A guide to buying cheap memory

Did your computer arrive with a hard drive that fits much less than you expected? Or perhaps your computer is slowed down by a severe lack of RAM (Random Access Memory). This article will go in depth in discussing where you can find cheap additional memory to store your files, as well as how you can get more RAM cheaply.

Hard drives

If your computer needs more storage capacity, you may need a memory upgrade via a new external HDD (Hard Drive Disk). This is far easier than replacing the existing drive in your computer. While it may be significantly slower than an internal one, you need to be a computer expert to replace the internal drive. On the contrary, any novice could use an external hard drive. Buy new - not used! One important factor in buying your hard drive is to buy a new one. Used ones on Ebay have been known to contain viruses or not work at all. Do not take the risk; the small amount of extra money is worth it! Where do I buy it? You can buy a cheap external hard drive from many sites located on Google Shopping, which mostly has deals far better than in stores. How much capacity do I need? That varies greatly on the user. As a perspective: 1 MP3 Song is, on average, 3-4 Megabytes (1024 megabytes in a gigabyte)
1 AVI Movie is, on average, 700 Megabytes.
1 new Computer Game is, on average, anywhere from 1 GB (Gigabyte) to 7.3 GB.
1 MS Word Document is, on average, around 25 KB (Kilobytes, 1024 kilobytes in a megabyte). Note: If you see "TB" as a storage measurement, this means that it contains 1024 gigabytes for each terabyte.

Upgrading RAM

If your computer is too slow, it probably does not have enough temporary RAM (random access memory), and needs a RAM upgrade. In that case, you have two options: install a RAM card inside your computer and throw away the old one, or expand externally. Normally, for the novice user, expanding RAM externally is the best way to go. It is very easy and cost effective. Where do I buy it? Google Shopping is a great place. Additionally, always remember to buy new; not used ones. How much RAM do I need? That depends on what you use your computer for. Generally speaking, a computer with a newer version of Windows requires at least 1 GB of RAM. If you plan on playing games and such in 3D, at least 4 GB total is recommended.