ram

I've said it before, I'll say it again: Windows Vista chokes on 1GB of RAM. If you bought a budget desktop, here's your chance to double the memory--and improve system performance considerably--for just 10 bucks. TigerDirect has a Crucial 1GB desktop memory module for just $9.99 after a $10 mail-in rebate.

This is 533MHz DDR2 RAM, a.k.a. PC4200. Make sure your existing RAM operates at the same speed, otherwise you could see some flaky results. Crucial is pretty much tops when it comes to RAM; the stick comes with a lifetime warranty. The rebate … Read more

Windows Vista eats RAM for breakfast. If your notebook has only 1GB, check out Buy.com's deal on 2GB of Crucial PC2-5300 667MHz memory: $24.99 shipped after a $20 mail-in rebate.

This sale consists of a pair of 1GB modules, so you'll probably have to remove your notebook's existing RAM to make room. (Needless to say, you should then head straight to eBay and unload them). Check the manual to make sure the system supports this memory speed and configuration. It's pretty standard, though, so you should be fine. The rebate deal expires Feb. 24.… Read more

If you bought a budget-level notebook within the past year, chances are good it came with Windows Vista and 1GB of RAM--a poor combination to say the least. Vista needs at least 2GB to operate efficiently, especially on notebooks with integrated graphics processors (which borrow RAM from the rest of the system).

Newegg.com has a Transcend 2GB PC2 5300 notebook memory module for $26.99 (after a $10 mail-in rebate). Shipping will run you $4.99.

You'll need to make sure, of course, that your system can accommodate this kind of module (it's a pretty standard size … Read more

Power Downloader uses several types of software throughout his day including word processors, mapping programs, database apps, and even a few games during break time to let off some steam. In his endless hunt for top-notch applications, Power also ends up using a few programs that aren't all they were cracked up to be. With all the software Power sifts through, it should come as no surprise that some apps even have memory leaks that end up slowing down his system to a crawl. As a software superhero, a slow system simply will not suffice.… Read more

CNET Editor Tom Merritt has a goal. He needs to squeeze more usable RAM from his memory. Good thing there are RAM-releasing apps like Free Ram Optimizer XP and RAMBooster to unblock clogged space.

In this Insider Secrets video, Tom explains the ins and outs of RAM, and how RAMBooster can work its magic to relinquish trapped memory.

Dont' forget to check out other great Insider Secrets videos on CNET Download.com, as well, including iTunes tricks and tweaking search in Avant browser.

To avoid having to turn over user information to the motion picture industry, the BitTorrent indexing service TorrentSpy cut off access to its site in the United States. Apparently, that wasn't enough to satisfy Hollywood.

According to documents filed with the court last week and reviewed by CNET News.com on Wednesday, the studios still want information on the site's visitors. Lawyers representing the studios--armed with a court order--say TorrentSpy has refused to hand over the data. Because of that, the movie sector wants the judge to throw the book at the company.

"(TorrentSpy) took steps to … Read more

What ails your sluggish computer? Old hardware? A fragmented hard drive? Or maybe it's overloaded RAM.

RAMBooster is a CNET Download.com user favorite for expanding the boundaries of your computer's available RAM. It's no substitute for the real thing, but combined with a few other choice utilities, RAMBooster is one ingredient in a faster, slicker Windows XP.

See how RAMBooster works in the video below, and as always, tune into other great First Look videos from the CNET Download.com crew.

Last week I shouted out seven CNET Download.com staff favorites for small, straightforward software for Windows, Mac, and mobile that perform a single task simply and well. Here are five more fresh picks, suggested by you.… Read more

This is the sixth in a series of posts from the Hot Chips conference at Stanford University. The previous installments looked at process technology, multicore designs, IBM's Power 6 efforts, Vernor Vinge's keynote address, and Nvidia. Other CNET coverage may be found here. This is sort of an experiment for me; I usually prefer to have time to review my work before I publish it. If you see anything wrong, please leave a comment!

We began Tuesday morning with a session on assorted technology developments.

The first talk was from Sun Microsystems, about the company's Proximity chip-to-chip interconnect technology. Today, to put multiple chips in a package--a common technique in high-end servers, for example--each chip will be individually connected to the package substrate through conductive… Read more