Memory is the most important factor in computer performance.

Memory or RAM stands for Random Access Memory. As the computer functions, the processor transfers data from the computer’s hard drive to the computer’s memory for immediate use. Memory provides space for a computer to temporarily store, read and write information for quick access by the computer’s processor. Memory is “random access” meaning any storage location can be accessed directly, which makes it faster than accessing information from the hard drive.

Having more RAM in your computer reduces the number of times the processor has to retrieve data from the hard drive, which in turn substantially increases computer performance.

Memory is the most important factor in computer performance. If your computer doesn’t have enough memory, the processor needs to continually go to the hard drive to rewrite the old information with the new information being used. This significantly slows down the computer's response time. Some programs or applications will not run correctly if the computer you are using does not have enough memory. The amount of memory your computer needs varies depending the operating system installed.

The minimum recommended amount of memory for Windows 98, Me, and 2000 is 128MB or more.

Windows XP needs at least 256MB of RAM to function. With more applications and programs installed, a system running on 256MB of RAM quickly becomes sluggish and unresponsive. Microsoft recommends a minimum of 512MB for Windows XP. If your computer is experiencing lag when running more than one application at a time and takes an excessive amount of time starting up, you may want to consider adding more RAM. 768MB to 1GB is a good amount to have for an average computer user. If you do computer design, 3-D animation or heavy data processing with accounting programs, or if you are a serious gamer, then you will most likely need more RAM.

Vista needs 512MB RAM to function; however, Microsoft recommends that Vista computers ship with at least 1GB of memory. Due to the intensive memory requirements of Vista, systems running on 1GB of RAM may still see sluggish performance. 2GB is the recommended amount of memory for Vista to run smoothly for the average computer user. Serious gamers and performance minded users should consider upgrading to 4GB.

You can use our Memory Configurator to see how much memory you can install on your specific system.

Upgrading your computer's RAM memory is the quickest, most efficient and least expensive way to boost a computer’s performance. Many new computers come with only a minimum amount of memory and adding more will significantly increase a system’s speed, responsiveness and performance. Memory upgrades are particularly helpful for users who work with large files, have more than one program open at once, or use memory-intensive applications such as games, graphics and video editing software.

Flash memory is a type of highly portable, constantly powered memory that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. Flash memory has no moving parts and is non-volatile, which means that no outside power is needed to maintain the data stored in the chip. Flash memory gets its name because the manner in which data is erased is in a single action or “flash”. This technology is primarily used in memory cards and USB flash drives for general storage and transfer of data between computers and other digital devices

Here are some tips and things to consider when buying flash memory cards for your digital camera.

1. Verifying compatibility of the flash memory card with your digital camera.

Flash memory cards come in different forms and capacities (sizes). The first thing you must consider is which type of card your digital camera accepts. Some common types of memory cards for digital cameras include CompactFlash(CF), Secure Digital (SD), Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC), Memory Stick (MS), MultiMediaCard (MMC), and xD-Picture(XD) Cards. When in doubt, you should read the user guide or manual that came with your camera.  You may also want to visit the camera manufacturer's website to determine exactly which type of memory card your camera uses. Memory.com  has a compatibility selector called configurator. Use it to select the correct flash card.

2. Determining the capacity-to-price ratio of the card

The larger the capacity of the memory card, the more pictures/videos you can store on it. Generally, the higher the storage capacity of a memory card, the higher the price will be.  A good way to determine what size is right for you is to take a look at your camera usage.  If you take a lot of pictures, shoot movies, or have a high Megapixel digital camera, then a higher capacity card may be a good idea. If you only take a few pictures at a time, or have no issues with frequently transferring pictures to your computer, you shouldn't have any problems using a smaller capacity memory card.  Since the price of flash memory is significantly lower today than when first introduced, buying the perfect size memory card for your level of use has never been easier.

3. Knowing the speed of the memory card

Memory cards can vary in speed. The speed refers to how fast information is written to or read from the card.  Naturally, a memory card with a faster speed is better than a slower speed memory card (40x is better than 12x, and 80x is better than 40x). Generally, higher speed cards will have a higher price and the card speed information will usually be written on the card packaging and on the memory card itself. Memory cards with faster speeds  are often labeled as "high speed" "professional" "high performance" or "ultra speed" cards.  They are usually sought after by professional photographers who need quick speeds for processing a high volume of pictures in a very short amount of time. Faster memory cards are also optimal for recording video because they are able to capture a higher frames-per-second, which makes for a better quality video.

4. Comparing different memory card brands

Opinions between industry experts differ as to whether or not there is a distinction in speed, performance, reliability, and longevity between competitively priced memory cards and those with more popular brand names.  One thing that is always a good idea to take note of is a company's warranty before you purchase a memory card. Some manufacturers (such as Transcend) offer a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects and a hassle-free return policy for their memory cards. It's also a good idea to look into the manufacturer's customer satisfaction rating through one of the many online review sites before buying a memory card.

5. Learning about the extras

Some memory cards have extra features that may fit your needs and make your life just a little easier. Secure Digital (SD) cards have a lock/unlock switch on the side to lock the card and protect the information from being accidentally deleted.  Others have built in software featuring password protection to prevent unauthorized access to the information on the memory card.  The Transcend SDHC Secure Digital + Card Reader has a built in USB drive on the card that plugs right into any USB slot on a computer, eliminating the need for a separate card reader.  Some cards are made specifically for use in gaming systems or mobile phones and as technology advances, the extra features just keep getting better.