Random access memory (RAM) is like your computer's short term memory. Learn how RAM affects the speed and performance of your PC, as well as how much memory you might need for different tasks.

• RAM is faster than disks at reading and writing information.

• The more memory your device has, the more it can do at the same time without slowdowns in performance.

• If you primarily browse the web, work on documents, or stream videos online, aim for at least 4 GB of memory.

• 8 GB of memory is recommended to keep your device running long term.

• If you do photo and video editing or work on projects needing high performance, 16 GB or more of memory may be a good fit for your needs.