How to increase RAM? How to increase RAM on a computer using a flash drive. Ways to increase the computer's RAM What needs to be done to get more RAM

Computer technology is the most important assistant in solving many problems, so it is not surprising that users put forward increased requirements for it. However, it should be understood that over time, installed devices become obsolete and computer technology needs modernization. Quite often, PC owners are in dire need of increasing RAM, so for many it is important to know how to increase RAM on the computer.

Many new programs require more computer power

Increasing the RAM can significantly improve the performance of your computer, so users interested in performance are looking for ways to make such actions easy. One of these ways is to purchase additional RAM modules and install them on your computer. To make a competent increase in RAM, it is useful to first familiarize yourself with the information on how to add RAM to your computer, as well as take a number of preparatory steps.

Determining the type of RAM

Computers were purchased at different times, so their equipment may vary significantly. It is strictly forbidden to purchase RAM at random, because the currently existing types of RAM, which include DDR 1, DDR 2, DDR 3, are incompatible with each other, and their sharing on one computer can lead to a sad result.

In addition, the motherboard can also only support a certain type of RAM, so trying to add the wrong type of RAM, the user is able to disable the entire motherboard.

Also, speed is ensured due to the fact that the system does not need a long search for files required for execution throughout the space hard drive because everything required files focus on external media.

Having chosen this particular method, which allows to increase the speed of the PC, the user must purchase a USB flash drive with the necessary parameters, otherwise all attempts will simply be unsuccessful. The flash drive must have at least 256 MB free space, the write speed should correspond to 1.75 Mbps, and read - 2.5 Mbps.

After all the important tools are available to the user, you can proceed to the process that allows you to increase the amount of cache and speed up PC performance.

After inserting the USB flash drive into the USB connector, you should wait for it to fully load, then click right click mice, causing context menu. Next, go to "Properties", then to "ReadyBoost". On this tab, you should check the box, confirming the desire to use the ReadyBoost technology, you should also manually set the indicator of the desired cache volume. It remains to click "OK" and wait for the process to complete.

A PC user must remember that a flash drive to which ReadyBoost technology has been applied cannot be simply removed from the computer. To remove the USB drive, you must first disable the previously running ReadyBoost technology.

Another way to increase the RAM on your computer is overclocking. Using this method, the user manages to overclock the RAM. To achieve this, the user must make changes to the BIOS settings, increasing the frequency and voltage.

With the right changes, computer performance can be increased by almost 10%. However, it is important to understand that if mistakes are made, the user risks damaging not only the RAM, but also other components. In this regard, most experienced users recommend that in order to carry out high-quality and competent overclocking, increase productivity, give the computer to a real professional who is familiar with overclocking techniques to the smallest detail.

If, nevertheless, the user wants to improve the computer himselfby overclocking, you should first go into the BIOS. To do this, at the time of loading the OS, you should press one of the buttons: "Delete", "F2" or "F8".

After a successful entry into the BIOS has been made, the user must go to Video Ram or Shared Memory. There, on the DRAM Read Timing line, you should reduce the number of cycles (timings). Experts say that the lower the timings, the better the PC performance. However, excessive reduction can lead to negative consequences.

Finally, in order for the settings to be successfully saved, you should press "F10", after which the computer will restart and the changes will take effect.

So, wanting to add RAM to a computer, the user must have not only good reasons for this, but also the necessary components, as well as study the available recommendations and master the necessary skills. It is commendable to improve one’s technical capabilities, but experimental “amateur performance” is under a categorical ban. total absence the necessary knowledge.

The lack of RAM gives users a lot of inconvenience, because with its small volume it becomes impossible to work with some resource-intensive programs, play modern computer games that are very demanding on system resources, watch high-resolution videos, etc. This is where the problem arises of how Increase the RAM to such a size that there is no braking or freezing of the system. To do this, there are several basic methods, including the use of removable drives in the form of conventional flash drives or memory cards used in smartphones and tablets.

RAM: what is it and how does it work?

Before dealing with issues of increasing the amount of RAM, you should understand what it is, how it functions and what tasks are assigned to it.

Random access memory (RAM, RAM, random access memory, "RAM") is designed to store data from all processes active at a certain point in time (system and user). It is the link between the established software and the central processor, but not directly, but through the system bus and caching.

If you do not rummage through the jungle of computer terminology, the most simple RAM memory can be described as follows: at the moment a program or process starts, the main components are loaded into RAM, which are stored there until the program ends. Only after loading, the commands are redirected to the central processor, which processes them. Thus, RAM memory is a kind of intermediate data exchange buffer, without which no system can function. The more RAM, the large quantity components can be downloaded and submitted for processing.

How to increase RAM by increasing the number of slats

Let's leave the question of increasing memory through the use of removable devices for now, and consider standard methods, allowing you to increase system performance, which in some cases can be very useful.

In stationary PCs, the issue of increasing RAM is solved by simply replacing or adding memory strips by inserting them into the appropriate slots on the motherboard. But at the same time, it is desirable to use sticks of the same type and generation (SDRAM, DDR, etc.) and take into account many more additional factors.

Change the swap file size

Another solution to the question of how to increase RAM by using additional funds without physically changing the volume, is to set a larger virtual memory size, for which the so-called paging file (pagefile.sys) is responsible, which is a space reserved on the hard disk where cached data is written when the RAM limit is exceeded. Of course, the speed of accessing the hard drive will be much less than directly to the RAM, but as an option it will do.

To do this, in the properties of the computer, use the section advanced settings, where the tab of additional parameters is selected, and through the button in the performance section, the transition to the current settings is carried out. On the Advanced tab and you can change the virtual memory size by setting your own value that is larger than the recommended default setting. However, you shouldn't get carried away. If the size is too high, the system will first of all access the pagefile.sys file, and not the RAM, which will only lead to the opposite effect.

Changing timing in BIOS settings

If you look at the problem of how to increase RAM on a laptop where there is no way to install additional memory sticks, you can use BIOS settings(however, this is more about increasing the amount of video memory).

In the advanced settings section, find the Shared Memory line and change the DRAM Read Timing parameter (the lower the value, the faster the system).

Increasing RAM with a flash drive: prerequisites

Finally, let's see how to increase the RAM on your computer using a USB flash drive. This is done quite simply, but you need to observe a few initial conditions.

For these procedures, you will need a removable drive (flash drive or memory card) with a capacity of at least 1 GB and not more than 32 GB with a write speed of 1.75 Mb / s (in blocks of 512 Kb) and a read of 2.5 Mb / s (with the same block size). There must be at least 256 MB of free space, although this parameter can be neglected, since in any case preparatory stage the media will be formatted (recommended). The total memory size of simultaneously connected devices cannot exceed 256 GB. And it is desirable to use devices that support the USB 3.0 standard, since in this case the data transfer rate will be much higher than through ports with USB interface 2.0.

Where to begin?

Now directly about solving the problem of how to increase RAM on a computer. Let's take Windows 7 as an example, although in all other modifications the actions will not differ.

Probably, many have noticed that after inserting a device into the appropriate port with the drive auto-detection mode enabled, a window appears on the screen with a choice of action. But few people pay attention to the fact that at the very bottom of the window there is a line to speed up the system. This is exactly what is needed. We click on it and for now we leave the question of how to increase RAM on a laptop or a stationary terminal aside, since we need to perform several preliminary steps.

ReadyBoost Technology

To increase the RAM, ReadyBoost technology will be used, which means that the physical flash memory can be used as a virtual one. In other words, an additional swap file is simply created on the removable device.

For operating systems based on the x64 architecture, the amount of physical space used cannot exceed 32 GB, for x86 (32-bit) systems - 4 GB. In addition, according to the recommendations of Microsoft specialists, the ratio of drive memory to stationary RAM can range from 1:1 to 2.5:1. At the same time, the maximum performance increase is observed when reading smaller blocks with a size of 4 KB (compared to accessing hard drives, the performance increase is about 10 times), but when reading large blocks, the effect is almost imperceptible.

Media Formatting

So, how to increase the RAM to required by the user size? First, we format the media by selecting the appropriate partition from the right-click menu on the device.

It is desirable to perform full formatting with a choice of file NTFS systems without changing the default cluster size (usually the same 512 KB). We confirm the deletion of all information and wait for the end of the process.

Engaging media and specifying the size of allocated memory

Now we right-click on the formatted media in the usual "Explorer" and select the properties section.

In the new window, go to the ReadyBoost tab and activate the use permission line this device for the specified technology (the size will be set automatically, using the maximum possible space). If you need a smaller volume, the usage line is activated just below, and the size is specified manually. But in general, it is recommended to use the maximum.

After that, in the same "Explorer" you can see that the device is almost completely full, and only 100 MB of space remain free. That's the way it should be. The filled space will be used for caching files. Agree, the increase is significant.

Increasing memory in Android systems

Now a few words about how to increase RAM on Android. You don't need to do anything physically. In the simplest case, you can simply stop unused in this moment applications running in background. However, this will have no effect, as they will start again. In this case, it is better to turn to optimizer programs that allow you not only to unload unnecessary processes from RAM, but also manage autorun. In this case, it is desirable to have root rights with the ability to remove the built-in applets of the system itself.

But this method, rather, looks like self-deception. Therefore, the problem of how to increase RAM on Android is solved using utilities like RAM Manager (for older devices with version 2.1 systems), SWAPit RAM EXPANDER, Swapper 2, etc. The last two programs are able to create their own swap files, similar to Windows systems, and store cached data either in internal memory devices, or on SD cards (you can specify the location of the swap file manually). In addition, they still have quite a lot of additional tools, up to manual control of the performance of the entire system.

Brief conclusions

If we draw conclusions from the foregoing, it is worth noting that the most effective method of increasing RAM is still replacing or adding slats. However, if such a possibility is simply not physically available (for example, on laptops or netbooks), the option using removable drives seems to be the most preferable. In this case, you can even not use the system virtual memory, the file of which is stored on the HDD, since accessing the hard drive has a lower speed indicator. But, as is already clear, you need to take into account some of the requirements for flash drives and removable memory cards. Without this, you can not even count on the effect of increasing RAM. And of course, do not forget to insert a USB flash drive or card into the appropriate port or card reader before turning on the computer or laptop, because inserting media will not work in a running system.

In which ways to increase computer performance were considered, we have already briefly touched on the issue of increasing random access memory (RAM).

The purpose of this article is to tell you in as much detail as possible how to choose and replace RAM.

RAM Selection Criteria

So, you have decided that you need to increase RAM. What criteria should be used to select RAM modules?

Before you go to the store and place an order, we recommend that you carefully read the material below, which will save not only your time, but also money.

Manufacturer. The first thing you need to start choosing is with the choice of a RAM manufacturer.

Many here are guided by the principle that the longer a manufacturer spends on the memory module production market, the better the quality of its products.

From personal experience let's say that the products of Corsair, Hynix, Kingston are of good quality.

Form Factor Desktops and laptops are different in size, and so are the sizes of the RAM modules and their connectors.

Modules for desktop PCs are called DIMMs, for laptops SO-DIMMs.

Memory. One of the parameters responsible for the speed of the module.

When choosing the amount of memory, keep in mind that at the moment most office tasks require 2 GB of RAM.

memory frequency. Performance also depends on this parameter, the higher the frequency, the better.

If you plan to purchase and install a module next to the existing ones, then, as in the previous paragraph, you need to study which modules are already installed and choose new module with the same frequency.

If you decide to completely replace the RAM, you need to find out what maximum frequencies it supports motherboard laptop or computer.

Frequency characteristics for DDR2 modules are 667, 800 and 1066 MHz, and for DDR3 - 1333, 1600, 1866, 2000, 2133, 2400, 2666, 2800 MHz.

For most modern tasks, the RAM frequency of 1333 or 1600 MHz is optimal.

To install a RAM module, turn off the computer, install the module into the slot, and while pressing it, wait for the side latches to click.

Helpful information:

We also recommend using the program - a small utility designed to manage the RAM on the computer and clean it up. The program can work with unprotected system functions to clear the cache and allows you to select areas to free it.

Increasing RAM using a flash drive

If you're on a budget, there's a way to increase your RAM using flash memory and using ReadyBoost technology.

The ReadyBoost software technology is implemented in Windows 7 and higher and allows the use of free memory of any external Flash drive (SSD drive, USB flash drive, SD card) as additional virtual RAM.

The principle of operation is to create a special cache file on an external flash drive, into which the files that are most often accessed by the user or the system are cached (written).

The speed of accessing such files is slightly higher than the speed of reading them from the hard disk and, according to some estimates, can increase system performance by a third.

In order to take advantage of ReadyBoost technology, the Flash drive must have a memory capacity of 1 to 32 GB, and the speed must be greater than 3 MB / s.

If the storage you are connecting is larger than 4 GB, you must format it in file system NTFS.

The optimal amount of Flash storage when using ReadyBoost technology should be equal to double or triple the amount of RAM on your computer.

To enable ReadyBoost technology, you need to install a Flash drive in your computer. In the autorun window, select the "Speed ​​up the system" item.

In the case when autorun is disabled, you must select the flash drive in the Computer menu with the right mouse button and select "Properties".

In the “ReadyBoost” tab, it is necessary to check the item “Provide this device for ReadyBoost technology”, and below specify the size that will be reserved for creating the ReadyBoost.sfcache caching file, click “OK”.

After activating ReadyBoost technology, the USB flash drive cannot be removed from the computer.

To remove the flash drive, you must disable ReadyBoost technology by following the previous steps in the instructions, selecting the "Do not use this device" item.

In this article, we will talk about how to expand RAM due to the hard drive, since the answer to this question is of interest to many users of computer devices. It often happens that such manipulation becomes a necessity and helps in cases where the computer starts to slow down and freeze, does not respond to commands, or crashes completely.

System disk and RAM

RAM, or, as the people say, RAM, is the random access memory of a computer device. In fact, the RAM is a volatile component of the entire computer memory system, where commands and various data are stored for a certain period of time - those that the processor needs to be able to perform all kinds of operations.

It should be understood that system disk and RAM are different things. To increase the RAM, you need to have enough free space on the disk, at least 10 or 15 GB. If there is not enough free space on the hard drive, the RAM, along with its commands and files, does not “fit” on the disk, and the processor stops working efficiently. To correct the situation, it is required to provide the required space for the RAM by “clearing” the hard drive and thereby expanding the memory and increasing the speed of the computer.

How to expand RAM with hard drive

To expand RAM with HDD, the following steps are required:

1. Find the My Computer icon on your desktop and right-click on it.
2. A context menu will appear in front of you, from which select the “Properties” item and click on it.
3. After clicking on "Properties", a window with the name "System Properties" will open. Here you will see a lot of different tabs, but don't let their abundance scare you, because you only need one - "Additional". Click on it with the mouse once.
4. You will see several additional items, from which you need to select the "Performance" option, and in it - the "Settings" item.
5. In the "Parameters" a new window will open with the name "Performance Options", in which you will be asked to choose your next actions. Here you also need to select the "Advanced" item.
6. Take a look at what the tab has to offer you. You will see three items, from which select the line "Virtual memory" - and click on the "Change" button.
7. After that, a new (third in a row) window with the name "Virtual Memory" will open again in front of you.

Disk memory expansion

Further, it is recommended to proceed with extreme caution. You will see a list of disks of a computer device, due to which you will expand the RAM. You need to determine how much free space is on each of the drives. Usually, RAM expansion is carried out at the expense of drives C: or D: - let's say that you are interested in the latter option.

In the "Virtual memory" window, click on the D: drive, then select the "Custom size" item and enter this very original size: say, 2000 (the maximum possible size is 4000). You can set the same values ​​​​for both the minimum and the maximum, and this value can be made approximately three times larger than the amount of your "physical" RAM.

Nothing else needs to be changed, just click on the affirmative "OK" button. Then in the "Performance Options" window, also click on "OK" and in the "System Properties" window - also click on "OK".

After you have done all the above steps, you will only have to restart your computer device. That's all - the RAM has been successfully increased due to the disk you have chosen. You can enjoy the speed of your computer.

Disk Cleanup

However, do not forget that the system drive gradually accumulates a lot of different "garbage". These are temporary programs, applications, files that need to be deleted periodically, since all this “junk” takes up space on the hard drive and slows down the system. In order to clear HDD You don't need to have any special knowledge. Enough to take advantage special utility, which will clean and defragment the disk quickly and efficiently. There are many such programs, and they are all effective.

Install the program on your computer and run it by clicking on the "Search" button. The utility will begin to analyze the system of your computer, and then offer to tick the files and programs to be deleted. You will be surprised, but there are quite a lot of them, and they can be deleted without any consequences for further work on the computer. A list of recommended removal items can be found online. Check these items and click on the "Clear" button. You will immediately be informed how much disk space will be freed up after deletion.

While analyzing the system, removing "garbage" and defragmenting, you can continue to work on a computer device. If the computer slows down at the same time, do not be alarmed: after cleaning, its performance will significantly accelerate.

Don't forget to clean the disk from time to time so that garbage doesn't accumulate, as sooner or later its quantity will turn into "quality" - and it will take you a long time to free the disk. Enjoy your work!