Video Editing Computer RAM:
How to Upgrade Your RAM!
Wondering if your video editing computer RAM needs an upgrade…? Running more powerful programs and your computer is now starting to slow down?
Here's what you should know...!
How Do You Know When It's Time for a Physical Memory (RAM) Upgrade for Your Computer?
There are several signs to look for that indicate it may be time to upgrade the amount of your Physical Memory (RAM) on your editing computer...
Some of them are...
- If you see your mouse pointer turn into an hourglass for significant periods of time.
- If your computer seems to work more slowly than you expect...the reason is probably insufficient Physical Memory.
What Are the Benefits of Upgrading Your Video Editing Computer RAM?
Upgrading your video editing computer RAM is typically the easiest and least expensive way to upgrade your computer for a significant boost in performance!
The computer's Physical Memory is its "workspace" or where all of the instructions it needs to act on are stored temporarily.
Think of the Physical Memory as the "desk" you use to sort through your work.
If the size of that desk is small... your efficiency is limited in comparison to a larger desk that allows you to work more effectively and efficiently.
Similarly... a computer with more
Physical Memory (RAM) can work more efficiently because it does not need
to retrieve information from the hard disk drive as often.
A Physical Memory upgrade is particularly helpful for users who...
- Work with large files,
- Have more than one program open at one time, or...
- Use memory-intensive applications such as games or graphics and especially video editing software programs.
Picking the Right Type of Physical Memory (RAM) for Your Computer…
There are many types of Physical Memory (RAM) on the market... but... You only need to worry about getting the type that's compatible with your computer’s motherboard.
It's a little confusing sometimes... But the bottom line is to make sure you find out what type of Physical Memory your video editing computer requires. The best way to find out the right type of Physical Memory to buy is...
- Check in your motherboard's user's manual or search on the Internet using the motherboard's specifications to see what type of RAM is required.
- Check the Web site of the company you purchased your computer from as they may have the computer RAM specs online.
* It's important to get the right type of high-quality video editing computer RAM as you don't want to have mysterious crashes, computer slowdowns, or (if you are upgrading) no improvement in performance due to non-compatible or low-quality RAM.
When Buying Computer RAM... Don't Skimp on Quality!
While it's in your best interest to shop around for the best price on RAM, don't skimp on quality!
Get Grade A memory only! It’s amazing how many PC crashes can be attributed to "cheap" (low quality) Physical Memory. With cheap memory there can be minute timing differences as well as small incompatibilities between systems.
Mysterious crashes are many times due to poor quality Memory modules which are prone to electrical fluctuations which cause them to not meet timing specifications. They sometimes very quickly cross the border into being out of range as they age a bit.
* So... always try to buy the best quality RAM that you can get! You would hate to lose a project that you've been working on for hours just because your computer crashed due to cheap memory!
What Size of Physical Memory Module Should You Buy?
Always try to buy the largest single stick of Physical Memory that you can that's within your budget.
For instance... You have the choice of buying two 1 GB (Gigabyte) sticks or one 2 GB stick.
- The 1 GB sticks may be a few dollars cheaper, but what happens if you want to add more Physical Memory later?
You'll be out of slots!
- If you have two Physical Memory slots...buy your Physical Memory in 2 GB or larger sizes.
However... if the motherboard on your video editing computer has three or four memory slots you can get away with one gigabyte sticks of Physical Memory.
* But just remember (smile)… You'll probably want more RAM later if your computer can handle it! In a video editing computer the more RAM the better!
Adding Physical Memory… Memory Requirements for Video Editing…
Video Editing
"Golden Rule"
Install as much physical memory in your computer as the motherboard and your operating system will allow...!
Wondering if you need to upgrade your system Physical Memory (RAM) for your video editing computer and add more?
I'll make it easy for you... If you have 4 GB or less on your MAC or PC... Add more... Much more!
And... that's without even considering the video editing requirements!
For example... Microsoft Windows XP needs 1 GB of Physical Memory just to “breathe” as a system...
Windows 7 needs at least 2 GB and should have 4 GB... And once you start loading up several applications the system becomes very hungry for more memory.
- 8 GB of Physical Memory is a good starting point for a video editing computer if your computer operating system will support it.
- 16 – 32 GB or more is best if your operating system supports it, as it will allow you to have multiple applications open and still allow everything to remain responsive and fast.
Just remember... The video editing process is one of the most demanding tasks for a modern video editing computer system to accomplish... Even more demanding on a computer than running the latest video games!!
* Make sure that you have more than enough video editing computer Physical Memory (RAM)... So that your computer is fast and powerful enough to run your favorite video editing software with ease!
If you’re going to build a reliable computer that can handle the heavy load that video editing will place on it…
You must get to know a little something about the computer's...Random Access Memory (RAM).
Or your editing computer will be slow…! And you don't want that…!!
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Have fun...! Dan (Editor) |
