However, if your computer is freezing semi-regularly, you may be short on RAM - especially if it happens during memory-intensive gaming or using multiple applications simultaneously. Having an application freeze once in a blue moon isn’t a big deal. If you feel like your device isn’t as efficient when running different apps at the same time, you may be suffering from a RAM shortage. RAM is much faster than your hard drive, so your computer slows down when this happens. RAM is what your computer uses to rapidly process functions, so it may eventually have to utilize your SSD for some of its processing power. There are plenty of other ways that a low amount of RAM can disable your computer even if you don’t get the ever-feared BSOD, though. When you don’t have enough RAM to execute ongoing processes, you’ll trigger a Kernel Panic Screen (the Mac equivalent of the blue screen of death), which will shut down all processes and display a blue screen with white text. Get The Shred Cube What Does a Shortage of Mac RAM Look Like? The Shred Cube wipes your unwanted computer files, that you choose, in minutes. In contrast, RAM stores data that is currently being utilized for ongoing processes and applications.Ĭlean Your Computer in Minutes, not hours. Hard drives, which are sequential, offer the ability to store data even when the computer is off and not currently running processes.

It operates on random access memory as opposed to sequential memory. RAM is typically stored in memory modules that are socketed to your motherboard - giving them a rapid pathway to the “brains” of your computer - your CPU. It’s responsible for rapidly handling immediate tasks, and is much faster than traditional hard drive space. If your hard drive is a long-term memory solution where you store files and folders, then RAM is short-term memory. RAM is temporary data storage that your computer uses to execute programs and process applications. Unlike Windows 10 computers, it’s difficult to upgrade the RAM on your Mac.īut, before you go out and buy a brand-new computer, here are some steps you can take to free up some precious RAM. Old files and cluttered caches can eat away at it over time, causing your computer to slow down significantly. Most Mac computers ship with around 8 GB of RAM. Is your Mac slow? Are you suffering from freezes, crashes, reboots, or lag? Your random access memory (RAM) may be to blame.

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