tell it. Normal frequencies are 800Mhz for DDR2 RAM, 1333 and 1600Mhz for DDR3 RAM, 2400MHz, 2666MHz,3000MHz, 3200Mhz for DDR4 RAM. Better make sure frequency of the ram keeps up to your CPU frequency.
- General RAM Models
Desktop ram memory is difference from laptop ram memory. Please be careful choose the right type for your computer. Common RAM models are listed below.
DDR2 2GB 800MHz, desktop
DDR2 4GB 800MHz. desktop
DDR3 4GB 1600MHz, desktop
DDR3 8GB 1600MHz, desktop
DDR4 4GB 2400MHz, desktop
DDR4 4GB 2666MHz, desktop
DDR4 8GB 2400MHz, desktop
DDR4 8GB 2666MHz, desktop
DDR4 8GB 3000MHz, desktop
DDR4 8GB 3200MHz, desktop
DDR4 16GB 2400MHz, desktop
DDR4 16GB 2666MHz, desktop
DDR4 16GB 3000MHz, desktop
DDR4 16GB 3200MHz, desktop
DDR3 4GB 1600MHz, laptop
DDR3 8GB 1600MHz, laptop
DDR4 4GB 2400MHz, laptop
DDR4 4GB 2666MHz, laptop
DDR4 8GB 2400MHz, laptop
DDR4 8GB 2666MHz, laptop
DDR4 8GB 3000MHz, laptop
DDR4 8GB 3200MHz, laptop
DDR4 16GB 2400MHz, laptop
DDR4 16GB 2666MHz, laptop
DDR4 16GB 3000MHz, laptop
DDR4 16GB 3200MHz, laptop
- RAM Brand
Samsung RAM , Kingston RAM, Adata RAM, Whalekom RAM and Hynix RAM are big brands in the market. Its very easy to buy it, you can buy it online or at retail store
Knowing all of those info, is it not such a hard task for you to upgrade your computer and refresh it? Speed Up, lets stay home, and make some fun out of the computer.