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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Kaycee Hill

Your computer is slow because the RAM is full — 7 ways to free it up

Memory Tom Guide Windows
Woman frustrated with computer problems.

Your computer freezes during basic tasks, takes forever to open programs, or suddenly runs loud and hot for no obvious reason. These symptoms usually point to one problem: your RAM is full.

When RAM (the fast memory your computer uses for active tasks) maxes out, everything slows down because your computer starts using your hard drive as backup — and hard drives are dramatically slower.

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