ram

RAM is a high-speed memory workspace that the system uses for running programs, loading operating system components, and performing most of its computing tasks.

If you use programs that take up a lot of RAM, you may see the system slow down while the system makes use of the slow hard drive to manage memory contents, to the point where it may sometimes crawl to a near standstill while tasks are running.

As a result, having ample RAM is great for system performance, so I always recommend to go with as much RAM as you can afford to put in … Read more

This is an update of a deal I posted a few months back.

A RAM upgrade is a great way to make your PC run faster, especially if you run a lot of programs simultaneously. More RAM means less reliance on the comparatively sluggish hard drive.

If you own a desktop system, here's one of the best memory deals I've ever seen: TigerDirect has the Kingston KHX1333C9D3B1K2 8GB desktop RAM kit for $24.99, plus around $2 for shipping. That's after a $20 mail-in rebate (PDF).

The kit includes a pair of 4GB, 240-pin DDR3 sticks … Read more

The A5 processor at the heart of the iPhone 4S is made by Samsung, according to a chip analysis firm, putting an end to speculation that Apple had gone elsewhere for its core silicon.

Chipworks, a firm that specializes in reverse engineering and patent infringement analysis of semiconductors and electronic systems, verified today that the A5 chip is manufactured by Samsung, according to Jim Morrison, a product manager, who spoke to CNET today. The iPhone 4S' A5 is a 45-nanometer dual-core part, virtually the same as the chip used in the iPad 2, said Morrison.

The Apple-branded A5 is a system-on-a-chip (SoC) that includes the main processor, graphics silicon, and system memory (RAM). In fact, the RAM is also made by Samsung according to iFixit.… Read more

Editors' note: This article was originally published October 13. It has been updated throughout.

A teardown by iFixit and analysis by iSuppli, Chipworks and others reveal the iPhone 4S as a mini version of the iPad 2 in many respects.

Camera: A Sony CMOS sensor, according to Chipworks. Overall, camera is 8 megapixels, 60 percent more pixels than the camera on iPhone 4. A larger aperture (f/2.4) and new sensor. Better in low-light conditions. Video at 1080P, 30 fps.

Memory: The Apple A5 chip has 512MB of Samsung DDR2 RAM, according to iFixit's teardown. The capacity matches … Read more

Despite a number of improvements to the hardware within the upcoming iPhone 4S, it's looking like one component that will remain the same is the amount of built-in memory.

MacRumors this morning points to a report from China-based AppVV.com, which seems to have gotten its hands on an iPhone 4S ahead of Friday's launch. The site has posted photos and videos of the device in action, including the new Siri voice assistant.

In a post over the weekend, the person with the device also notes that the device is packing 512MB of RAM versus the 1GB some had been expecting. That adds to comments made last week by the developer of the upcoming iPhone 4S-centric game Infinity Blade 2, who in an interview with Eurogamer floated the 512MB number as well.… Read more

Microsoft has tweaked the use of memory in Windows 8 to help people juggle more applications and files with less physical RAM.

In the latest Building Windows 8 blog, Bill Karagounis, group program manager for Microsoft's Performance team, detailed some of the tricks that the company has employed in the new OS to optimize the use of memory.

One such trick is memory combining. Windows applications can reserve multiple chunks of system memory, not just what for they need now but what for they may need in the future. The more apps that do this, the more memory used … Read more

Part of virtual memory on a computer is where the contents of RAM are written to the hard drive (as a special file called a "swapfile") to free it up for other uses. As you use your computer, the system will load programs and data into RAM, which is like having your work on the top surface of a desk. As you place more items on the top of your desk (RAM) it may get cluttered, so to keep your work flow efficient you might free some space by putting a few items into the desk's drawers (… Read more

Apparently a shortfall in PC sales and demand has resulted in a surplus of RAM from various manufacturers like Samsung, Micron, and Nanya, and as a result the cost of RAM upgrades has been steadily falling as these surpluses have been pushed into the market. Only a few months ago an 8GB RAM upgrade for a laptop system would have cost around $100 to $150, but these days they are going for between $50 and $70. Similarly, RAM prices for desktop systems are also dropping.

What this means is if you are in the market for a RAM upgrade then … Read more

When a program suddenly quits in OS X without any user direction, it usually means the program has crashed. The system will likely show the crash reporter window that you can submit to Apple to help the developers troubleshoot their code and correct the problem. However, if you are running OS X Lion then you may run into a situation in which applications you have open will close without showing any indication of a problem.

As an example, go ahead and open TextEdit and close any windows that open up. Then go through your Applications folder and launch a number … Read more