The system memory
or system RAM is the place where the computer holds the current programs and data that are
in use. When you click an item on the desktop or from the start menu in Windows that
program is taken from the hard disk and loaded into "memory". The term
"memory" is somewhat vague for it can refer to many different parts of the PC
because there are so many different kinds of memory that a PC uses. For the most part
though, we generally refer to memory or RAM as the part of the system that holds the
instructions that the processor executes and the data that those instructions work with.
Your system memory together with the processor, cache, motherboard and chipset make up the
main processing system of your PC.
System memory is a major
player in your system's performance. The amount and type of system memory you have is a
primary provisional factor to overall system performance. In many ways, it is even more
important than the processor, due to the fact that lack of sufficient memory can cause a
processor to work significantly below its performance potential.
Newer programs require ever-greater memory than old ones did.
Having sufficient memory gives you access to programs that you cannot use with a lesser
amount.
Making sure you have the sufficient quantity and quality of
system memory will assure you a PC that runs smoothly with fewer problems.
IMPORTANT! - Even high-quality memory will not work well if you use the wrong
kind.
There is a myriad of different types of memory
available, and some are more universal than others. Making the right choice will allow you
to continue to use it even after you upgrade your motherboard.
We at MediaTek have set aside this area to characterize various aspects of the system
memory, including how your system memory works, the various kinds of memory available, as
well as details on how to determine what type of memory works in different kinds of PCs.