Laptop PC RAM: Choosing Memory for Gaming Laptop Computers

Laptop PC RAM stands for Random Access Memory which gives the processor access to the information required to run programs on your gaming laptop computer. RAM is a temporary storage area in your gaming laptop that helps to determine how many programs you can run at the same time and how much data can be provided to each of those programs at any given time. In general the more memory you have the faster your gaming laptop will run and the more applications you can simultaneously have open. More laptop PC RAM will also allow your gaming laptop computer to efficiently run at the maximum resolution possible.

Laptop PC RAM is like a hard drive except it's much faster and only stores data temporarily. Programs on your gaming laptop are stored on your hard drive, but when an application is started it gets loaded to the RAM. If too many programs are loaded at once the RAM gets bogged down and the virtual memory in the hard drive kicks in to try and
support the overload. Hard drives are known for their storage capacity not their speed. You want your programs to run on laptop PC RAM and not the hard drive's virtual memory. To ensure this happens it is critical to choose the right amount of RAM for your gaming needs.

I would recommend buying a gaming laptop with at least 2 GB RAM. In terms of basic laptop computers, new laptops with 256 MB RAM are becoming a thing of the past. As technology improves and laptop prices continue to fall we will likely see 512 MB computers phased out as 1 GB becomes the standard minimum we see offered for new laptops. I have a laptop with 512 MB RAM that works great for web surfing and the minimal amount of file saving/downloading I do on it. If all you need is a basic wireless laptop that can efficiently perform simple tasks like web browsing, email checking, and downloading/storing a reasonable amount of files, then 512 MB will do just fine for you. However, if you're a serious gamer or will use your laptop computer to work on large files or with complex applications then you should consider upping your laptop PC RAM to at least 1-2 GB. You will be able to run more programs at the same time, enjoy better/smoother graphics, and work efficiently with large or complex projects related to business, school, or home finances. Here is a rough guide to how much memory you should consider for your laptop computer:

Web surfing, email, and basic word processing or spreadsheets: 512 MB or more laptop PC RAM

Large files(i.e. music or video) and complex productivity applications: 1GB or more laptop PC RAM

Video editing and digital image creation/editing: 2 GB or more laptop PC RAM

Serious video gaming w/ 3D graphics: 2 GB or more laptop PC RAM

Back to Gaming Laptop Buying Tips

Back to Best Gaming Laptops home page
Best Gaming Laptops
Gaming Laptops Blog - Visit Now
Search the Computer Deals Guide Network
Computer Trends
Monthly Newsletter
- New Laptop Technologies
- Computer Industry News
- Computer Price Trends
- Laptop Computer Deals
- Desktop Computer Deals
More feed reader options
Bookmark or share this page
Computer Trends E-Zine
Gaming Laptops RSS Feed
AddThis Feed Button
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
Email

Name

Then
Laptop PC RAM