How Fast Will Your Computer Be?

pcworld.com

The economic principle I’m exploring is “Because of scarcity, people choose. All choices have an opportunity cost.”

My research question to help me study the economic principle is “What are your choices when it comes to memory and storage?”

The article published in Tech Guided titled “How to Choose RAM: 4 Things to Consider” demonstrates this economic principle by showing the opportunity cost of RAM and storage.

First, of course, what are you building? Different builds require different amounts of memory. If you’re building a simple house computer, nothing too special, you’re looking at around 6GB of memory. With 6GB, your computer can perform any basic function or task while being able to run low-end internet games. If you’re building a computer for gaming, you need 8GB of RAM minimum. My current gaming computer houses 8GB and it can run any game I want to play at a high frame rate, however, it cannot run most recent titles at max graphics while speeding 60+FPS. When it comes to high end gaming and design software, you’re probably going to need about 16GB minimum, but don’t be alarmed! RAM isn’t very expensive and you can accomplish this easily with just under $140.

Second, I want to talk about compatibility. Not all RAM is compatible with every system. First, DDR Generation. This is significant because if the generation of your RAM doesn’t match your motherboard, you won’t have a fitting stick. For example, according to Brent Hale, “DDR3 memory in a motherboard that has DDR4 DIMM slots and you can’t put DDR4 memory in a motherboard that has DDR3 DIMM slots.” Another thing to look out for is CPU Heatsinks. CPU coolers can be bulky, hanging over DIMM slots. These can prevent RAM kits with taller heat spreaders to be installed. The last thing you need to know is that there’s 2 different types of RAM form factor: DIMM and SO-DIMM. This basically means Desktop vs. Laptop. It’d be a silly mistake to buy memory for your laptop when you meant to buy some for your desktop.

Third, I want to talk about is your storage unit. This is where you’ll keep all your precious files and this is also the part that is mostly responsible for the boot time of your computer, it’s apps, games and files. The main choice to be made here is between HDD and SSD. HDD is the classic storage card, costing around $50-$60 for 1 Terabyte. The pros of an HDD is simple: they’re affordable, they have lots of space, and they get the job done. You don’t necessarily need an SSD, however, they do offer some unique traits. First, they usually hold less storage. Bad right? No. SSD’s are known for their ability to boot up your computer and load up all of its beautiful files at incredible speeds. This is exactly what you want if you’re going for anything more than a simple house computer. And if you’re on a budget but need to make an upgrade, this is the first thing I’d have to recommend to you. SSD’s are usually around $100, which isn’t much more than $50, giving you lots of bang for your buck.