Volume of RAM. RAM in a smartphone: what does it provide and how much is needed? ⇡ Modern gaming platforms

Hello friends. How to find out how much maximum RAM a computer – PC or laptop – can support? If you are planning to increase your memory capacity, this is the first place you should start - by finding out the exact figure for the maximum amount of support. It's very easy to find out. You can find the necessary information on the official website of your motherboard or laptop. To do this, you just need to enter the model of your motherboard or laptop into a search engine and add the entry “manufacturer’s website” or “official website.” However, information about the maximum supported amount of RAM may not always be posted on the laptop website; only its volume may be indicated based on the fact that the model is equipped. In this case, you can resort to the help of the well-known AIDA64 program. But let's talk about everything in more detail.

How to find out how much RAM your computer or laptop supports

Important Note : friends, please do not forget that if you have a new generation processor Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7 or from the new AMD series, then you have a RAM controller not on the Northbridge , A in the processor itself. And the RAM modules are controlled by the processor, not motherboard. Therefore, the maximum amount of RAM also needs to be looked at in the description of your processor or on its official website.

Official websites of motherboards, processors and laptops

Let's take, for example, the Asus P8Z77-V Pro PC motherboard with an Intel Core i7-3770 processor installed. If we go to the official website of the manufacturer Asus, to the page of this motherboard, we will see the information we need about the maximum amount of RAM (32 GB).

On the official website of the processor we see a similar indicator.

We also have another device - the HP Envy 17 laptop. But on its page on the official website you cannot find information about the maximum amount of RAM. This means you need to turn to the AIDA64 program.

AIDA64 program

AIDA64 is one of the most powerful computer diagnostic tools. It is paid, but has a trial period of 30 days. Official site:

http://www.aida64.com/downloads

AIDA64 will tell you everything about the RAM installed on a PC or laptop: volume, type (SIMM, DIMM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3), frequency, timings, etc.

Launch the program, select the “System Board” tab.

Then - “Chipset”.

The properties of the computer's north bridge open. The third line will indicate the type of memory supported, and the fourth line will indicate what exactly you need - the maximum amount of memory that can be installed in a PC or laptop.

Below it will be indicated how much RAM is currently installed on the device.

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If using AIDA64 you still cannot find out how much RAM your laptop supports, then write to the technical support of its manufacturer.

And one more thing: friends, if you are going to upgrade your computer yourself, before purchasing additional RAM, check everything with the technical support of your motherboard or laptop. Or order memory from official service centers device manufacturers. And one more thing: additional RAM is not a panacea for slowdowns. More than 8 GB, it must be installed with a clear understanding of why - in anticipation of use by some programs or games. If you want your PC or laptop to work 10 times faster,

Anyone who has ever thought about upgrading their “iron horse”, i.e. PCs, we have repeatedly asked ourselves the question of how much random access memory (RAM) is needed for stable, comfortable operation of the hardware. The only trouble is that few people care about the rest of the hardware configuration. But since the question exists, let's look at it.

What is RAM?

RAM– inconspicuous PCB strips with chips that are responsible for the performance of the OS and other components. It works in conjunction with a video card and processor, and is attached, accordingly, to the motherboard. The performance of this element is determined according to the following principles:

1. standard;
2. frequency;
3. delays (timings);
4. volume.

Regarding the first point. The second and third generation trims are now widely represented on the market, i.e. DDR2 and DDR3. DDR4 is also gaining momentum, but they are too expensive now, so we won’t consider them. DDR1, in turn, has long been obsolete, and the second generation faces the same fate.

Frequencies. DDR2 is capable of operating at frequencies from 533 to 800 MHz. There are variations at 1066 MHz, but they are extremely rare. DDR3 extends the range from 1066 to 2400 MHz. The higher the indicator, the faster the memory. Timings are a purely overclocking concept, and will be of interest only to those who overclock components. But let’s look at the volume in more detail, since this is the key element that determines the speed of data processing.

Required volume for different systems

Remember that every operating system has such an element as bit depth, namely 32 and 64 bits. In the first case, the system will not “see” more than 4 GB of RAM, and no more than 3.25 GB will be available to the user. The 64-bit OS is devoid of these shortcomings and is able to recognize about 192 GB of memory. Another thing is that only a few will need such an impressive amount.

As for the minimum resource consumption, for Windows xp, for example, it is only 256 MB. But this figure does not mean that the system will “fly”. Enough to start, but no more. To comfortably launch office applications and not wait for several minutes, you will need at least 1 GB. It is noteworthy that the OS interface is not demanding, so there should not be any problems with display.

The "seven" requires much more memory, even if we are talking about a 32-bit system. Let's start with the fact that this OS has a “gluttonous” Aero interface, which by default consumes half of the system memory installed on the PC. In other words, in order to work in more or less comfortable conditions, you need to install at least 2 GB of RAM, or better yet 4. For Windows 7 64 bit, the entry threshold is already 4 GB. It is highly not recommended to equip with less memory, because the system will require much more “for itself”.

If we talk about the “eight”, then it will feel comfortable even with 1 GB, because the tiled interface is not demanding in terms of resources. But for Windows 8 64 bit , the old fashioned way, you need at least 4 GB.

Memory gradation for comfortable work

As a basis, we will take a basic office assembly, in which 2 GB of RAM is installed. With this amount of memory you can work with text, surf the Internet, or watch movies online. Another thing is that you won’t be able to open Full HD pictures, because everything will depend on a cheap video card. And such a “budget” amount of memory will not allow you to reproduce an impressive data stream.

Working in Photoshop is also difficult. More than 1 image High Quality you simply won’t open it, and even if it does, the work will be carried out with huge delays. The system will be forced to constantly access the swap file located on the hard drive, which is extremely slow in relation to RAM. When it comes to laptops, a small volume is characterized by rapid battery drain. But it's all about the same access to the swap file.

By increasing the volume to 4 GB, you can get an impressive performance boost. Firstly, it will be useful for games with a lot of textures. It is desirable that the video card be appropriate. Access to the paging file will be kept to a minimum, and this may increase the battery life of the laptop. You can even activate various “beauties” on Windows in the form of widgets and smooth opening/closing of windows.

8 GB will be simply necessary for those who professionally engage in video editing, editing, or creating graphic and 3D objects. Moreover, you can activate several resource-intensive applications at once, which will be used in parallel, with complete impunity, and turn on relaxing music in the background. good quality.

But such a large volume is only advisable if the overall configuration of the PC allows it to accommodate such an amount of memory. The main stumbling block is the motherboard. Firstly, it must have full support for RAM of 8 GB and above. It is desirable that there are two strips, and they can operate freely in dual-channel mode. This will further improve performance and improve power consumption. In case of downtime, the computer is unlikely to use its entire capacity.

The processor must be high-performance. Preferably, quad-core, or 2 cores, with a frequency of 3 GHz or more for each. Such a “stone” will reveal the full potential of all your hardware, while there will be practically no calls to the swap file.

The amount of RAM significantly affects the performance of a computer. Therefore, when deciding to update the configuration of their system, most users begin by installing additional memory.

But, before starting such a procedure, you need to find out how much RAM the motherboard supports. Otherwise, there is a risk of buying a set of memory modules that will not work.

So, in order to find out how much RAM the motherboard supports, you first need to find out the exact model name of the board itself. To do this, it is best to use the free CPU-Z utility. Download CPU-Z and install it on your computer.

After launching the CPU-Z program, go to the “Mainboard” tab. All basic information about your motherboard will be available here. It will be indicated at the very top of the window.

After you have found out the name of the manufacturer and model of the motherboard, you need to find the page for this motherboard on the official website of its manufacturer. To do this, simply enter the name of the motherboard into the search engine.

And go to the official website of the motherboard manufacturer.

In this list you can find information about the maximum amount of RAM, the type of memory supported, the number of memory slots, as well as other characteristics of your motherboard.

Other restrictions on the amount of RAM

If you want to install a large amount of RAM, then you need to take into account that its maximum volume is limited not only by the motherboard, but also by the processor. Open the processor specifications on the manufacturer's official website and see how much memory it can work with. For example, for an Intel Core i5-2310 processor, the maximum amount of RAM is 32 GB.

In addition, the maximum amount of RAM limits and operating system. For example, for Windows the following restrictions apply:

As you can see, for 32-bit versions of Windows the restrictions are very serious. But, for 64-bit versions there are practically no restrictions, if you do not take into account Windows 7 Home Basic and Windows 7 Home Premium, which are limited to 8 and 16 GB.

Those users who have at least once experienced the delight of increasing the size of their computer's RAM by two or more times are sure that the more memory, the faster the computer works. However, the rule "more memory - faster computer"doesn't always work. After a certain value, the effect decreases and then disappears altogether. Now let's try to figure out how much memory can theoretically be installed in a computer, and how much is actually needed for optimal performance applications and operating system.

How much memory can I install?

The theoretical limit for 32-bit systems is a little over 3 gigabytes. A 64-bit system could theoretically handle 16.8 million terabytes!

Today, when programs are optimized for working with large amounts of memory, the RAM disk is losing some of its attractiveness. And if you consider that all the data on it will be lost during a power failure, then the idea of ​​​​creating such a virtual drive at home loses its relevance.

So, the optimal amount of memory for home computer- 8 GB. In this case, the memory sticks will justify the money you invested in them.

And the best answer to the question “What should I do with free memory?” sounds like this for modern operating systems: “Don’t interfere with your work!” Those. just leave the memory alone - the system itself knows how best to use it, just work with programs and games.

Be sure to pay attention to the article, which reveals many points on how memory works.

If the amount of RAM allows you to simultaneously use a large number of programs, this is great, because you can quickly switch between them without having to close programs.

is not as pressing as it used to be, it still worries many users today. IN Lately Even the cheapest computers have at least 4GB of memory, an amount that once seemed unthinkable but is now the de facto standard. Despite this, many people wonder: is this enough? Will additional memory speed up the computer, or will there be no special effect?

There is undoubtedly a difference between 4, 8, 16 and more gigabytes of RAM, but for the mass user the relationship between the amount of installed memory and PC performance remains slightly blurred. In this article I will try to shed light on this question and briefly answer what is the optimal amount of RAM and whether it makes sense to install additional RAM modules.

What is Random Access Memory (RAM)?

Although computers have long been commonplace, many people still confuse the concepts of “RAM” and “local” memory. The misconception often comes from the fact that both types of memory are measured in the same units—lately usually in gigabytes (GB). Despite the fact that both RAM and local memory are used to store information, they differ in terms of data storage period. RAM is usually several times faster than local memory and is used for temporary storage of data. After turning off the computer, all data stored on it disappears without a trace. Information is stored in local memory (hard drives and SSD devices) regardless of whether the computer is on or off. This is why RAM is usually defined as volatile, and local memory as non-volatile.

How much memory does a PC need?

For a long time Bill Gates is credited with the phrase “640 KB of memory is enough for everything.” Ultimately, Gates himself issued an official statement, saying that he was not the author of this statement, which he called pure stupidity.

However, in the early 80s of the last century this did not sound so comical, because volumes of the order of 100-200 MB were considered huge. Today, even the cheapest computer systems have 2-4 GB of RAM, and local storage space is measured in terabytes.

Basic configurations have from 4 to 8 GB of RAM, and high-end models (multimedia or gaming) offer 12-16, sometimes 32 (or more) GB of RAM. So how much can be called “optimal”? Unfortunately, it is very difficult to give an exact answer expressed in a specific figure, since the optimal number depends on the tasks for which you use the computer. So, for example, on a Windows PC, only the operating system itself can require more than one gigabyte for its system libraries. If you're using an antivirus program, that's another 30-200 megabytes running in the background depending on the specific product. Most web browsers, office applications and multimedia players require 100-800 MB or more memory. If you run them simultaneously (i.e. use Windows for its intended purpose - multitasking), these volumes become cumulative - the more running programs, the higher the RAM consumption.

Video games remain the champions in RAM consumption. Popular titles like Call of Duty can “swallow” 4-5 GB of memory without any problems.

Most modern laptops use integrated graphics, which also consume RAM. Video cores integrated into the processor do not have their own memory (unlike discrete solutions) and “eat up” part of the available RAM. So if your laptop specs 4GB of RAM and integrated graphics, Windows will tell you that you only have 3.9GB (or less) of memory available.

Other Considerations

The optimal amount of RAM also has a software (perhaps it would be more correct to say system) aspect. Older versions of the operating system use a 32-bit memory addressing method. It is now outdated and harkens back to a time when amounts over 4 GB of RAM seemed unthinkable. This is why 32-bit versions of Windows simply cannot use more than 4GB of RAM. Even if you have more memory, a 32-bit operating system will insist that you only have 4 GB (although usually even less - 3-3.5 GB) of RAM. To fully use volumes over 4 gigs, you will need 64-bit Windows.

Another interesting question related to memory concerns the rate at which RAM fills up, and what happens if all available memory is used up.

If the system tool "Task Manager" shows that the entire memory capacity is almost completely exhausted, i.e. all running processes occupy 70-80% or even more of RAM, this is not a reason to worry. Microsoft has long since seriously changed its philosophy in relation to memory management, and therefore, starting with Windows Vista, the company considers unused RAM “bad RAM”.

Since RAM is many times faster than any hard drive or even solid state drive, Microsoft decided it would be better if Windows kept as many frequently used user modules and applications as possible permanently loaded into system RAM. Thanks to this, when accessing them again, the system reacts much faster than when it has to read them from the local disk again and again.

This is the essence of SuperFetch technology, which has been developing since Vista. The introduction of this concept points to one important conclusion - the more RAM modern versions of Windows have at their disposal, the better (faster) they work. Of course, we're not talking about exponential growth - the biggest difference will be when jumping from 2 to 4 GB of RAM. With each subsequent doubling - 4 to 8 GB, 8 to 16 and so on, the impact on overall system performance will decrease. However, if you regularly work with heavy programs, keep dozens of open tabs in your browser and actively play, then the principle of choosing the optimal amount of memory comes down to one simple thing: the more, the better.

If at any time the available memory is exhausted, Windows will not stop working. In such cases, the operating system relies on the so-called . For this purpose, an area allocated on the local disk is used and Windows writes to it all data from RAM that is not currently in use, and, at the user’s request, reads it again using local disk resources. Since local memory is slower than RAM chips, the process of reading data from disk takes much longer, during which time the computer may noticeably slow down. If the system regularly accesses virtual memory, this is a sure sign that it is time to consider expanding the RAM.

Have a great day!