Check Your Ram Upgrade
After installing new RAM, turn your computer on and check its RAM again to make sure that everything is working properly. You can head back to the Task Manager as described above, or you can right-click This PC from your desktop and select Properties.
Look for your computers memory information and verify that the total amount of memory shown matches the RAM youve just installed. If so, congratulations youve successfully upgraded your RAM!
Anytime you’ve installed new internal components, consider stress-testing your PC to assess their stability.
How To Tell If You Can Upgrade Your Laptop
ByAvram Piltch01 December 2015
Whether you just bought a brand new notebook that came with a slow-moving hard drive or your three-year-old system is struggling to keep up with today’s apps, upgrading your laptop is great way to improve its performance without spending a lot of money. Unlike desktop towers, almost all of which are user-serviceable, many laptops are sealed boxes that are difficult or impossible to tinker with. In some cases, even if you can get at the guts, you’ll find the key components drive-soldered to the motherboard.
Fortunately, you don’t need to crack open the chassis just to find out if you can replace the RAM or hard drive. Here’s how to tell if you can upgrade your laptop and what components it needs.
Opening The Access Panel To Install Memory In Your Desktop Computer
;warning:The edges of metal panels can cut skin. Be careful not to slide skin along any interior metal edge of the computer.
;caution:This product contains components that can be damaged by electrostatic discharge . To reduce the chance of ESD damage, work over a non-carpeted floor, use a static dissipative work surface , and wear an ESD wrist strap connected to a grounded surface.
note: If you need product model specific graphics and instructions for opening the PC, search for a support article that specifically pertains to your computer. In the Search field at the top of this page, type your computer model number, a space, and the words “opening the case.”
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Replace The Cover After Installing Memory In Your Desktop Computer
Opening The Laptops Back Panel
Before you open your laptops back panel, make sure you turn off your laptop and remove its battery. Once you have removed the battery, unscrew the back with a compatible screw driver. In order to avoid electrostatic discharge from your body, make sure you ground yourself by touching any other metal object. Once you open the back, locate the RAM module .
This procedure may differ from model to model, and in case of laptops with non-removable batteries, it is fine if you dont remove its battery. There are also some laptop models which come with an easy access back, which lets you swap or add more RAM without removing the entire back panel.
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Using A Usb Drive As Ram
Is Upgrading A Ram Worth It
Yes, upgrading a RAM is definitely worth it. But, this depends on why and how you go about upgrading it. It is important that you consider whether your system needs the upgrade and whether the upgrade planned for your system is compatible with it.
If your system does not need the upgrade that is, there is still a lot of RAM unused on it. Or, if the replacement RAM purchased does not fit your laptop model, then these are scenarios where the upgrade might not be worth it.
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Verify Memory Amount While The Computer Is Turned On
How To Close Programs Taking Up Too Much Memory
Note: The delete key is not the same as the backspace key. The delete key on some keyboards is also labeled as Del.
Note: You can also access the Task Manager by right-clicking on your Taskbar at the bottom of your screen and selecting Task Manager from the pop-up menu.
Warning: Closing certain necessary processes can damage your computer. Do not shut down a process unless you know what it is and what it does.
Since virtual memoryuses space on your hard disk, it is important to remove files that are takingup too much space. Before you take these steps, you might want to back up yourfiles to another hard drive.
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How To Upgrade Ram On A Laptop
Is there a way to increase RAM on a laptop? As long as you havent reached your systems maximum RAM, then yes! The same considerations that apply to desktop RAM also determine how much RAM your laptop can handle.
Additionally, some laptops may not be eligible at all for RAM upgrades. Sometimes, the RAM modules are soldered directly onto the motherboard, meaning that you cant remove them yourself. Check online to see whether your laptop has replaceable RAM.
Assuming your laptop can handle more RAM, heres how to add it:
Shut down your laptop, close it, and let it cool down.
Unplug all cords, cables, and accessories.
Flip it over and place it face-down on your work surface.
Open the bottom casing, or remove the portion that covers your RAM. The specifics here will depend on the type of laptop you have. If you need to unscrew the case, remember which screws go into which holes, as sizes may vary from one screw to the next.
Touch an unpainted metal surface in your laptop to discharge any static electricity from your body. This will help protect your laptops sensitive internal components.
Remove your current RAM modules by gently pushing aside the clips that hold them in place. Each RAM module should pop up and out at an angle. Then you can pull it out of the RAM slot.
Pick up your new RAM modules by the edges or corners. Do not touch the gold connectors or any components on top of the module!
Installing Ram Into A Desktop Pc
When youre looking to speed up an old PC, one of the first considerations to make is upgrading the RAM or hard drive. Both are relatively easy to do, and both are relatively cheap . And both can be executed by end users in seven easy steps.
Adding RAM to a desktop PC will greatly enhance the systems maneuverability when completing tasks. Opening windows, surfing the Web, and word processing are all RAM-intensive tasks, as are editing programs like Photoshop, or spreadsheet programs like Excel. Adding RAM to help alleviate the slow loading or execution of these programs will depend on a few factorsthe age of your computer and operating system, motherboard slots open for RAM, and the maximum amount of RAM your system can handle. There are also some things that you need to consider before purchasing RAM.
On Windows 7 computers, click on the Windows tab, and right-click on My Computer , on Windows 8.1, right-click on the Windows tab, click System. You should see a window that looks like this:
This shows how much RAM your system currently contains.
If, however, you decide you need a souped-up machine to handle high-end graphics, and you have a blazing-fast processor and totally tricked-out graphics card, and you can afford 16GB of RAM and your PC can take itit isnt a bad investment.
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Where To Purchase More Ram
You can buy your new RAM either online or in-person at a computer retailer but either way, do your research in advance. RAM is expensive, and youll want to know that youre protected with dependable warranties and return policies in case you buy the wrong RAM or in case it doesnt work properly. Always buy RAM from a reputable supplier.
Going with new RAM is generally the safest option, but itll also be more expensive. You can also buy RAM from a qualified refurbisher meaning that its been restored to like-new condition but note that while itll be cheaper than brand-new RAM, your warranty protection wont last as long. Lastly, you can buy secondhand RAM, but youre often doing so at your own risk, without any aftersales protections at all.
What Laptop Components Can You Upgrade
In the best-case scenario, you can replace both your RAM and storage drive. Upgrading from a mechanical hard drive to an SSD will have an enormous impact on your performance, allowing you to boot, open applications and files, or switch tasks three to four times faster. Adding more memory, particularly going from 2GB or 4GB to 8GB, can make multitasking or working on large media files easier.
Forget about swapping out the CPU, the graphics chip or display. And while it may be possible to replace the Wi-Fi card on some systems, doing so is difficult and probably not worth the effort. If you really want better wireless connectivity, consider a USB Wi-Fi dongle.
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How Much Ram Do You Need
Assuming your current RAM is insufficient, how much RAM do you really need? Its possible to add too much RAM as well as not enough, so youll want to answer this question early on.
Consider the following factors when making your decision:
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Primary use: What will you mainly be using your computer for? Intensive tasks like high-end gaming, video editing, and intensive streaming require much more RAM, so youll need at least 16 GB for smooth performance. For normal web browsing or word processing, 8 GB should be enough.
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Budget: RAM isnt cheap. While you can find good deals for RAM online, its best to buy from reputable vendors with warranties and solid return policies.
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Limits: Your PC can handle only so much RAM, and if you buy too much, you won’t be able to use it all. Read on to learn more about these limits and how you can find this information.
As a general rule, consider 4 GB of RAM as a minimum, but get 8 GB if its within your budget. With 8 GB of RAM, youll enjoy significantly improved performance. Dont worry about having 16 GB of RAM or more unless youre using your PC for more intensive programs and processes.
Will More Ram Make Your Laptop Faster
For our laptop upgrade we added an 8GB stick of RAM to the existing 4GB stick, tripling the capacity and increasing the memory bandwidth by going from single- to dual-channel. With PCMark 8s Work Conventional benchmark, which measures standard office tasks like browsing and document editing, the results were negligible as seen below.;
IDG
As we expected, its basically a tie between single-channel and dual-channel RAM for basic computing tasks that dont use a lot of RAM.
Those tasks simply dont use that much memory4GB is sufficient. Upgrading to 8GB helps in heavier multitasking cases. And for the vast majority of laptop users, once youre beyond 8GB, returns on investment are diminished. Thats why we generally recommend that people set low expectations for performance boosts from increased RAM.;
SiSoft Sandra shows the extent to which the added 8GB module increased our theoretical memory bandwidth . But whats the practical upshot of that boost?;
IDG
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What Is The Maximum Ram Capacity Of My Laptop
wmic memphysical get MaxCapacity, MemoryDevices
The final value will be given in kilobytes which can be converted to gigabytes .
maximum RAM capacity
Check If You Can Upgrade Your Laptop’s Ram
The first step in upgrading your laptop’s memory is finding out if you can do it. Checking the bottom of your notebook for a dedicated memory access panel is an excellent first step. Although it’s not strictly necessary, if you have one, then your laptop should be upgradeable.
You can also use the Crucial Memory Tool to determine whether your memory is removable or not . Input your laptop manufacturer and model number. If it suggests that your memory is removable and recommends some specific modules, you’re in luck: you can upgrade your laptop’s RAM.
The Crucial tool will also tell you what your laptop’s maximum memory is in terms of its Gigabyte capacity. To find out whether your existing RAM is less than that and therefore worth upgrading, you can look at Task Manager’s performance tab.
If your memory is less than the maximum amount your laptop supports, you can upgrade it. You can also use Task Manager when you’re working your computer hard to see if you are using most of your memory. If that’s the case, then an upgrade could improve your system performance.
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Check The Amount Of Space Occupied By Your Ram
One thing you should never do is assume that the cause of your laptops slow performance is the RAM. Therefore, it is always best to check the space occupied before making any changes.
Checking Space Occupied on Windows RAM
To check for occupied RAM space on Windows, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to Start on Windows
Step 2: Type Task Manager in the search bar
Step 3: Select Task Manager
Step 4: Select the Performance tab
Step 5: Go to Memory and you will see the amount of space in use
Checking Space Occupied on Mac RAM
To check for occupied RAM space on Mac, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Finder window
Step 2: Search for Utilities and open it
Step 3: Double-click the;Activity Monitor;
Step 4: Select the tab for System Memory and you will see the amount of space in use
What Kind Of Laptop Ram Should You Buy
If you know your laptop has open RAM slots like our Acer E 15, its time to hit the store. There are two types of RAM used in laptops produced in the last two years and only one offers an upgrade path: DDR4. DDR4 modules, or SO-DIMMS, are sold in varying speeds and sizes.
The most common laptop memory speeds today are DDR4/2133 and DDR4/2400. You might be tempted to go with an even higher speed, say DDR4/2666, which can yield some performance benefits. But your CPU might not support those higher speedsan 8th-gen Core i3 for example supports DDR4/2400and will ratchet anything higher down to that speed. So dont bother paying more for higher speeds unless you know your laptop will support it.;;
You may also be tempted to pay for lower-latency modules or modules with fancy aluminum heat spreaders. Again, for the most part, you wont see much of performance difference at all.
We generally recommend that you go with a name-brand module that you know will offer warranty service if you do have problems .;
As far as capacity, its generally recommended that your modules have the same capacity. For example, if you have a 4GB stick in the laptop, adding a second 4GB module to the second slot makes the most sense.
If you want to add more RAM than that, say, by adding an 8GB module to your 4GB module, itll work but the performance of a portion of the 8GB module will be lower. In the end that extra RAM probably wont be enough to matter
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