One of the top perks of having a good RAM is better multi-tasking, especially if you are using RAM-intensive programs like compiling programs, scientific modeling, 3D rendering, Photoshop, and video encoding among others.
Having good RAM allows you to switch back and forth between various applications without Windows writing off some pages to the pagefile. On the flip side, without enough RAM, you are likely to run into a lot of performance issues.
The good news is that you can always upgrade your PC’s RAM to boost its performance. But how can you tell that it is time to upgrade your RAM? Well, here are the top 5 signs to look out for:
- Diminishing Performance
If your PC is running smoothly the first few minutes after you’ve powered it but slows down the longer you use it, your memory could be the culprit. The problem can be more pronounced when you are running memory-intensive applications like video games, Photoshop, and web browsers. Of course, the problem can be caused by factors other than RAM.
For instance, a misbehaving application may be eating through your CPU or leaking memory. However, if you can diagnose the issue, it could be the health of your PC’s RAM. One easy test that Boost Hardware recommends is restarting your PC without firing up any app. If the issue persists, it might time to begin shopping for new RAM modules.
- Random Booting
Low RAM may cause your PC to boot randomly at times. You may be in the middle of a video game only for the computer to shut off without warning. Upon rebooting, your computer may run normally but if low RAM is the problem, then you will continue to experience a wide range of performance issues, including random rebooting.
- Nonresponsive Programs
Nonresponsive applications may also be a sign of insufficient RAM. A program may fail to respond after opening it while clicking links or click buttons in it. You can also find that the files that you have access to are suddenly corrupted and can’t open. If these issues get worse over time, your PC’s RAM is almost certainly to blame. Probably the failing RAM is making your hard drive to degenerate.
- Blue Screen of Death
Low RAM is also a common cause of the dreaded blue screen of death. For starters, this is simply a case where Windows display a blue screen, often filled with code in white text. The phenomenon can be caused by a wide range of factors—one of them being a failing RAM.
- PC Can’t Run Multiple Programs At A Go
Unless you are using resource-heavy programs like a graphical suit or animation programs, a good PC should be able to run multiple programs without any visible loss of performance. On the flip side, if you can’t run multiple programs (like web browser, media player, and word processor) simultaneously, it is a clear sign that your computer is running out of memory.
There you have it—5 top signs that your RAM needs an upgrade. Generally, upgrading your RAM gives you the resources to run several applications simultaneously without any issues and do it faster. So, if you’ve been working with an unresponsive computer because you couldn’t figure out the problem, now you know the best step to take to salvage your PC’s performance—install more RAM.
If it is your first time experiencing performance issues with a PC and you are not sure where to start, talk to a computer professional. Don’t be tempted to do things on your own because if you make a mistake, you might run into more serious problems.
