How Storage and Memory Work Together to Speed Up Your Device — A Practical Guide for Beginners

In the previous episode of StorageWars, we broke into the PC to understand the basics — explaining what storage and memory mean, how they differ, a quick overview in their types, and why they matter. If you missed it here's a quick summary:

• Memory (RAM) is short-term storage, lightning-fast but temporary.

• Storage (SSD/HDD) is long-term storage, slower but permanent.

Episode 2 is the practical follow-up to the theoretical concepts we covered in Episode 1. This post answers the practical real-life questions every beginner, tech student, or programmer must know:

• How do memory and storage work together?

• Do you need both memory and storage? ( Spoiler: You do )

• Your requirements for memory and storage?

• How to check memory and storage for your system?

• Low RAM or Storage? Here’s how to improve

Let's dive in!

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How do memory and storage work together?

Understanding how memory and storage work hand-in-hand is key for optimizing your device’s performance. While both are essential components of your computer, they serve different purposes and operate in complementary ways.

• Memory (RAM) is your system's short-term workspace. It temporarily holds data that your processor needs quick access to while running applications and processes. Because RAM is lightning-fast but volatile, the information stored in it disappears when your computer powers off.

• On the other hand, Storage (SSD or HDD) is your device’s long-term data repository. It holds your files, applications, and operating system persistently — even when your computer is turned off. Though storage devices are slower than RAM, they provide the capacity to keep data safely saved for the long haul.

Here's where it gets interesting. Every time you open a file, launch a program, or load a website, your CPU grabs that data from storage and temporarily loads it into RAM. Why? Because reading from a RAM is dozens of times faster than reading from storage. This Constant back-and-forth data flow is what makes your device feel fast (or slow). Not enough RAM? Your system has to keep reaching into storage — slowing things down drastically.

Here’s a simple step-by-step process for a better understanding of the concept:

1. Power On: When you turn on your device, the Operating System (OS) is first loaded from storage (HDD/SSD) into memory (RAM).

2. App Launch: When you open any app (like Browser or Software), it's also pulled from storage → into RAM.

3. Execution: While working (browsing, coding, editing), all real-time actions take place in RAM. The CPU directly accesses RAM because it's much faster.

4. Temporary Data Handling: RAM holds current tab states, unsaved files, and app configurations — like a live workspace.

5. Saving & Shutdown: When you save a file or close an app, data is written back to storage. Once you power off, the RAM is wiped clean, but the saved files remain in storage.

Think of it like this:

RAM is your desk — where you work. Storage is your filing cabinet — where you keep everything safe long-term. You pull things out to work on them and file them away when done.

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Do you need both memory and storage?

Absolutely. They serve different but complementary purposes, so your device needs both memory and storage to run properly.

• Without enough RAM, multitasking or running heavy applications will be slow.

• Without adequate storage, you can't store software, games, files, etc.

Both work in sync to ensure:

• Fast boot-ups

• Smooth app performance

• Data retention after shutdown

In simple terms — RAM affects your device's speed and multitasking ability whereas storage affects your capacity to store data and install applications. Both are non-negotiable for a balanced system. Now that we’ve established why both are necessary, let’s break down exactly how much you might need based on your usage.

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Your requirements for memory and storage?

Choosing the right amount of memory and storage depends entirely upon your device usage. A Casual user doesn't need the same specs as a video editor or a programmer running VMs. Here's a simplified table modeled on user categories —

Note: SSD (Solid State Drive) is recommended for faster performance, quicker boot times, and smoother multitasking. However, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) can still be used as secondary storage for large files like movies, photos, or backups — especially by Power Users.

Additional Tips for Everyone:

• Prefer SSD over HDD for primary storage to get faster boot and app launch times.

• Consider cloud storage for backups and off-loading rarely accessed files.

• Balance budget with real needs - more is better, but only if you'll actually use

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How to check memory and storage for your system?

Windows

✅ Check Memory (RAM):

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
• Click on the Performance tab
• Select Memory on the left panel
• You’ll see total RAM, used, available, and speed

✅ Check Storage:

• Go to Settings > System > Storage
• See breakdown by C drive, apps, files, etc.

💡 Bonus Tip: Press Win + R, type dxdiag, and hit Enter for a full system diagnostics summary.

macOS

✅ Check Memory (RAM):

• Open Activity Monitor (Search via Spotlight: Cmd + Space, then type "Activity Monitor")
• Click on the Memory tab
• View total memory, app-wise usage, and swap memory

✅ Check Storage:

• Click the Apple icon > About This Mac
• Go to the Storage tab
• View a visual breakdown of used vs free space

🧠 Pro Tip: Open Disk Utility for detailed volume and disk insights.

Linux

✅ Check Memory (RAM):

• Open Terminal
• Type free -h to see memory stats in a human-readable format
• Or use top to view real-time memory usage and active processes

✅ Check Storage:

• In Terminal, run df -h to see all mounted volumes and their usage
• Use Disks or System Monitor for a GUI-based view

🧠 Pro Tip: Use htop for a more interactive and colorful system monitor (install with sudo apt install htop)

Android

✅ Check Memory (RAM):

• Go to Settings > About Phone > Memory (varies by device)
• For deeper insights, enable Developer Options and check Running Services

✅ Check Storage:

• Navigate to Settings > Storage
• See breakdown of space by apps, media, cache, and more

🧼 Tip: Tap “Free up space” to remove junk and boost performance

iOS

✅ Check Memory (RAM):

• iOS doesn’t provide direct RAM info
• Use third-party apps like Lirum Info Lite or System Status from the App Store

✅ Check Storage:

• Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage
• View storage used by apps, photos, system files, etc.

📱 Tip: Enable “Offload Unused Apps” to save space without deleting data

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Low RAM or Storage? Here’s how to improve

1. Low RAM Symptoms

   • Slow performance

   • Crashing apps

   • Heavy multitasking causes freeze

How To Improve

• Close Background Apps: Free up RAM by shutting down unused programs and browser tabs.

• Disable Startup Programs: Limit how many apps auto-run when your device boots. (Use Task Manager → Startup tab on Windows)

• Use Lighter Alternatives: Switch to lightweight software.

• Increase Virtual Memory: On low-RAM devices, increasing “virtual memory” (paging file) can give temporary breathing room.

• Upgrade RAM (If Supported): This is often the most impactful upgrade. Moving from 4GB → 8GB or 8GB → 16GB can significantly boost performance.

2. Low Storage Symptoms

   • Files won’t save

   • Unable to install apps or updates

   • System hangs when space is nearly full

How To Improve

• Uninstall Unused Apps: Clear out games, trial software, and old utilities you no longer use.

• Use Disk Cleanup Tools: Try built-in tools (like “Storage Sense” in Windows) or third-party apps like CCleaner.

• Move Files to Cloud or External Drives: Offload videos, photos, and large files to free up internal space.

• Upgrade to an SSD: If you're still using an HDD, switching to an SSD can drastically speed up load times and performance.

• Get a Larger SSD (If Needed): Go for 512GB or 1TB if you're running out fast — especially if you're into gaming, development, or media work.

Practical Takeaways

• RAM is for temporary tasks, storage is for permanent data.

• You always need both for a smooth system.

• Check your specs before buying or upgrading.

• Tailor your specs to your work — don’t overspend.

• SSD is essential in 2025, HDDs are outdated for performance.

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Help me Improve

We are committed to making this series as helpful and practical as possible — where your feedback plays a critical role in making it one.

Have thoughts, or suggestion, or need help understanding something technical? Don't hesitate to reach out, We are always open to questions or one-on-one guidance. If this episode, helped you even a byte do share it with others who might benefit. And feel free to leave a comment — We read everyone. Stay tuned for Episode 3 — your ultimate crash course on RAM. Everything you’ve ever wanted to know (and a few things you didn’t even know you needed to know) is coming your way.

⬅️ Read Episode 1

Read Episode 3 ➡️