Research Reveals Percentage of Computer Users Afraid of Computer Memory Upgrades

Research released today by a British firm has revealed some shocking computer habits that could help to explain why you’ve been delaying upgrading your computer memory.

According to the survey of 1000 computer owners between the ages of 16 and 70 years old, more than half run their antivirus software in order to find a solution to a slow computer problem. Another 39% admitted to being reluctant to go under the cover of their machine and perform a PC memory or Apple memory upgrade. Just under half (49%) were also unaware of how much RAM their computer had and were fearful of damaging the machine if they tried to install components such as memory themselves.

Despite this reluctance to use available hardware to improve machine performance, the majority of computer owners wait five years on average before buying a new machine the survey reports. Potentially, this means a large proportion of those using PCs or Apples struggle with a machine that is not fast enough to be used enjoyably for years before deciding to upgrade to a newer model.

Data Memory Systems the PC and Apple memory specialists are surprised by these statistics. They point out how easy it to perform a DIY memory upgrade. Justin Briere, Senior Account Manager at the Salem, New Hampshire firm says, “Upgrading a computer’s memory capacity is actually a lot easier than it sounds. I think many are put off thinking you need to be very technology and computer savvy to do something so complicated but it really is a case of choosing the right chip and then following a series of basic instructions. Installing a new PC memory chip can take less than 30 mins to complete.

“While it’s true that there are hundreds of possible brands and sizes of memory available, we have made it easy to buy the right one with an exhaustive list of PC models and their compatible memory upgrades. Simply select your machine from a list and our interface will sort available products into suitable components.”

One of the most surprising aspects of the research is perhaps the willingness of users to suffer with a sub-par performance for years before finally giving in and buying a newer model. Upgrading an existing computer or Mac’s memory size can make an immediate difference and with PC memory prices starting from under $20 it’s a much more economical way to improve day to day computing.

Mr Briere added, “We would encourage any computer user not to be afraid of upgrading their machine. It’s much cheaper to add a new memory chip than buy a whole new desktop or laptop and it’s a very straightforward procedure to accomplish.”

To keep up to date with computer memory technology and to buy apple and PC memory upgrades securely online, visit http://www.datamemorysystems.com

Don’t Be Beaten By iMac 2011 Hard Drive Upgrade Problems

If you have a recent iMac model, performing an Apple Hard Drive Upgrade may be the last thing on your mind. However, if you anticipate wanting to ramp up performance in future, it’s time to start reading up on what to do and what not to do as increasing numbers of Apple users around the world are complaining that Apple has made it difficult for their machines to be upgraded.

While the newer iMacs are considered to have a lot going for them, with lots of great user features, functionality and reliability, the manufacturer has made hard drive upgrades much more difficult than on previous iMac models.

The first problem those wishing to add a bigger drive will come across is how to safely remove the LCD and glass panel protecting the monitor area of the machine. The process can be a lengthy one so it’s important to invest in the right tools for the job. Having purchased what you believed to be the required SATA hard drive, you’ll also need to add suction cups and Torx wrenches.

Place the suction cups on the glass and gently pull to remove. Having set aside (place on a protective surface such as a blanket so as not to scratch the glass while it is left to one side), use the wrench to unscrew the LCD panel. Be sure to place the eight screws in a safe place – they are small and so easy to lose but, difficult to replace. They are best stored in a jar with a lid or even placed in an envelope so that all the screws are stored together ready for reuse when the drive upgrade has been performed.

Carefully lift the LCD screen away from its moorings, creating just enough space to reach a hand through and detach each of the four cables that anchor the screen in place. Avoid pulling the LCD up completely and stretching the cables as this will cause additional problems and may damage other components such as the motherboard.

When the four cables have been detached, you can safely lift the LCD off the base unit and should now be able to see the motherboard and hard drive along with other internal components.

Having reached this stage, a second challenge faces those keen to add a new hard drive to their iMac. Reports suggest that 2011 iMacs have different boot drives to those used on previous incarnations with new firmware that tracks how hot or cold the drive is. Without the firmware, the machine is unable to monitor drive temperature so runs its fan at maximum as a precaution which makes for noisy computing when the machine is put back together with its new components installed.

Fan control software is available for those installing a new hard drive and wanting to control fan speed to reduce machine noise.

Those planning to step up their upgrades and install a new hard drive may also find that the machine fails the Apple Hardware Test. As this test is used by the manufacturer’s certified repair technicians, there is a possibility that some system errors will no longer be covered by the iMac warranty.

For those who wish to upgrade their iMac, there are a few options despite these hurdles – either increase storage capacity by purchasing an external hard drive or USB flash drive or you can always add more memory. This will not expand your storage capabilities but it will give you a boost in speed. A resolution to this problem can not be far. There is always a way and we will bring it to you once we have one.

To keep up to date with computer memory technology and to buy apple and PC memory upgrades securely online, visit http://www.datamemorysystems.com

Will we soon need to password protect our computer memory?

Identity theft is the fastest growing form of fraud in the United States with an estimated 9.9 million Americans falling prey in 2008 – an increase of 22% on the previous year – according to figures released by a Congressional Research Service report into trends and issues relating to identity theft.

Online identity theft has been highlighted as a growing problem and is a key area for concern when consumers make online purchases and use services such as internet banking. While secure password encryption and data protection procedures make online shopping and online banking safe in the majority of cases, new types of computer memory currently under development in labs around the country are raising lots of interesting questions about data storage and whether or not password protection will be required for those upgrading computer memory capabilities in future.

Currently, RAM memory does not store data when the computer is turned off. So however many times you enter your credit card information or personal details such as name, date of birth, social security number, telephone number or address, the information is not stored when the computer is turned off.

However, researchers are working on many new types of memory including non volatile main memory as a means of speeding up how long it takes the computer to turn on and increasing how much apple memory or PC memory fits in to a machine. These next generation computers could soon be a reality if research into developments such as phase changing memory continues apace as it has done in recent months. Although these super charged new memory forms are excellent news for computer users who want an altogether more streamlined performance from their machine, the possibility of RAM that retains its memory also poses a number of security questions.

The new forms of non volatile main memory (NVMM) will retain information such as credit card numbers in theory for years after the computer has been switched off. This becomes an issue for those wary of identity theft as a stolen computer could yield all of the tools needed for the thief to assume the role of the original PC owner. Access to other sensitive information such as invoices, business proposals and contracts between consumer and supplier could also be compromised.

One group of researchers at NC State have been tackling this very problem and brainstorming ways to make new generation computer memory totally secure. They have developed a hardware encryption system, called i-NVMM that determines what information is and isn’t needed by the processor, encrypting data that isn’t needed to make i-NVMM extremely secure.

To keep up to date with computer memory technology and to buy apple and PC memory upgrades securely online, visit http://www.datamemorysystems.com