WHY A MEMORY UPGRADE?

especially makes sense. There are also several times when adding more memory is critical.<br><br> Here are some of those scenarios: Before upgrading the OS Your computer's operating system (OS) has a significant impact on the overall performance of your system. This becomes especially apparent as you upgrade the OS to the latest release. Each new version typically demands more hardware.<br><br> Attempt to upgrade without beefing up your system, and you may not get the full performance gains you expected from your new machine . Before installing new software Over the past five years, popular applications have increased the amount of RAM required to function at all. This leaves you in an apparent lose-lose situation.<br><br> You can either ante up for new hardware or be left behind as the technology revolution rolls on. The good news is you can dramatically improve your PCs performance with a simple and inexpensive memory upgrade. In addition to the processor requirement, RAM is the critical factor in your system equation.<br><br> Adding more RAM can make an old system seem like new. Benefits of RAM include faster applica- tion start-up time and reduction of "click to clunk time" - that annoying lag in processing routine operations such as updating text or graphics and displaying the results on-screen. When upgrading for new applications, be aware that the so-called "minimum requirements" listed on all software packag- ing are not "optimum" RAM standards.<br><br> They are deliberately low to encourage the software purchase. Before adding multimedia adapters (e.g. video cards) Multimedia adapters designed to enhance your system's perform- ance can only deliver that performance if you have enough RAM.<br><br> And today's multimedia controllers demand more bandwidth and faster access from main memory than ever before. To make sure your system has enough, check the adapter's minimum memory requirements. Verify that you have at least enough memory to spare.<br><br> If you plan to turn your computer into a graphics workstation dedicated to video or photo editing or computer-aided design, adding 1GB RAM or more will significant- ly speed up performance. JUNE 2003 Many multimedia adapters can also be upgraded themselves. Look to the product manufacturer's materials to see if your new addition can be invigorated with RAM.<br><br> Before adding a peripheral (e.g. printer or scanner) While adding new functionality to your existing system, a periph- eral can also become an additional source of memory drain. Say you're adding a printer.<br><br> Improving on the minimum recommended RAM cache can reduce the output delivery time. Likewise, upgrading the printer can improve high-resolution print quality and overall printing speed. Both will create a noticeable differ- ence when you're waiting for high-volume or full-color jobs.<br><br> For other peripherals, such as a scanner, it's wise to consider how your computer usage may change. Scanning usually entails dealing with large image files - one of the biggest memory consumers for even the fastest processor. When graphics are involved, the more memory a PC has, the better its performance will likely be.<br><br> Before networking a PC (i.e. workgroup print server) Networking a PC presents several touchy performance issues. To get the most from any distributed network model, keep each individual system on par with the others on the network.<br><br> This peer-to-peer relationship will help defuse end-user issues involving printing queues and e-mail lag time. You can bring many older systems on the network up to par with a simple memory upgrade. A memory boost can turn an outdated desktop PC into a suitable enterprise workstation and provide serious cost savings.<br><br> Bottom line: a memory upgrade is the quick- est most cost-effective means of streamlining a network and hanging on to existing systems just a little longer. After buying a new system When buying a new system, the amount of RAM installed is a critical factor to consider. Sure, a faster processor promises more speed, but it can't deliver that speed without enough RAM.<br><br> In fact, a moderately fast chip with enough RAM can outperform a faster chip with inadequate memory. Nearly everyone knows adding RAM is a great way to revive an aging PC, but high-end computer users should also take advan- tage of most cost effective way of improving a PC performance. Clearly, extra RAM can go a long way toward improving system performance for the gamut of computer users-from the Internet surfer to the gamer to the IT manager.<br><br> WHY UPGRADE:PAGE 2

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