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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

  FAQ/Glossary -- Acclimatizing yourself to the ins-and-outs of memory modules.

FAQ:

WHAT IS MEMORY?Top

People in the computer industry commonly use the term “memory” to refer to RAM (Random Access Memory). A computer system use RAM to temporarily hold instructions and information it needs to complete tasks. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) accesses memory to locate and store the instructions and data it needs to execute the tasks you require.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEMORY AND STORAGE?Top

Many times, people will confuse the terms “memory” and “storage”. This is especially true when both terms use the same numbering system to describe the size of their respective components (i.e., 512MB and 20GB). The term “memory” is used to indicate the amount of RAM (Random Access Memory) that is installed in the computer (i.e., 512MB). The term “storage” refers to the size of the computer’s hard disk drive (i.e., 20GB).

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MEMORY AND PERFORMANCE?Top

It’s been shown conclusively that adding memory to a computer increases the performance of the system in most cases more than any other single addition you make to a computer. And, with the cost of memory today, you can get a lot more “bang for your buck” by simply adding more memory to your computer.

If there isn’t enough memory in a computer for all the programs and data the system requires, the computer will set up what is known as a virtual memory file on the hard disk drive. In doing this, the computer reserves space on the hard drive to “simulate” additional RAM (Random Access Memory). Accessing memory can be as much as 60,000 times faster than accessing virtual memory.

HOW MUCH MEMORY DO I NEED?Top

Memory is an integral part of your computer and can be a major factor that allows you to increase your productivity. Having the right amount of memory in your computer is dependent upon the type of system you have, the type of work you do, how many applications you need to keep open at the same time, and the type of applications you use.

For most systems, the following chart could be a starting guide to help you determine how much memory is right for your system and purposes:

Administrative and Services Functions Light - Word processing, email and data entry, instant messaging, or one or two applications open at the same time 256MB - 384MB
Medium - FAX, communications, database administration, spreadsheets, or three to five applications open at the same time 384MB - 512MB
Heavy - Complex or large document editing, accounting programs, business graphics, presentation software, or five or more applications open at the same time 512MB - 2GB
Executives & Analyst Functions Light - Proposals, reports, spreadsheets, business graphics, databases, scheduling, presentation software, or one to three applications open at the same time 256MB - 384MB
>Medium - Complex presentations, sales and market analysis, project management, Internet access, or four to six applications open at the same time 384MB - 1GB
Heavy - Statistical applications, large databases, research, technical analysis, complex presentations, video conferencing, or more than six applications open at the same time 768MB - 2GB
Engineers & Software or Web Designers Light - Page layout, two to four color drawings, image manipulation, graphics applications, or one to three applications open at the same time 384MB - 512MB
Medium - 2D Computer Aided Design, rendering, multimedia presentations, photo or light video editing, Web development, or between three and five applications open at the same time 512MB - 1.5GB
Heavy - Animation, complex photo or video editing, real-time video applications, 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD), solid modeling, finite element analysis, or more than five applications open at the same time 768MB - 4GB

WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER WHEN BUYING MEMORY?Top

Compatibility - The most important thing to consider when buying memory is its compatibility with your system.

How much memory do you need? - Once you’ve determined what system you have, you need to determine how much memory you will need according to the type of applications you will run on the system and how many applications you will need to have open at the same time.

Price - Price is always a consideration when buying memory. At Discount CompuMemory, we try to provide the full spectrum of products that are priced to meet your needs. We try to stock everything from reasonable quality, value-conscious, broker grade components and name-brand quality products to higher-ended top performance memory products. If you ever find that our prices aren’t as competitive as you need, feel free to contact us at sales@discountcompumemory.com for more competitive pricing.

Quality - As with any product, memory can vary in quality from one manufacturer to another and from one line of memory to another by the same manufacturer. Discount CompuMemory works with larger, more established memory manufacturers that are more consistent in adhering to tight design specifications, using high quality components that have certified quality control processes in place for quality manufacturing and thorough testing of the products available.

Your major concern with quality should be around the value of the data you are working with. The biggest risk with unreliable memory is data corruption - some of the bits may change or be read incorrectly. The thing you need to determine is whether or not you can afford to spend less money, but take a slightly higher risk of losing or corrupting the information you deal with on a day-to-day basis in your computing.

WHAT IF I CAN'T FIND MY SYSTEM IN YOUR MEMORY SELECTOR?Top

If you can’t find your system in our Memory Selector, you can still find out what kind of memory you need by consulting the manual that came with your computer. Further, you can call your system’s manufacturer to confirm the type of memory required. Finally, you can send the manufacturer’s name, and model number of your computer, and how much memory you need to our Sales representatives at sales@discountcompumemory.com, and we’ll be happy to send a quote back to you.

WHAT IS YOUR PRICING POLICY? Top

Discount CompuMemory is dedicated to providing the absolute best quality, price and service possible. If you find better pricing elsewhere, we will do our best to more than match any competitor’s price on the exact same item. Don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@discountcompumemory.com.

OUR SERVICE PLEDGE TO YOU Top

We are committed to customer service and satisfaction. You can return any product we sell within thirty days for a full refund or exchange. Defective products can be returned for exchange only. If damage occurs to a memory module due to excessive heat damage (due to intentional or unintentional overclocking), an exchange will provided at the discretion of the manufacturer. If the item you purchased is returned unopened, no restocking fee will be applied. We offer free tech support on all the items we sell. We are committed to accurate pricing and accurate advertising. We make online order status and shipping tracking available to all our customers.

GENERAL WARRANTY CONDITIONS Top

Defective products will only be exchanged for like items. Non-defective items can be exchanged for up to 30 days from the original shipment date to the Buyer. After 30 days from the date of the purchase, Discount CompuMemory reserves the right to honor product warranty either by repair, replacement or referral to the Manufacturer. Return shipping costs is the sole responsibility of the Buyer, unless otherwise specified. Physical damage to a product voids any and all warranties on that product. Any claims for damages due to shipping must be made to Discount CompuMemory within three business days of receiving the product. See the Warranty page for more specific information.

COMMON MEMORY PROBLEMS Top

When you have problems with your computer’s memory, it is usually one of three things causing the problem:

  1. Wrong memory - You may have purchased the wrong type of memory for your computer.
  2. Improper Installation - You may have not seated the memory module into the socket correctly, the memory socket is bad, or the socket may need cleaning by using a PC vacuum or a compressed air can to remove the dirt and dust from the socket.
  3. Defective memory or system - The memory module you have may be defective or your system may have a slight or moderate problem that only comes to the surface when you try to change the configuration.

TROUBLESHOOTING MEMORY PROBLEMS Top

The following basic steps apply to almost all situations in working out issues with memory:

  1. Be sure you have the right memory part for your computer - You can determine the correct memory modules available for your system by checking the computer manual, your manufacturer’s Web site, or using our Memory Selector.

  2. Confirm that you have configured the memory correctly - Some computers require that you install memory in banks of two. Some computers require that you install the highest memory capacity module in the lowest labeled bank. Still other computers may require you to fill all the available sockets. Check your computer manual for details on installation of memory on your computer, or check your manufacturer’s Web site for user manuals or phone numbers that you can call to confirm the information specific to your system.

  3. Reinstall the memory module - Push the memory module firmly into the socket. In most cases, you should hear a click sound when the memory module is seated correctly in the socket. You may want to compare the height of the new memory module against the height of the memory in neighboring sockets.

  4. Clean the pins in the socket and the connecting leads of the memory module - Use a PC vacuum or compressed air can to clean the pins of the socket of dust and dirt. Use a soft cloth or pencil eraser to clean the connecting leads of both the existing memory modules and new memory modules.

  5. Swap modules - Remove the new memory module and reinstall the old memory to see if the problem disappears. Remove the old memory, again, and install the new memory to see if the problem reappears. Swapping memory modules reveals whether the problem is a specific memory module or memory socket, or whether the two types of memory are incompatible.

  6. Update the computer BIOS - Computer manufacturers update BIOS information frequently and these updates are always posted on their Web site. Make sure that you have the most recent version for your system. This is especially true when you have recently added new hardware, new software or new memory. Check your computer manual or manufacturer’s Web site for more information.