Many of us have doubts in mind regarding the main performance booster for our system. Some say it is RAM while others vote for SSD.
Well, this not a confusing question as both these components help in our system performance in their own ways. Also, it is quite a difficult decision to think about which component to upgrade or Both the components need to be upgraded?
So, let me make it very clear that if you have RAM with less capacity in your system then there is no fun in having an SSD in your device. However, it totally depends upon the size and number of softwares you have in your system. These softwares occupy a certain amount of space on your RAM while operations.
SSD helps in boosting the overall performance of your PC by improving the read-write speed. It helps to open the software faster and load your OS within seconds. SSD consumes less power when compared to traditional mechanical hard drives and makes less noise.
When you plan to upgrade RAM and SSD drive at the same time, you can expect a boom in your system performance by more than 75%. Since RAM is in-directly connected to the CPU so the flow of processing will go through RAM while or from flowing to the storage drive.
If you are thinking about which one should be upgraded first and why then this article is surely for you. This article is going to be all about upgrading RAM and SSD for your system. Why should you upgrade RAM along with SSD? Stick to this article till the end as all your questions will be answered. Let’s start:
Importance Of RAM In Your PC And Functioning OF RAM
RAM(Random Access Memory) is short-term storage for applications so that they can be accessed quickly. The higher the number of applications running, the more the memory is required.
RAM is considered the most vital aspect of your computer in a matter of speed performance. And this consideration can be truly justified. RAM has a lot of impact on device performance. RAM of your computer is as important as Processor or Harddrive. The ability to run different types of apps at various instances is determined by RAM.
Computers with low RAM storage tend to get slower while running multiple apps at the same time. CPU and RAM work together in a computer. The higher amount of RAM is accessible to the CPU, the better is the performance.
In case you have an insufficient amount of RAM on your computer your CPU will have to work harder to process the data which has an adverse effect on the computer,s performance.
Having a Sufficient amount of RAM not only increases your device’s performance but also helps your PC in supporting heavy softwares. RAM provides enough storage room for the softwares to run smoothly. Your system can even crash while running high-end softwares if you have insufficient RAM. this issue is quite common among gamers.
If you are a normal user then you should have 8GB of RAM in your computer as it is the minimum recommendation for most applications. In case you are a regular gamer, streamer, or high-end power user then you can go for 16GB RAM too.No issues if you have 4GB ram in your computer, though it will work fine you cannot expect several applications to run at the same time and some big softwares might lag too.
Importance Of SSD And Functioning Of SSD In Your Computer
SSD(Solid State Drive) as we all know that is based on a flash storage device that has lightning-fast speed and boosts your device performance like never before. SSDs are costly and have a limited period of life depending upon the write cycles of cells. SSDs are quite different from the traditional hard drive but the function of both is the same.
HDDs store data on magnetic platters and they have magnetic disk spinning inside it while SSDs work on the principle of flash memory and no magnetic disk to access the data. This makes it quite easier for SSDs to access the data and also prevents overheating.
If you are opening software like photoshop on your PC with SSD then you will experience a 4 times more boost than HDD.
In the case of data fragmentation, there is a drastic decline in the read performance of Hard drives which is not seen in the case of SSDs.
However, SSDs have high costs as they are a new technology and available in small capacities. Since they use a flash storage mechanism their life cycle is also limited to ceratin write cycles. But the latest SSDs have come with a good solution of wear leveling which increases the life span of SSDs.
The functioning of SSDs is also quite simple as they have no spinning magnetic disk inside them. Instead, they use semiconductor chips for sending and receiving the data. The chips are further parted into blocks or pages where data is stored. Since it has no mechanical components there is no loss and data no wear and tear as well.
Depending upon your requirements, you can go for 256 GB or 512 GB SSD. I am having a 512 GB SSD and it works fine. One thing that is want to mention is that your operating system also occupies space on your SSD. Usually, Windows take 20GB and MAC OS occupies 35 GB approx.
Read: Ultimate SSD Buying Guide 2021
Why Should You upgrade RAM Along With SSD?
No doubt SSDs increase the Boot-time of your computer and prevent it from overheating and excessive weight of HDD. But it is a matter of fact that you will need a sufficient amount of RAM storage for good performance of your computer. If you are having a 3-4 Gb of RAM with 256 GB of SSD then you cannot expect your computer to deliver faster results.
Similarly, if you are having 16GB of RAM and 1TB HDD on your computer, you won’t get the expected performance as the Processing of files is not faster on HDD. So, this is quite understandable that both the components should be upgraded collectively
SSD is responsible for faster boot time and RAM helps you in running many applications at the same time with no glitch and lag. Though both are installed to deliver the smooth performance of the system they have different functions. SSD is a storage for all the files on your PC including the operating system and RAM is temporary storage for apps that can be accessed quickly during the functions. This increases the faster loading of multiple applications at the same point in time.
In Nutshell “SSD will keep all the important files ready within very short time frames and RAM will open more stuff at the same point of time.” Enough RAM storage also adds an enhanced web surfing experience if you open multiple tabs browsers. I hope you would be convinced that why you should upgrade RAM along with SSD.
Know more about the M.2 SSD Interface here.
Low On Budget? Which One To Upgrade First?
As already mentioned above, if you are thinking to upgrade these components then you should upgrade both at the same time. However, if you are low on budget and experience slow performance of your PC and want to select anyone out of RAM OR SSD. Then you should think wisely.
Since RAM is responsible for opening multiple softwares at the same time and is important too. And SSD is irresponsible for the overall functioning of your computer as all the files and applications are stored on SSD. RAM will solve your issue of lagging while switching top multiple files but SSD will be a better choice here as SSD will contribute to the better read-write time of files which results in faster boot time and opening files will be quick.
According to me “Upgrading to SSD first will be a better choice rather than upgrading RAM because SSD improves overall loading performance and consumes less power leading to longer battery life and less noise too.”
Since upgrading RAM is an economical option but is not much fruitful. You can make your decision accordingly but you should not forget that both the components need to upgrade. And if you are about to upgrade only one of them then SSD should be your priority.
Should You Go For Higher Frequency RAM Or High Storage RAM?
Upgrading your computer with faster components will always be a better option rather than buying a new computer. Because you will end up paying up extra for CPU cabins etc. Here we are talking of RAM. Whether you need More RAM or Faster RAM. Well, this competition can be clearly understood by the example of the Race between an elephant and a tiger. You will always support the faster one. I hope I have given you the answer.
The storage capacity of RAM is measured in MB, GB, Or TB. Users increase their RAM capacity to speed up their system’s performance and do it every time their PC becomes slower but there comes a point when this doesn’t work. This is where we need to understand quality RAM should be preferred over quantity.
The bandwidth of RAM is the amount of data that can travel to and from your memory stick. Bandwidth is directly affected by the Frequency of the RAM. So directly or indirectly Frequency of a RAM has an impact on data transfers. The frequency of RAM is measured in MHZ.
One more factor that you need to take care of is the Latency Of RAM. The latency of RAM refers to the time taken by RAM to respond to a request. Latency is seen in series of nos. Lower the nos., better the performance.
So, this needs no explanation that Higher frequency RAM will be faster in performance regardless of its storage capacity. Going for a RAM with the frequency of 2500mHZ or more with a suitable SSD will be a better option for you.
In terms of capacity. I won’t advise you to buy more than 8GB unless and until you use high-end softwares or demanding games. Almost all of the games run smoothly on 8GB RAM.
My recommendations for your next RAM and SSD upgrade?
Note: I am not taking gamers, professional programmers, and other hardcore computer users in my considerations. But, if you use your laptop or desktop PC for word processing, photo editing, studying, teaching, media consumption, or low-end video editing, below are my suggestions for you.
The processor obviously is the main thing but even an Intel Celeron, Pentium, AMD 3 series, or AMD Athlon series will give you great results if you equip your motherboard with these two important hardware components which most of people are ignoring.
Good News: Some systems can work so efficiently with this upgrade that you may cancel your plan to buy a new laptop or desktop. The satisfaction of SSD installation starts appearing from the first day and the first boot.
RAM: 4GB Minimum (8GB Recommended) (>2500MHz)
SSD: SATA SSD (>128GB), PCIe NVMe SSD if your motherboard support
Note: In order to make the most out of your SSD, you will have to make it your boot drive. The problem mostly arises with the NVMe SSDs because various old motherboard BIOS (UEFI) may not support an NVMe drive as a boot drive. You can read this article where I have discussed everything about the M.2 SATA and M.2 NVMe SSD.
Note: Before making a purchase, make sure to confirm whether your motherboard can support a fast RAM and an SSD.
Results you can expect with an SSD and RAM Upgrade?
If you are a normal user, a 4GB RAM with even a 5200RPM mechanical hard disk is enough. But, if you want your system to work with any productivity software such as MS Office, Photoshop, or a video editor like Premiere Pro, your system must be equipped with a faster RAM and at least a SATA SSD. So, if you buy these two components which I have discussed above, you will be able to use most of the popular productivity and creativity software without any hassle.
I would suggest you checking the system requirement pages of any software you want to use in your system. However, I am capable of Adobe Illustrator and even Premiere Pro (1080p editing) in my HP laptop with i3 processor, 4GB DDR4 (2400 MHz), and 500GB M.2 SATA SSD.
The Conclusion
Finally guys I think I have answered all the questions that you were having in your minds regarding the up-gradation of RAM along with SSD. This can be concluded that upgrading any one of them can give you a partial boost in performance but not in overall performance. You can choose to upgrade any one component earlier but you will have to upgrade both of them by the time to experience a seamless experience.
I already had an 8GB RAM laptop with HDD but I have experienced a boost in my PC performance after I switched to SSD. You will experience 10 times the speed in loading time of your PC and I am not kidding here. In case you have doubts in your mind then you can ask me in the comments section. I will be glad to help you.
Also Read: Best SSD for Upgrading your laptop in 2022
