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Virtual Memory

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Running head: THE BENEFITS AND USES OF VIRTUAL MEMORY

The Use and Benefits of Virtual Memory
Jacqueline Askew
University of Phoenix

Abstract
There are many computer users that are not familiar with computers or the way they function. This paper is centered around and will provide a definition of virtual memory. Information will also be provided on the benefits and how virtual memory used.

The Use and Benefits of Virtual Memory
There are so many facets to computers and how they function. Someone that is a novice user is not aware of how they run. They just turn them on and ready, set go. The more advanced computer user has a better insight to the functionality and maintenance of the computer.
Whether it is a laptop or desktop the most common part of an operating system is virtual memory. Based on how much memory a computer has determines how many programs can be run. Virtual memory uses free space found on the hard drive in order to allow other programs to run. This seamless transition is unnoticeable to the human eye.
Because the virtual memory frees up space in the Random Access Memory, other applications can load. This is an automatic process, so even with the standard memory virtual memory makes it seems like it has more. One of the benefits of virtual memory is the financial side. There is not a lot of out of pocket expense because it becomes more expensive to purchase RAM chips than hard disk space. The virtual memory will allow a user to run larger applications even when there is no free disk space. Multiple applications can be run at one time and may only use a portion of the allocated space. Because of this process it will improve the central processing units utilization. The user does not have to purchase more RAM for the computer.
It is important that you have enough RAM to run the programs you access and want to

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