Every HP Pavilion Entertainment PC comes with a certain amount of physical memory, usually referred to as main memory or RAM (random-access memory). HP Pavilion computers store currently running applications and data in this area. To find out how much memory you'll need, take into account your operating system and the applications that you plan to use. A general rule of thumb: You'll want at least 1GB (though 2GB is preferable) for Windows Vista or Mac OS X and 512MB for all other Windows and Mac operating systems.
If you're planning to hang on to your HP Pavilion Entertainment PC for a long time, look for a HP laptop with easy-to-access memory slots, as memory is typically one of the first specs you'll want to upgrade. Here is an article for learning about HP Pavilion Entertainment PC part - Memory.
Understanding Laptop PC Memory
Selecting the Proper Type and Amount of RAM for a Laptop PC
By Mark Kyrnin, About.com
Certainly the more memory in a laptop PC the better but there are other concerns regarding memory in laptops. Laptops are generally more restricted in the amount of memory that can be installed into a system. Sometimes access to that memory can also be a problem if you plan a future upgrade.
How Much is Enough?
The rule of thumb that I use for all computer systems for determining if it has enough memory is to look at the requirements of the software you intend to run. Pick up the boxes for each of the applications and the OS that you intend to run and look at both the "minimum" and "recommended" requirements. Typically you want to have more RAM than the highest minimum and ideally at least as much as the highest listed recommended requirement. The following chart provides a general idea of how a system will run with various amounts of memory:
• Minimum: 1GB
• Optimal: 2GB
• Best: 4GB
The ranges provided are a generalization based upon most common computing tasks. It is best to check the requirements of the intended software to make the final decisions. This is not accurate for all computer tasks because some operating systems use more memory than others.
Many laptops also use integrated graphics controllers that use a portion of the general system RAM for the graphics. This can reduce the amount of available system RAM from 64 to 512MB depending upon the graphics controller. If the system is using an integrated graphics controller it is best to get a bit more memory to compensate for this.
Types of Memory
Most of the laptops are now using the DDR2 memory specification, but a number of new laptops use the DDR3 standard. In addition to the type of memory installed in the laptop, the speed of the memory can also make a difference in the performance. When comparing laptops, be sure to check both of these pieces of information to determine how they may impact performance.
There are two ways that the memory speeds can be designated. The first is by the memory type and its clock rating, like DDR2 400. The other method is by listing the type along with the bandwidth. In the case the same DDR2 memory would be listed as PC2-3200 memory. Below is a listing in order of lowest to fastest memory types in both formats:
• DDR2 400 / PC2-3200
• DDR2 533 / PC2-4200
• DDR2 667 / PC2-5300 or PC2-5400
• DDR2 800 / PC2-6400
• DDR3 800 / PC3-6400
• DDR3 1066 / PC3-8500
• DDR3 1333 / PC3-10600
• DDR3 1600 / PC3-12800
Memory Restriction
Laptops generally have two slots available for memory modules compared to four or more in desktop systems. This means that they are more limited in the amount of memory that have available. With current memory module technologies, this restriction generally comes to four gigabytes of RAM in a laptop based on 2GB modules. Newer DDR3 memory can go up to 8GB but this is extremely expensive at this time. Some ultraportable systems are even fixed with one size of memory that cannot be changed at all. So what is important to know when you look at a laptop?
First, find out what the maximum amount of memory is. This is generally listed by most of the manufacturers. This will let you know what upgrade potential the system has. Next, determine how the memory configuration is when you buy the system. For example, a laptop that has 2GB of memory can be configured as either a single 2GB module or two 1GB modules. The single memory module allows for better upgrade potential because by adding another module you are gaining more memory without sacrificing any current memory. Upgrading the two module situation with a 2GB upgrade would result in the loss of one 1GB module and a memory total of 3GB.
Self-Install Possible?
Most laptops today have a small door on the underside of the system with access to the memory module slots. If it does, then it is possible to just purchase a memory upgrade and install it yourself without much trouble. A system without an external door or panel for memory access will require installation by a service technician. This generally will add additional expense to the memory upgrade in the future or possibly even the requirement that the system be sent in to a service center which means the lack of a computer until the upgrade is completed.
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