Speed up computers - get more memory part 2

Getting more computer memory can significantly boost your PC, making it faster and more stable. We explain how to speed up computers

Install more memory
For optimum performance, buy a pair of identical memory modules, such as two that offer 512MB or 1GB of RAM. If you currently have one memory module, get an identical one to make a pair. Don’t mix and match sizes or types. Crucial (www.crucial.com/uk) is a good place to buy from, and provides an installation guide, but you could also try Dabs.com (www.dabs.com) or Expansys (www.expansys.com).

Optimise the page file
Right-click the My Computer or Computer icon on your Desktop, select Properties and click the Advanced tab (Advanced System Settings in Vista). In the Performance section, select Settings, click the Advanced tab here and then click the Change button in the Virtual Memory section. Windows sets the size of the page file by default, but you can tweak it to boost performance. Select ‘Custom size:’ and make sure the initial figure is at least 1000MB. If you have two disk drives, select the first disk and set No Paging File, then select the second and create a 1000MB page file.

Memory monitors
If your PC is running slowly, you should keep an eye on the amount of memory that’s free to use. Right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager, then click the Performance tab to see the amount of memory available. If it falls below 200MB in XP, or the percentage used in Vista rises above 75 per cent, then you need to buy more RAM. Alternatively, run Auslogics System Information (www.auslogics.com/en/software/system-information) and view the information in the Memory Usage section.

Memory boosters
Memory boosters and memory optimisers are utilities that increase the amount of available RAM for running programs. They do this by forcing Windows to store rarely accessed data in the page file so that the memory it occupied can be used by another program. This program will subsequently load and run faster, but at the expense of programs that are minimised or running in the background. Try these free XP tools to optimise your memory: WinCleaner (www.snapfiles.com/get/wcmemopt.html) and RAM Optimizer (www.acelogix.com).

Stop unwanted programs loading with Windows
Press the Windows key and R – or go to Start, Run – then enter ‘msconfig’ (without the quote marks) and click OK. Select the Startup tab and you’ll see all the programs that start with Windows. Clear the ticks against any that aren’t necessary. If you’re not sure whether a program is needed, look it up at www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php.

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