Orange County Register

A 1-GB stick of memory cost $68 a year ago. Now, it’s $14, according to Nam Hyung Kim, an analyst with researcher iSuppli Corp. That’s nearly 80 percent off!

Time to go shopping, eh? At home, my Gateway desktop needs more memory. I checked out Crucial.com’s memory-finder tool and it’s best deal is 4 GB of memory for $97. Why didn’t I upgrade sooner? A similar check with Fountain Valley’s Kingston Technology’s memory shop offers the same for $146 — so I advise checking around.

I explore the business angle a bit more in a story HERE.

I’ve put together this quick Memory Guide to offer tips on what the typical consumer needs to know.

Why upgrade? Computer memory, or RAM (Random Access Memory) can speed up your computer dramatically. This will save time so you’re not waiting and waiting for computer tasks to complete. Mark Leathem, director of marketing with memory giant Kingston Technology, recommends increasing memory by 2x to see a significant difference in performance.

Different types of memory. Typical computer memory is called DDR2, and it’s available in two frequencies: 667 megahertz and 800 MHz. The higher the frequency, the faster the performance. The next generation of DDR is available, called DDR3 and offering speeds up to 1333 MHz and targeting enthusiasts and gamers. But for typical computer users, you’ll want DDR2.

Figure out what memory your PC needs. Use an online memory configurator, available at sites such as Kingston.com, Crucial.com or virtually any other memory seller. These determine the best memory for you based on your computer brand and model. My favorite is Crucial’s, which offers a downloadable scanner. It scans your PC and tells you what memory already exists on your PC and what type you need to buy.

Buying memory. Check dealram.com, which pulls up prices by seller so it’s easy to spot the cheapest. If you want a brand name, visit the brands themselves, such as the aforementioned Kingston and Crucial. Most memory sellers also have a configurator. You can also check online stores, such as Other World Computing (for Macs) and NewEgg.com.

Installing memory. This to the scary part for some, but not that hard once you’ve tried it. Lots of helpful video and photo tutorials available online. Check out TigerDirect’s video on YouTube with how-to for desktops and laptops. Other sites include LifeHacker and eHow. For Macs, Apple has specific pages for MacBooks, MacBook Pros, etc.

Tip: Windows computers (including XP and Vista) may not use all the memory you install on it. Unless you have 64-bit Windows Vista, going above 4GB of memory could be a waste. Read Microsoft’s explanation HERE.

Other useful sties:

• Computer Memory Upgrade hosts a forum on upgrading memory in Dell, Gateway, HP and Compaq computers.
• C/NET’s guide to buying and understanding memory.
• Ultimate Memory Guide from Kingston Technology. Don’t miss its recommendations depending on your software.

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