In the tech tip from October 2014, Is It Time to Update Your Video Card?, we discussed updating your video card. Now let’s talk about how to know whether your DAT/EM workstation needs more RAM (Random Access Memory, or physical memory).

In your Windows Start search field, key in “System Information” or select the Summit > Help > About > System Info button. Look at the “Installed Physical Memory (RAM)” display.

DAT/EM’s current recommendation is 32 GB or more RAM. You can check DAT/EM’s recommendations any time on the DAT/EM Configurations Page.

DAT/EM Support is pretty sure little Oliver wanted more RAM sticks, not soup.

There are several reasons why DAT/EM workstations need adequate RAM:

• To run programs like Summit, Landscape, and CAD/GIS at the same time.
• To load large terrain files without crashing.
• Computers that are low on RAM operate very slowly. All those unproductive seconds and minutes add up to financial losses that cost more than additional RAM.
• People who wait for their computer a lot have higher blood pressure. (All right, we admit it, DAT/EM Support made up that statistic, but we think it’s true!)

A healthy diet, exercise, and enough RAM = good?

How do you purchase more RAM? Here are a few beginner’s hints:

• RAM is not generic. You must order the right kind of RAM for your particular computer.

• Check with your computer’s manufacturer for what kind of RAM the computer model needs.
• Beware! There are plenty of internet services that may offer to help you, but some of these are a bad security risk! Please don’t allow any of these free services to scan your computer. Checking with the manufacturer is always the best method.

By Alissa Oder, Oliver’s value-added graphic by Jennifer Dowling