How To Upgrade Computer RAM

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With the applications becoming resource hog the need for more computer memory is never ending. The prices for computer memory have fallen drastically over the years due to the rapid development in memory technologies.

It all seems very easy to install a new stick of RAM in your PC but there are few very important points that you need to check before you proceed to buying/installing the extra gigs of memory.

Things to check before proceeding :

1. How much memory your PC can support?

You can check the amount of RAM supported by your motherboard in the manual or log on to the manufacturer’s website and check out the motherboard specifications from there.

2. How many memory slots do you have?

You need to open the cabinet at look at the number of memory slots that you have in your motherboard. Also check how many of them are used up by the existing memory modules that you have installed in your PC. Generally most motherboards have two slots, so you need to check if you have an empty one before you rush out to purchase that memory stick!

3. Fine the frequency/type of RAM

This is very very important part of a RAM upgrade. You just can not purchase any RAM module and plug it in. All the memory modules installed in your system need to be of the same frequency and type to run the system smoothly. If there is a frequency mismatch, your system might hang up or give BSODs frequently. To check for the frequency and type of the RAM installed, you can download the CPU-Z software which will give you all the necessary details you need. You need to check the frequency of the RAM ie. like 667 MHz and the type ie. DDR2 etc. Latency is also an issue but it varies with different manufacturers and will be hard to get of same value.

The new module that you get needs to be of the same frequency and type and preferably of same manufacturer as the installed RAM.

Now that you have purchased the RAM module, it is time for you to install it in your system. Lets begin.

Step 1: Open the cabinet.

Open the side door of the cabinet and lay it on its side. Make sure you touch a metal surface before beginning to get rid of any static charge you might have accumulated that can damage the components .

Step 2: Remove peripherals covering the slot.

You might have to remove any peripherals such as graphics card or TV tuner that might be covering up the memory slots.

Step 3: Choose the slot to install.

Almost all motherboards today give the option for dual channel memory. So you need to check in the manual for the slots which will yield dual channel configuration. So select the slot which will give you dual channel configuration. Generally the slots yielding dual channel configuration are of same color.

Step 3: Plug in the RAM.

This step is very important and needs to be done crucially so as to avoid damage to RAM or the motherboard. You need to hold the RAM only by its end gently. After that look for cuts in the RAM that will go into the slot which will have bulging of the same shape. Or you can consult the motherboard manual if you are unsure. The new DDR RAMS have the advantage that they can be plugged in either way and they have the cut right in the middle.

After you put the RAM into the slot press it from one side gently till you hear the clip push itself up onto the RAM and you will hear a click sound to confirm that. Do the same thing for the other end. Even if after applying some amount of pressure you can not hear the click sound then you have most probably not put the RAM the right way into the slot.

If you hear the click sound and both the ends are securely in place with the clips, then you have successfully installed the RAM!

Step 4 : Replace the removed components back.

If you had to remove any peripherals in Step 3 to make way for the RAM you can put them back in the respective slots now. You might have to use different PCI/ PCI-e slot if RAM interferes with the slot they were earlier plugged in.

Step 5 : Close the cabinet and boot.

You can now close the doors of the cabinet and lay it straight. Boot the PC and go to BIOS to see if the new RAM is getting detected. It is very unlikely for it to not get detected. If it does not get detected then you either the RAM is faulty or it has not been installed properly. If you completed Step 3 successfully then most probably the RAM is faulty. There could also be a frequency mismatch leading to this problem, so remove your old RAM and plug in just the new one to check if it gets detected in BIOS. If it does then your new module is not compatible with old one.

Your new RAM will also show up in the properties of My Computer, which will confirm that you have successfully added memory to your computer!