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World of Warcraft Memory Issues

A big, resource-hungry MMORPG like "World of Warcraft" needs a lot of memory to function. As there are different types of computer memory, there are different problems your installation of WoW can encounter. Understanding your system resources and how WoW uses them will help improve the game's software performance.

Available Drive Space
- Regardless of what kind of computer you are using, WoW will need at least 25 gigabytes of free hard drive space for its initial installation. You can expect to download patches from time to time, and WoW will also create files related to your game settings. Because of this, WoW will end up taking up more space than the initial 25 GB in the long run. Before installing, delete any unnecessary files in order to free up disk space.
RAM
- Random Access Memory is the temporary space in which a computer stores a running program. If you think of your hard drive space as a library, RAM is the space on your desk where you can read the book. WoW's RAM requirements vary depending on your operating system. If you are running Windows, you need a minimum of 1 GB of RAM. If you are using a Mac, you'll need at least 2 GB of RAM. If you're not sure how much RAM you have, you can look it up within your computer's system properties.
Troubleshooting RAM
- Just like any computer hardware component, sometimes there can be issues with your computer's available RAM. If WoW isn't running properly or won't install, this may indicate a problem with your RAM. Blizzard Support recommends using Microsoft's free Windows Memory Diagnostic tool. This application will scan your RAM for any errors. The scan can take up to 30 minutes, but as faulty RAM can spell trouble for your entire computer, it is well worth waiting around for the results. Blizzard Support does not currently recommend any particular Mac-based program for scanning RAM, but similar programs such as the Apple Hardware Test, Memtest and Rember should serve the same purpose as Windows Memory Diagnostic.
Memory Loss
- If you have suffered a catastrophic loss of your hard drive memory, you don't need to worry too much about WoW. While you will need to reinstall the software, WoW stores all of your in-game information on an online server. None of your account information, achievements, gear or inventory items are saved within your computer's local files. The only things you will lose are game settings (such as graphics quality or sound levels) and any custom interface add-ons you may have installed.

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