Advice and Deals on Computer Memory

The amount of memory in your computer is an important consideration. Do not make the mistake of going with less memory to save cost. Main memory is a fast storage area for your programs and data. If physical memory is low, the operating system needs to swap out to disk which is many times slower. This can really affect the performance of your computer.

The quality of the memory is also important. Do not go with generic memory even if it is cheaper. This is especially important with faster computers. Using generic memory can cause your computer to become unstable and crash.

My advice for any computer is to go with a minimum of 2GB memory.

There are many different speed grades of memory depending on your system configuration. I recommend visiting Crucial for any memory purchases you make. This memory is sold factory direct with no middleman involved, guaranteeing you the best possible prices. They have the best computer memory for stable operation.

Crucial makes it easy to determine the right type of memory for your computer. If you do not know the type of memory you need, just enter in the manufacturer and model of your computer and it will determine the right type for you. Try it now:

One thing that gets people confused is the change in the naming convention of memory. The number in the earlier memory types (PC66, PC100, PC133, etc.) refer to the Front Side Bus (FSB) speed in MHz. This number has been changed in DDR memory to show the throughput speed in MB/sec. Here is a table that translates the throughput speed to FSB MHz speed for you:

Note that anything higher than PC3200 memory is non-standard DDR memory which is used by overclockers. If you are into overclocking, then I recommend checking out Ultra computer memory and Corsair computer memory which is specially optimized for overclocking.

For more information on memory details, check out my memory FAQ.