Adding memory to a system is one of the most useful upgrades you can perform, and also one of the least expensive. Upgrading memory can boost your computer's performance by 50%. Although the computer may function with 512MB of RAM or even less, generally 1024MB is a reasonable minimum. Especially computers running under Windows XP and Windows Vista should have at least this much, but you should see a performance improvement with 2048MB of RAM.
Not all computer memory is the same. Most computers in use today use DDR or DDR2 types of memory for their main system memory. It's not only important to purchase RAM that's compatible with your computer, it's important to choose top quality RAM. A small dose can give your computer's performance a big boost.
Memory is so important that it cannot be wasted. RAM is allocated by the operating system and programs, and then released when not needed. Errant applications can grip RAM and not release it, which results in a diminishing amount of memory available as you load and use more programs.
