How to Upgrade Your PC's RAM

(RAM)Random Access Memory. Adding RAM is often the most cost-effective upgrade you can make to speed up a sluggish computer. PCs that had more than enough RAM when they were new often have trouble keeping up with the demands of the latest programs after a few years. New operating systems almost always call for more memory, too. When a computer runs short of RAM, it's forced to swap the overflow data on and off of the hard drive, which can significantly slow performance.

Below, we'll tell you how to diagnose a memory shortage and what to do about it. To see how a RAM upgrade is done, check out our companion video.