| If you are concerned that your computer may not | | | | is temporarily stored for programs that are currently |
| be running at an optimal speed, you are not alone. In | | | | running on the computer. This way, your computer |
| a world where technology continues to get faster | | | | can access and manipulate data that's currently being |
| and better, it doesn't take long to fall behind! Not | | | | used, instead of retrieving and storing everything |
| only that, it can be difficult to find the source of the | | | | from the hard drive. If you don't have enough RAM, |
| problem-especially when your attempts to increase | | | | your computer will stumble over performing more |
| computer or Internet speed fall short of their | | | | than one task at a time or boot up sluggishly. |
| anticipated improvements. | | | | Obviously, if this is the reason your computer is slow, |
| If you are tired of failed attempts to boost your | | | | downloading another program to increase your speed |
| computer speed with some great new upgrade or | | | | will not help, but actually hinder your connection and |
| expensive software tool, you may need to learn a | | | | processing speed. |
| few things about how your computer works. One of | | | | In some cases, hardware simply needs to be |
| the most important things with which you should be | | | | replaced. Many computers can be easily upgraded |
| acquainted is your hardware, and how it affects your | | | | with a few hardware and software changes, but |
| computer's efficiency. | | | | every once in a while, it is simply necessary to |
| Your hardware is the actual physical components that | | | | replace your hardware, or your computer entirely. |
| make up your computer unit. There are the obvious | | | | Today's computers and computer hardware, even |
| parts, like the monitor, tower, keyboard, mouse, and | | | | the cheapest ones, are probably a hundred times |
| printer. There are also some parts that are attached | | | | faster and more capable of modern computer |
| inside your computer that are important to know. | | | | processes and adaptability than those built even 5 |
| These elements are usually considered the | | | | years ago. As technology improves, new methods |
| computer's specs. These internal components effect | | | | for Internet service and computer tasks are |
| what your computer is capable of. | | | | developed, which means that older models are often |
| Sometimes you can significantly increase the speed | | | | not compatible with these new methods. For |
| of your computer by updating your hardware. For | | | | example, many older computers have a floppy disk |
| example, if you have many programs downloaded on | | | | drive. Floppy disks have now become useless, |
| your computer, this information must all be stored in | | | | because storage advancements have improved so |
| your hard drive. The more advanced technology | | | | drastically. |
| gets, the larger these programs are, and the more | | | | For more information about hardware and computer |
| programs are available that would interest you. In | | | | processing, look online for many introductory tutorials, |
| order to take advantage of all these programs, you | | | | and build your knowledge from there. Check with a |
| have to have the space for it. A computer that is | | | | local computer hardware store, or a local technician |
| nearly full performs much slower than one that is | | | | to see if your computer may need a hardware |
| only half full. | | | | upgrade. |
| Your RAM, or random access memory, is where data | | | | |