Memory Boost

Memory is where your computer stores its information while it is running. In contrast to your hard disk, memory is very fast. That's why it exists in the first place; memory is the only medium fast enough to store your information while your computer is actually working on it. Memory can't store information permanently though; when your computer is turned off, memory is erased. It's also very expensive, much too expensive to store everything like your hard disk does.

Memory is important because it's what keeps your computer running quickly. When you have a lot of programs running, they may consume all your memory. When this happens, your computer has to use your hard disk for memory. Because hard disks are almost a hundred times slower than memory, your computer slows to a crawl when it runs out of memory. It also often becomes unstable.

Even if you don't have a lot of programs open, you may run out of memory over time. Programs often do not keep track of all their memory, leaving that job to Windows. Windows, for its part, doesn't always track everything either. The result is that memory can become filled with unused data. This is what causes your computer to run more slowly after it's been running for a number of hours or days; similarly, this is why your computer seems to run faster when you first turn it on.

MemoryBoost addresses both of these problems by constantly recovering memory that has been lost, and compacting memory when you have a lot of programs open and need it. MemoryBoost also helps you keep your computer from crashing by avoiding special low-memory situations that cause instability.

Memory Boost - What does MemoryBoost do?

• Memory is the most precious resource in your computer. It's very fast; that's where all your computer's work is done. It's also very expensive; you probably have a hundred times more hard-drive space than you have memory. As long as you have free memory in your computer, your programs can run at top-speed. When your memory runs out, your computer has to use the hard disk as "virtual memory," which slows your computer down tremendously and can cause crashes. You can learn more about memory in the memory article.

• MemoryBoost actively maintains your free memory. Programs let objects (or data) leak into memory while they run, and never reclaim them. Almost all programs do this. Over time, no matter how much memory you have, your memory will dwindle. MemoryBoost reclaims leaked objects for your computer; it sweeps memory to find them, and then moves them out of memory. MemoryBoost can keep your memory level safe indefinitely; Windows will not do this on its own.

• MemoryBoost also watches a very special part of memory called the system resources. You can read the system resources article to learn more about them. This special memory is crucial to the operation of your computer; when it runs out, your computer will become very unreliable and probably crash altogether. MemoryBoost watches the system resources and warns you before something bad happens. This can help you avoid the single greatest source of computer crashes.

• MemoryBoost is engineered to run inconspicuously. When MemoryBoost is running, you may not even notice that it is there. On computers with a modest to medium amount of memory, MemoryBoost may make an immediate impact, helping your computer to run faster instantly. On computers with a large amount of memory, you may only notice the difference when you're hard at work and have been working for a while. No matter how powerful your computer, or how much memory you have, your memory is always being lost. It's just a matter of time before it becomes problematic; MemoryBoost strives to keep this from happening at all. In many senses MemoryBoost is like an insurance policy. You may not think of it much while it's running, but when something goes wrong, it may make a world of difference.

• In total, MemoryBoost seeks to improve computer performance and reliability by managing your memory. On some
computers, the effect will be instantaneous and noticeable; on others, it may occur gradually over a period of time, making significant contributions only when the computer is under stress or has been running for a long time. Stability and performance are very important to all computer users, no matter what their interests or applications or level of expertise. MemoryBoost tries to address both of these issues in a way that is accessible for everyone.

Features
• Protects you from crashes. MemoryBoost warns you when system resources get low - allowing you to close some programs before they crash.
• Automatically frees up memory, improving performance. You can leave MemoryBoost running and forget about it, assured that it is maximizing your computer's speed.
• Shuts down "junkware," software that eats system resources without benefit.
• Provides easy-to-read statistics on your computer's memory use. You can see at a glance how well your computer is performing.
• Detective feature shows you how much of your memory each running program is using. That way, you can shut down larger programs if resources get low.