Memory (RAM)

Random Access Memory (RAM) provides space for your computer to read and write data to be accessed by the CPU (central processing unit). When people refer to a computer's memory, they usually mean its RAM.

If you add more RAM to your computer, you reduce the number of times your CPU must read data from your hard disk. This usually allows your computer to work considerably faster, as RAM is many times faster than a hard disk.

There are a number of types of RAM available with DDR2 and DDR3 being the most popular for newer computers. These types of memory have faster clock speeds than the DDR1 memory but all memory module compatibility is dependant on the type of motherboard.

SODIMM memory is also available for laptops and come in DDR1, 2 and 3 variants. Most laptop will have 1 or 2 slots for memory meaning you can put 2 ram sticks in at the same time, while desktop computers generally have 4 slots.