What's inside your computer


Computers: Do You Need An Upgrade?

Have changing demands left youRAM- The easiest, surest way to speed up
unsatisfied with your computer'syour computer is to add more RAM. It
performance? An upgrade may be calledwill improve game play, and all graphics
for. But which should you get to fillapplications will work faster. Older
your needs?operating systems, like Windows 98SE,
Computer repair shops make their moneycan only accommodate up to 512MB. This
two ways: by selling their labor, andwon't be a problem with Windows 2000,
selling parts. The more parts theyXP, and Vista.
install, the more labor involved, theCPU- Surprisingly, it may not make as
more profit. Most are honest, but somemuch apparent difference as a RAM
will try to sell you things you don'tupgrade. It can help if you ask your
need. If you're going to have someonecomputer to do a lot of multitasking,
else do the work, it's best to have aand make a big difference if you do
specific task in mind when you approachspeed sensitive work like video
them.captures. A limiting factor will be its
Here are the five most common upgrades,socket type. You might already have the
and criteria for judging whether youfastest chip offered for that socket.
need them.



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