Why is Your Computer Running Slow? Memory vs. Virus

Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 2:30 am

The scenario of computers running slow for no apparent reason is no longer new in this day and age. This may be caused by a computer virus or a memory problem. More experienced users can easily determine which of the two is causing the lag of the computer. It’s is very important that you are able to recognize the difference between malicious software and hardware that is not working properly.

Viruses are the first reason that pops up in our minds when we discover our computer slowing down. When this happens though, there are ample signs that points out a virus problem. First, you will be able to notice:

- new icons on your desktop
- computer is acting unusually
- and there are pop-ups for programs telling you that your computer is infected

However, there is another explanation for the slowing down of your machine you may need to consider.

The other culprit is the system memory or the RAM. RAM is an acronym that stands for Random Memory Access and this is one of the key players inside your computer box. Every machine uses RAM regardless of its operating system. Whenever you save a document or a file it is saved on the computer hard disk known also as the Hard Drive.

When your computer loads a program it is loaded into the system’s RAM. Unlike a hard drive which is static memory, a RAM stick is volatile memory. When the power is turned off to your machine the information stored on the hard disk stays stored, whereas what’s loaded into the RAM is erased. RAM is primarily used as a temporary storage medium on your machine to load and execute programs or commands.

Here comes the good part. Insufficient RAM can lead your computer into slowing down; this is probably due to the system’s requirements. Suppose your computer has an operating system that needs only a minimum of 256 megabytes of RAM to function. A minimum requirement will satisfy the operating system as to have a normal working computer function. When a newer operating system is installed, it will then require much higher megabytes of RAM, maybe 4 times the size of the previous.

Installing a new operating system on a computer whose RAM size was meant for an older OS will not work well. The reason being is, as operating systems advance there is a greater volume of programs that need to be loaded to the RAM.

This is how it works. When you play a movie on the media player, the movie is loaded into the RAM for easy playback. Inadequate RAM will make the movie playback freeze and stutter, which will make you wait until the systems catches up.

When your RAM is insufficient, the system uses what is known as virtual memory. Virtual memory is a section in your hard drive that your operating system designates as temporary RAM. Nothing is kept permanently on this area, but it will still render your computer to run slow, maybe slower. It’s generally a good idea to double the size of RAM that your operating system requires to ensure optimum performance.

Inadequate system memory or RAM will certainly have adverse effects on your computer especially with the activities that you do with it like; online gaming, web browsing, video and music streaming and a whole lot more.

While it does resemble aspects of a dreaded computer virus infection, it can be solved much easier. You can buy a RAM stick that you can plug as a peripheral on any USB slot, though it would still be better if you replace your existing RAM with one that has higher capacity.

Dorthy Weatherbush realizes just how vital her computer is for not just her family but for her business, which is why she uses Crucial Memory. To ensure that her computer has sufficient memory, Dorthy usually upgrades her memory with Crucial Memory every year.

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