How Much Memory Do You Need ?

The answer really depends on how much and for what your system is used. Upgrading is easy and cost effective. RAM is used every time you open an application, download, play a game or simply turn on your computer. Additionally if you work with or plan to work with digital audio and video more ram is a necessity. Our suggestions below are all based on a Windows XP operating system.

Novice User / Administrative: If you use your computer to send and receive email, do a little word processing, and are starting to surf the Web, you can get by with 128MB. However, you would benefit from going to at least 256MB of memory.

Basic User: If you are spending more time surfing the internet, sending and receiving email, and doing word processing along with other applications, you can get by with 256MB, but would benefit from going to 512MB.

Professional / Feel the need for Speed! If you are running multiple business applications, want to play the newer video games and/or work with graphics, you can get by with 512MB, but your computer speed would benefit greatly by having 1GB.

Advanced Professional: If you work with high-end graphics, CAD software, digital images, or video, you can get by with 512MB, but would benefit greatly by installing 1GB of memory or more.

Graphics Design Professional: If you are, or plan to be, a professional graphics designer, use CAD or modeling software, digital images or video, you can get by with 1GB, but would benefit from going to 2GB of memory or more.

If you are using a Windows Vista, the situation is a little bit different. Since Vista consumes much more memory, you need more memory then usual operating system to get the same speed as what we said above. Moreover, if you are a 3D gamer, then the situation is totally different. The answer for you is to get at least 1GB memory and 2 or 3GB is recommended.