Upgrading Your PC's Memory
Computer running slow? Slap in more memory and speed things up
Memory Upgrades
If you have a desktop PC and it's running slower than you'd like, a cheap memory upgrade could make all the difference.
We upgradde one of our desktops recently, and found the process much simpler than a few years back - We used the services of Crucial, who offer a rather clever "System Scanner tool".
We ran this, and got a summary of what was recommended for our machine, and exactly what type of RAM was needed:
Give it a try for yourself at crucial.com/uk/systemscanner
How much RAM do you need?
Need a feel for how much memory your desktop PC needs? See our table:
Casual User |
Internet browsing , e-mail and listening to music | 512MB - 1GB |
Frequent User |
Simple graphics programs and flash games, music and watching videos, multitasking | 1GB-2GB |
Power Users/Student |
Professional User/Gamer/Graphic Designer photo editing, video editing, graphics programs & gaming | 2GB-4GB |
Professional User/Gamer/Graphic Designer |
High Performance gaming, multimedia editing, hi-def video, 3D modeling | 4GB-8GB |
Operating System Memory Suggestions
How much memory does your PC or Mac operating system need?
| Memory Recommendations | Min. Requirements |
Crucial Recommendations |
Microsoft Window® 7 64 -bit |
2GB |
4GB- 8GB |
Microsoft Window® 7 32 -bit |
1GB |
4GB |
Microsoft Window® Vista™ 64 -bit |
2GB |
4GB- 8GB |
Microsoft Window® Vista™ 32-bit |
1GB |
4GB |
Microsoft Window® XP® Professional |
512MB |
2GB - 4GB |
Windows XP Home |
512MB |
1GB - 3GB |
Windows 2000 |
512MB |
1GB - 4GB |
Mac®OS X |
512MB |
2GB - 4GB |
Design Application - Memory Suggestions
| Software Title | Min. Requirements |
Crucial Recommendations |
Adobe® Acrobat® 6.0 Standard |
64MB |
128MB |
Macromedia® Studio MX™ 2004 |
256MB |
512MB |
Microsoft FrontPage® 2003 |
128MB |
512MB |
Adobe Illustrator® CS |
128MB |
512MB |
Pinnacle® Studio™ Version 9 |
128MB |
1GB - 1.5GB |
Adobe Photoshop® CS |
128MB |
1GB - 1.5GB |
Adobe Premiere® Pro |
256MB |
1GB+ |
Adobe After Effects® 6.0 |
128MB |
1GB - 1.5GB |
PC Games - Memory Suggestions
Are you a gamer? A guide on how much RAM you should have loaded...
| Software Title | Min. Requirements |
Crucial Recommendations |
Half-Life® 2: Lost Coast™ |
256MB |
1.5-2GB |
Battlefield® 2™ |
512MB |
2GB |
Battlefield 2142™ |
512MB |
2GB |
Call of Duty 2™ |
512MB |
1.5GB |
Star Wars® Battlefront™ 2 |
512MB |
1.5GB |
F.E.A.R ™, F.E.A.R. Extraction Point |
512MB |
2GB |
Company of Heroes® |
512MB |
1.5GB-2GB |
Neverwinter Nights™ 2 |
512MB |
1.5GB-2GB |
Medieval II: Total War™ |
512MB |
1GB-2GB |
Need for Speed™ Carbon |
256MB |
1GB-2GB |
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent™ |
512MB |
1GB-2GB |
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® Vegas |
512MB |
1GB-2GB |
Farcry 2 |
1GB |
2GB-4GB |
Fallout 3 |
1GB |
2GB-4GB |
Call of Duty World at War |
1GB |
2GB-4GB |
Dead Space |
1GB |
2GB-4GB |
Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway |
1GB |
2GB-4GB |
Crysis: Warhead |
1GB |
3GB-4GB |
Mirrors Edge |
1GB |
2GB-4GB |
Dawn Of War 2 |
1GB |
2GB-4GB |
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