Computer memory refers to random access memory (RAM), which is the temporary storage space for computers to run programs and is one of the important indicators of computer performance. When we open a software or game, the computer will load the relevant data and ** into memory for fast reading and execution. However, if we open too many programs, or if the program itself occupies too much memory, it will lead to a situation of insufficient memory, which is what we often call "stuck" or "frozen".
So, what should I do if my computer is running out of memory?Is there any way to free up memory and make your computer run faster?In this article, we'll show you four ways to free up memory to make your computer faster and smoother.
This is the easiest and most straightforward way to do this, which is to close the programs and processes that we don't need, thus reducing the memory footprint. We can view and manage our programs and processes through the task manager. Task Manager is a built-in tool that can display the current resource usage of our computer, including CPU, memory, hard disk, network, etc. We can open the Task Manager by following these steps:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Ctrl + Alt + Delete, and then select Task Manager
Or right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.
In the Task Manager, we can switch to the Processes tab to see all the processes we are currently running, and how much memory they are using. We can sort by the order of memory usage from highest to lowest to find out which processes are taking up the most memory. Then, we can select unnecessary processes according to our needs, and then click [End Task] to close them and free up memory.
It should be noted that some processes are part of the system or other important programs and should not be shut down at will, otherwise it may cause the system or program to crash. In general, we can judge what the process does based on its name and description, and if we are unsure, we can search for it on the Internet or consult a professional. In addition, some processes are hidden and need to be clicked on Details to be seen, and these processes are generally not recommended to be closed unless you know what you are doing.
If our computer itself has a relatively small amount of physical memory, such as only 2GB or 4GB, then even if we close unnecessary programs and processes, it may still not be enough, especially if we are running some large software or games. At this time, we need to consider increasing our physical memory, that is, adding memory modules to the computer.
A memory module is a pluggable hardware device that provides additional memory space for a computer. In general, we can find slots for memory modules on the motherboard of the computer, and if there are free slots, we can insert new ones, thus increasing the memory capacity. However, when we buy and install memory modules, we need to pay attention to the following:
We need to choose the appropriate type of memory module according to our computer model and motherboard specifications, such as DDR3 or DDR4, not mixed or misused, otherwise it may cause compatibility problems or damage the device;
We need to choose the appropriate memory module capacity and frequency according to our computer performance and needs, generally speaking, the larger the capacity, the higher the frequency, the better the performance, but also the more expensive, and some computers have a maximum memory capacity limit, can not exceed a certain value, otherwise it may be wasted or unrecognized;
We need to choose the appropriate shape and size of the memory module according to the structure and design of our computer, such as long or short strips, thickness or thinness, otherwise it may not be installed or affect the heat dissipation
We need to pay attention to disconnect the power supply when installing the memory module, prevent static electricity, carefully disassemble and install, avoid damage or mislocation, if you are unsure, you can consult a professional or refer to the manual.
If our computer does not have a spare memory slot, or we do not want to spend money on buying and installing new ones, then we can also solve the problem of running out of memory by adjusting the virtual memory. Virtual memory means that the system uses a part of the space on the hard disk as memory, when the physical memory is not enough, the system will automatically transfer some infrequently used data and ** from the physical memory to the virtual memory, thereby freeing up the physical memory space. We can adjust the virtual memory by following these steps:
Right-click This PC, select Properties, and then select Advanced System Settings on the left
In the System Properties window, click Advanced, and then click Settings
In the performance options, select Advanced, and then click Change
In the virtual memory window, uncheck Automatically manage paging file sizes for all drives, then select a drive letter, such as C drive, then check Custom size, then enter the initial size and maximum value, and finally click OK.
It should be noted that the size of virtual memory should not exceed twice the size of physical memory, otherwise it may cause the system to run slower, because the read and write speed of the hard disk is much lower than the read and write speed of the memory, so virtual memory is only a stopgap measure and cannot completely replace physical memory. Also, the size of the virtual memory should not be too small, otherwise it may cause system instability or error messages.
In addition to the above three methods, we can also use some professional memory cleaning software to help us release memory automatically or manually to improve the running speed of the computer. These software are generally available online for free** or paid for and installed to use. Their function and principle are roughly the same, which is to scan and analyze our computer memory to find out those unnecessary or redundant data and **, and then clear them, so as to free up memory space.