Upgrading Your RAM

So you have finally decided to spend some money towards upgrading your computer, and want to get the most bang for your buck. Your obvious choice is going to be RAM. What is RAM? I could go into some insane rambling about what it does and how it works, but just think about it this way. It's the size of the notepad the monkeys crunching numbers inside your computer are using. Those math problems tend to be a whole lot more difficult, and take much more time, on post-its as compared to full sheets of paper.

Great, so now which kind of RAM do you need? Head over to Crucial and use their "Advisor Tool" to figure that out. Now you know what speed to use, and how many slots you have available in your computer. Do you know how many you have used up? No? Use CPU-Z to figure that out (And check out some cool information about your computer while you're at it).

Now remember, RAM generally likes to be in pairs of the same capacity and speed... And chances are you like to have your wallet full, so head over to NewEgg for the best prices.

As far as installing it, it is extremely simple! There is only one way to insert the stick, because it just won't fit physically in reverse. Better yet, your manufacturer's manual will include a simple guide on how to do it. Let me summarize:

1. Turn your computer off, and unplug it.
   
2. Ground yourself (don't be electrically charged), touch things that are metal before hand (Like the outside of your computer case, power supply), and don't work on things that are prone to static electricity (carpets, blankets, etc.)
3. Don't touch the "pins" of the RAM. It won't destroy the stick if you do, but it does shorten the lifetime somewhat.
4. Make sure to put the stick in the right orientation, and DO NOT force it in.
5. If you're upgrading a laptop, chances are that the slots are one above the other. If you choose not to use the same capacity sticks, put the bigger one on the bottom, seeing as how your less likely to replace it in the future.
   

That's it! Enjoy =]