Learning about the Memory Module 

Sometimes the technical aspects of a machine or piece of electronics are not quite comprehensible to those that are not technically gifted or have an active interest. It is just more information to try to remember. But when it becomes an issue that we need to deal with, every bit of information is helpful to helping us understand what is happening. You may not know much about how your memory module works with your Mac or PC memory and you may not need to at this point, but it is a vital component to making your computer run smoothly.

The memory is expressed in terms of DIMM and SIMM. A DIMM module stands for Dual In Line Memory Module and a SIMM is a Single. The memory is used by the Central Processing Unit, or CPU, and is how the computer processes information and how it stores the information. The faster it can access information in the cache or storage memory, the faster your unit will run.
The DIMM is used for a RAM, or a Random Access Memory upgrade. Desktop computers and notebooks need this RAM and is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to increase your memory. But you will need to know a few things before you can do the upgrade. First, a SIMM uses a 32 bit data path, whereas a DIMM uses a 64 bit data path. Initially, the DIMM is still the faster unit to have running.

If you are looking to replace the DIMM, then you need to know what you are currently using. You will have to add up your memory capacity by counting groups of chips. Chips are measured in bits so you will have to do a little math. The convert bits into bytes, the formula is the number of bits divided by 8 bytes. The resulting number is the amount of mega bytes that you are currently using.

Once you know the terms and understand how important a memory module is to how your computer runs, it is time to go find new chips or mother boards. You can stack the chips and boards to create a faster running machine. If you find that you cannot do this or do not know where to begin, then you can take your computer into a repair shop where they can perform the upgrades for you.