As promised this month advice about memory and a deeper explanation of how computers talk to each other.
Memory.
Lack of sufficient computer memory is often the root cause of slow computing. As new computers come out with bigger and bigger memories software developers make software that demands more memory. Older computers therefore suffer simply because the world has moved on.
Science bit, concentrate.
Computer memory is in effect a whole bunch of on/off switches. The switches known as bits are grouped in groups of eight known as bytes. 1024 bytes make a kilobyte (Kb pronounced Kay) 1024 Kb make a megabyte (Mb pronounced Meg) 1024 Mb is a gigabyte (Gb pronounced Gig). That’s 8589934592 bits to the Gig, for those who really should get a life.
Ok memory isn’t actually tiny switches. It’s more like tiny capacitors, something like electric buckets. If the capacitor is full the computer reads the switch as ON if the capacitor is empty the computer reads the switch as OFF.
This is why computer people need to understand binary. 1s and 0s are the only numbers a computer can understand.
So what can be done about you computers lack of memory?
I know what you are thinking. ‘I can just add more.’ Well as always it’s not quit that simple. First you need to find out if your computer can handle more memory. Next you need to find out what memory you have and whether you can get more. Finally you need to decide if adding more memory will do any good.
Since finding the answers to the first two questions requires opening the case. We will answer the last one first. Open the start menu and select control panel then double click system. A window will open telling you about your computer. Find the part about Random Access Memory (RAM). If the total ram is less than 256Mb then it is probably time to give your computer a decent burial. If the total ram is 2048Mb or more then adding more ram is almost certainly a waste of time. If your total ram falls between these figures and you are thinking of adding more ram then take a note of your processor type and speed and give me a call.
So you have decided to upgrade your memory. Time to get out the screwdriver. Don’t panic, once you have worked out which end you use to undo the screws open the computer case. Look at this week’s picture and find the SIMM slots in your computer. If you have an empty slot then adding more ram should be easy. If not then things get a little more complicated.
I have a spare SIMM slot.
Good news all you have to do is find more ram of your type and stuff it in. take one of your current SIMMs out, note the clips at each end of the slot push them down to release the SIMM. Take it to your favoured computer supplier and ask him/her for some more. When you get back put both SIMMs in to your computer, close the case, reconnect any cables and switch it on.
I don’t have any spare slots.
If you are in my range this is a good time to call me in, else take your computer to a computer shop and ask for help. You are going to have to discard some of your old memory to make space for a new bigger SIMM or two. You could do as instructed above but tell your supplier that your SIMM slots are full and you need bigger SIMMs
What is binary?
We count in ten units 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Computers count in two units 0 and 1. The decimal number 2 in binary is 10, pronounced ‘one zero’ not ten. 3 is 11, one one, and 4 is 100, one zero zero, and so on.
we all did our bit.
