What Is RAM?
When your small business computer runs an application— including the operating system (OS)—or opens files, the processor is accessing data. The data it needs is temporarily stored in RAM for quick access. RAM is, in essence, your computer’s short-term memory. That’s why RAM is also sometimes referred to as PC memory or, simply, memory.
Modern OSs and applications are designed to use as much RAM as is available to optimize performance and responsiveness.
The more RAM a small business desktop, laptop, or 2-in-1 device has, the more data it can manage at any given time and the smoother the user experience. Think of RAM as a workspace: A giant workbench makes working on simultaneous projects of various sizes easier than a tiny tray.
Inside your computer, RAM typically comes in the form of a rectangular flat circuit board with memory chips attached, also called a memory module. Computers typically come with at least two RAM modules with room to add more if needed.
What Is a Processor?
The processor—also called the central processing unit or CPU—is the brain of your computer. It’s a complex and powerful piece of hardware designed to coordinate all the computing activities needed for operation. This includes executing program instructions it retrieves from the RAM and performing calculations, often at the scale of billions of actions each second.
When you’re using software, running business applications, or using a computer or laptop for just about any kind of work, the processor performs the complex tasks needed to deliver the resulting user experience. Not surprisingly, the more powerful your processor is, the faster your computer can complete its tasks.
Something known as clock speed measures the number of cycles your CPU executes per second in GHz (gigahertz). A cycle is the basic unit that measures a CPU’s speed. During each cycle, billions of transistors within the processor open and close. This is how the CPU executes the calculations contained in the instructions it receives.
When considering a new computer, it’s important to know that modern processors are designed with specific purposes in mind—some optimized for high performance, others for energy efficiency, and increasingly, processors specifically engineered to handle specialized workloads like artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Benefits of RAM and Processors
RAM and processors have distinct benefits that affect computer speed and responsiveness.
Benefits of RAM: Short-Term Memory for Smoother Performance
RAM temporarily stores all the information your processor needs to complete tasks, from running the OS to launching a web browser or rendering a 3D model. The higher your computer’s RAM capacity, the more simultaneous tasks your computer processor can perform, the faster it can do them, and the smoother your experience will be.
Here are four benefits of having an ideal amount of RAM:
- Faster system performance: Applications and files load and run more quickly, resulting in a more responsive system that helps increase productivity.
- Multitasking capability: You can use multiple programs simultaneously, have multiple browser tabs open at the same time, and quickly switch between programs.
- Improved software compatibility: Modern applications and updates that require significant memory operate smoothly without hiccups.
- Fewer critical interruptions: Computers with sufficient RAM experience less lag and fewer freezes and crashes because the processor can keep up with demands by quickly accessing all the data it needs when it needs it.
Benefits of Processors: The Decision-Makers That Drive Performance
Your computer’s processor is where decisions are made. While reading instructions, performing calculations, and managing data flow, the processor actively determines how quickly applications respond to your commands. Moreover, modern CPUs contain multiple cores that function as independent processing units, so your computer can tackle multiple tasks simultaneously. Accordingly, processor speed is directly connected to system performance.
Here are four benefits of processors right-sized for how you use your computer:
- Faster processing: Processors matched to your use cases can complete tasks faster without waiting for resources to be available, helping to reduce delays and improve efficiency.
- Better multitasking: Faster processing allows the computer to complete concurrent operations more effectively.
- Faster data analysis: With a faster processor, business computers can quickly process large datasets and complex calculations.
- Improved energy efficiency: New processors use less power, helping to reduce costs and extend laptop battery life.
Challenges of Insufficient RAM or Processor Power
Both insufficient RAM and processor power can cause a computer to respond slowly or even to crash, impacting your team’s productivity and workflow.
Common Challenges of Insufficient RAM
- Reduced productivity: RAM is used to run multiple applications and tasks simultaneously. Insufficient RAM to support workloads can cause a lagging experience or result in a freeze or crash.
- Incompatibility: Robust software like video editing programs may require a certain amount of RAM to run. Not having the minimum RAM will prevent you from launching the application, and insufficient RAM will cause the program to run slowly.
- Customer service delays and frustration: Lagging or nonresponsive computers used to power customer-facing experiences, such as checkout in a retail store or an inventory search, can cause customer frustration or reduced satisfaction or even prevent a sale.
Common Challenges of Insufficient Processing Power
- Long waits: If the processor in your small business computer isn’t up to modern standards, everyday tasks will take longer, limiting productivity.
- Suboptimal software performance: Insufficient processing power can cause slow response times from resource-intensive business software, like accounting, design, and CRM programs or AI-assisted tools.
- Inability to efficiently multitask: Your computer relies on the CPU to power basic operations and each application you use. Insufficient processor power can result in substantial lag, a fragmented experience, or unexpected closures, reducing the number of applications you choose to run at the same time.
RAM vs. Processor Use Cases
As you evaluate whether to buy new small business computers for your organization, consider how your team uses computers, keeping in mind the types of work you do and the RAM and processing power they demand.
Business Tasks That Require the Most RAM:
- Running queries or reports across large customer databases
- Complex spreadsheet analysis
- Running multiple operating systems at the same time
- Graphic design and video editing
- Multiple browser instances with numerous tabs
Business Tasks That Require the Most Processing Power:
- Video rendering and encoding
- 3D modeling and CAD work
- Data analysis and machine learning
- Software development and compilation
- Real-time financial trading platforms
How Computer Age Impacts Productivity
Decades of computer shopping have led many people to believe that more RAM is the ultimate solution for improving PC performance. While it’s undoubtedly important, it’s not the only solution for better performance, or even necessarily the right one, depending on your needs.
An older computer that’s several years old takes extra time to boot up, load web pages, and run programs, which can have a surprising impact on your bottom line in lost employee productivity. Beyond lost productivity, a slower computer often frustrates your employees, making your hardware investment as much of an employee retention issue as a technology issue.
Future-Proofing Your Business: How to Know If It’s Time to Upgrade
As small business computing needs evolve, you will need to continually evaluate your computers’ RAM and processor capabilities to ensure they can support business tasks in the near and long-term future.
There are several signs that may indicate your RAM or processor is not up to the tasks you demand of them:
- You see that your PC uses more than 80 percent of its RAM frequently, or your CPU usage consistently spikes to 100 percent during regular tasks.
- Files open very slowly, especially large files, and calculations or processing operations take excessive time to complete.
- Your computer frequently crashes and/or your apps often freeze when performing processor-intensive tasks or when multiple applications are running.
- Apps and websites open very slowly, with noticeable lag between clicking and seeing results.
- Opening multiple apps causes a big drop in performance, or multitasking becomes nearly impossible without significant slowdowns.
- You receive a message that your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements while trying to install an application due to RAM limitations or processor specifications.
While you may consider adding RAM or replacing your processor to combat some challenges, a purpose-built balanced system—where enhanced RAM and advanced processors work together—can substantively improve your team’s productivity and avoid unexpected compatibility issues. Upgrading to a new modern device will also help improve PC security protections, give your teams access to new experiences and tools, including those enhanced by AI, and set your business up for future computing needs.