How do I know if I need more memory (RAM)?

In OS X, your computer allocates RAM (random access memory) to applications and processes automatically. If you use memory intensive applications (i.e. games, video or graphics editors) or you just like to have a lot of applications open at once, you may want to upgrade your memory. Also if your computer seems to be running slowly or hanging with a spinning beach ball regularly, you may need more memory. Tekserve's RAM guide lists our suggestions for different types of Mac users.

One way to check if you need more RAM, is to go to Macintosh HD/Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor. Select the System Memory tab and watch the graph as you work (see picture below). If you have enough memory, the pie chart should continue to have chunks of green (free memory) or blue (inactive memory) throughout your tasks. If the pie chart fills up with red (wired memory) and yellow (active memory) your computer is probably being slowed down because it is using all the memory available. While in Activity Monitor, also look down at the bottom where it says Page ins/out. If the outs are growing, you need more RAM. For more tactics to help speed up your Mac, read "My applications run really slowly."

Tekserve can install more memory in your computer while you wait. Of course Tekserve RAM meets or exceeds all Apple specifications and comes with our lifetime immediate replacement warranty.

Published March 24, 2009 12:00 PM
Last modified on June 16, 2009 5:21 PM