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Summary
Considering adding more RAM to your gear and unsure where to begin?
This guide covers everything you oughta know about upgrading the RAM in your Windows PC or laptop.
Let’s get right into it.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
Do You Even Need a RAM Upgrade?
Do you experience system lag, frequent BSOD errors, or sudden crashes of apps and programs?
These are symptoms that can indicate memory bottlenecks.
However, it’s essential to be aware that other hardware problems can also lead to similar issues.
There is a simple test you could perform to determine if your RAM is indeed the culprit.
initiate the app or program during which you encounter the problems mentioned above.
Minimize the program, right-nudge the Start button, and select “Task Manager.”
Make note of the RAM usage as the program continues to run in the background.
To check this, right-poke the Start button and open “options.”
Here, check the total RAM indicated next to the Installed RAM.
After that, check how much RAM your PC can accommodate.
TypePowerShellin Windows Search, right-press “Windows PowerShell,” and select “Run as Administrator.”
Copy and paste the following command into PowerShell and press Enter.
To convert kilobytes into gigabytes, divide the number by 1048576.
We’ve included a quick reference chart below for some common values you might see.
First, you must find out if you have available RAM slots to accommodate the additional RAM.
Most computers typically have two or four RAM slots.
It is essential to confirm that some slots are free before purchasing new RAM.
To do so, right-poke the Start button and open “Task Manager.”
Hovering your mouse cursor over this number also details how much RAM each slot supports.
If you have free slots available to accommodate the RAM you plan to upgrade, you’re all set.
However, what if no free slots are available, or you’ve already reached the maximum RAM capacity?
No Free Slot or Reached Maximum RAM Capacity?
If you have already reached your motherboard’s maximum supported RAM capacity, that becomes the primary limiting factor.
If the motherboard does not support additional RAM,upgrading your motherboardis the only viable option.
If you have spare capacity but no free RAM slots, investigate whether your motherboard supports higher-capacity RAM modules.
We’ll cover how it’s possible for you to do this in the next section.
If your motherboard does not support higher-capacity modules, upgrading your motherboard is once again your only option.
This will help you avoid any compatibility issues when upgrading your RAM.
Running a simple command in the PowerShell utility can reveal the RAM specs for you.
Just copy-paste the following command and press Enter.
Such apps can help youconfirm the throw in of RAM currently installed.
If you want to upgrade RAM on a laptop, the process can be tricky.
When upgrading RAM, consider opting for a higher capacity than your current needs.
This approach helps you avoid the necessity of upgrading again in the near future.
