| Have changing demands left you | | | | RAM- The easiest, surest way to speed up |
| unsatisfied with your computer's | | | | your computer is to add more RAM. It |
| performance? An upgrade may be called | | | | will improve game play, and all graphics |
| for. But which should you get to fill | | | | applications will work faster. Older |
| your needs? | | | | operating systems, like Windows 98SE, |
| Computer repair shops make their money | | | | can only accommodate up to 512MB. This |
| two ways: by selling their labor, and | | | | won't be a problem with Windows 2000, |
| selling parts. The more parts they | | | | XP, and Vista. |
| install, the more labor involved, the | | | | CPU- Surprisingly, it may not make as |
| more profit. Most are honest, but some | | | | much apparent difference as a RAM |
| will try to sell you things you don't | | | | upgrade. It can help if you ask your |
| need. If you're going to have someone | | | | computer to do a lot of multitasking, |
| else do the work, it's best to have a | | | | and make a big difference if you do |
| specific task in mind when you approach | | | | speed 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 you | | | | fastest chip offered for that socket. |
| need them. | | | | |