Can you speed up computer by adding more RAM?

 zh  <-- 萌萌哒！换去华语！

 This is part of the "7 common misconception about computing" week series. 

Sometimes your computer runs pretty slow, then you realized that your RAM are completely used up. You may think that upgrading from a 4 GB to a 16 GB computer would be really useful to you, right? Actually it depends on how you use your computer.

Almost 10 GB RAM usage

Firstly, what is the main purpose of RAM? RAM is called Random Access Memory, computer softwares use them as temporary storage for file and processes so the program could access them immediately when required. Usually modern operating systems will free up the RAM when a program needs more, or move some other files to another temporary storage called Page File.

Now, ask yourself what kind of job are you doing using the computer. Surf web? Office jobs? Or video rendering?

Usually, for user that browse web for information or use computer for office need, you don't need RAM more than 4 GB. For gamers that play games like GTA 5 or Battlefield 4, you would need no more than 8 GB. If you use computer for video editing or graphic design, you still don't need more than 8 GB either, 16 GB don't give much benefits. But if you are a professional multitasker, like playing games while wanted to open a lot of tabs on the background, you may consider 16 GB.

Keep that in mind, having more RAM doesn't speed up your computer, they'd just speed up your current working softwares speed. If you have a lot of RAM left unused at any situation, you are wasting your money for RAM.

Nothing much is changed between having 8 GB and 16 GB

 Just Remember 

More RAM does not equal to faster performance, but only when computer is running multiple programs. Leaving more RAM means that you are wasting it.