How to Install RAM on Your Computer
Once you’ve verified that your computer can accept new RAM and you’ve purchased the correct chips, you’re ready to install them. The specific steps will vary slightly depending on your computer’s setup, but the general process is very similar across the board.
Why Install RAM on Your Computer?
Installing Random Access Memory (RAM) in your computer is a relatively simple upgrade that provides instantaneous system speed and response benefits. Adding enough RAM can even allow you to run new apps and games that require more memory than you currently have. The edge with the contacts will typically be keyed with a notch that matches a socket’s notch. This setup makes it so that you can’t install the RAM backward, and it also shows you which way to install it. RAM is an upgrade that just about anyone can carry out successfully, but it’s essential to buy the right components and follow the correct installation procedure to avoid damaging anything.
How to Tell if You Can Install New RAM
Whether you have an off-the-shelf desktop PC, a custom-built desktop rig, or a laptop, your computer already has RAM in it. In some cases, that existing memory may take up all of the available RAM slots, in which case you can’t install new RAM; you will have to replace the RAM in your computer with modules that contain more memory. The easiest way to tell if you can install new RAM is to look. Open up the case, look for the RAM slots that are typically adjacent to the central processing unit (CPU), and check to see if there are open slots. If you see available slots, you can add more RAM. If you have an off-the-shelf desktop PC or laptop, you can also find out how much RAM it can accept and the type and configuration of the existing RAM modules by checking with the manufacturer.
What Kind of RAM Do You Need?
When installing new RAM, it’s essential to make sure that you buy RAM modules compatible with your computer. If you have a custom rig, you can check with your motherboard manufacturer to learn what type of RAM you need, while owners of off-the-shelf PCs and laptops can check with the manufacturer of their computer.
Use an Online Tool for Ram Information
The other way to figure out what type of RAM you need is to use the Crucial System Advisor or something similar. This tool allows you to input your motherboard or computer’s make and model to learn what type of RAM you need, the type of storage that’s supported, and even your chipset. For example, the tool outputs the following information for an MSI H270 PC Mate motherboard: From that information, you can tell the MSI H270 PC Mate requires 288-pin DDR4 modules, that it has four RAM slots, and that it can accept up to 64GB of memory. You can take that information to any PC parts retailer, online or brick and mortar, and be sure that you’re buying the right RAM modules.
