| Many people are taking the leap and upgrading | | | | |
| their pc operating system from Windows XP to | | | | Upgrading system memory as high as your |
| Windows Vista, only to be very disappointed | | | | budget will allow is recommended, although |
| by the distinct slow-down in performance. | | | | anything higher than 4GB with the 32-bit |
| | | | version of Windows Vista is pointless, as it |
| Anecdotal evidence suggests that Windows | | | | will generally only recognise around 3.5GB of |
| Vista requires twice the computing power and | | | | the installed memory. The 64-bit version of |
| resources to operate at a performance level | | | | Vista, however, can recognise over 8GB of |
| similar to that of Windows XP. So what can | | | | memory, although most computers don't yet |
| you do to improve this? | | | | support this. |
| | | | |
| Firstly, it may be worth considering if you | | | | To take advantage of ReadyBoost, simply plug |
| need to have all of the Vista | | | | in a compatible USB drive or flash card into |
| bells-and-whistles that are turned on by | | | | your computer, then follow the steps to |
| default. The Aero interface in particular, | | | | configure it using the built-in wizard. Once |
| although it looks pretty, requires | | | | configured, ReadyBoost serves as an |
| considerable resources and it's worthwhile | | | | additional memory cache which can |
| turning it off to see how much general | | | | significantly improve performance by |
| performance improves. In addition many | | | | reserving part of the flash drive/card for |
| computers from manufacturers such as IBM come | | | | memory management. |
| with a whole suite of ancillary support | | | | |
| programs which you may not really need, such | | | | If you are not certain about whether your pc |
| as firewall programs, antivirus programs, | | | | can be upgraded with more system memory, |
| performance monitor programs, etcetra. Third | | | | there are many websites which make this task |
| party firewall programs in particular can use | | | | relatively simple to figure out. Using your |
| up a lot of resources. If you've been happy | | | | favourite search engine, type in your |
| with the built-in Windows Firewall, then | | | | computer brand and model followed by the |
| consider turning off any third party ones. | | | | words "memory upgrade" and this should give |
| | | | you somewhere to start. Alternatively, if you |
| The other two areas where a significant | | | | still have your user manual this should |
| improvement can be made is by upgrading the | | | | contain specifications about how many memory |
| amount of system ram or memory, and utilising | | | | slots you have, the maximum memory capacity |
| a ReadyBoost compatible flash drive or flash | | | | your pc can handle, and the type of memory |
| card. | | | | that is compatible. |
| | | | |
| Upgrading system memory is very straight | | | | To check your currently installed memory for |
| forward. Manufacturers like Kingston make | | | | Windows: Right mouse-click on the "My |
| third party ram to the specifications of the | | | | Computer" icon and select "Properties." The |
| big OEM's like IBM, HP, Dell, Acer, Apple and | | | | total memory is calculated and displayed |
| others so it's not necessary to pay hefty | | | | under the "General" tab in the system |
| prices to obtain a 100% compatible ram | | | | properties window. For Mac: Click "About This |
| upgrade. Kingston also guarantee their memory | | | | Mac" or "About This Computer" from the Apple |
| for life so even if the reseller you | | | | menu. (Far top left of the screen). This will |
| purchased it from closes up ship you can go | | | | provide information about your Mac's total |
| back to Kingston for any warranty-related | | | | memory (built-in memory plus DIMMs |
| issues. | | | | installed). |