How To Easily Add Ram To Your Windows Or Mac Computer

Windows - Press ⊞ Win+S to open Windows Search. Type in “About your PC” and select it to open the System Properties window. Your installed RAM will be listed in the Device specifications section. Mac - Click the Apple menu and select “About This Mac”. Your installed RAM will be displayed in the Memory section.

If you are using Windows, a 32-bit version can support up to 4 GB, while a 64-bit version can support up to 128 GB. You can check what version of Windows you have by pressing ⊞ Win+S to open Windows Search. Type in “About your PC” and select it to open the System Properties window. Look for the “System type” entry. Even if your computer supports up to 128 GB, there’s a good chance that your motherboard doesn’t support that much. You’ll need to check the documentation for your motherboard or run an online system scanner to see how much memory your motherboard supports. Mac users will need to check their documentation to see how much their computer support as it varies significantly from model to model. If you don’t have the documentation anymore, you can look up the specs of your model on the Apple support site. See this guide for more details on determining the maximum amount of RAM your computer supports.

You can determine what type your computer uses by referring to the documentation or running a tool like CPU-Z, a freeware utility that analyzes your system. Some laptop motherboards come preinstalled with soldered-on RAM, meaning it can’t be removed without desoldering it. This type is generally not user-replaceable.

The clock speed of RAM is measured in megahertz (MHz). Motherboards typically support a range of clock speeds. If you use CPU-Z to check your memory clock speed, you will need to multiply the displayed MHz value by two, since CPU-Z doesn’t display the memory multiplier. All installed RAM should be the same speed for the best performance.

RAM often comes packaged in pairs to make purchasing easier. Many computers will work with only one RAM module, but this is bad practice and you will have worse performance. You should only do this if necessary.

Make sure to remove the panel that allows access to the motherboard. You can determine which panel to remove by looking for the I/O ports on the back of the computer. These ports include monitor, Ethernet, speaker, USB, and more. They are connected to the motherboard, so remove the panel on the opposite side. While it’s open, it could be a good time to clean your computer and remove any dust from the inside.

If you don’t have your documentation handy, you can often tell which slots are pairs by looking at the coloring. They may be labeled on the edge, which each label etched onto the motherboard. These labels may be small, so you may have to look closely.

Nearly all RAM is installed in pairs. Some computers will have difficulty with a single RAM stick, and using only one stick will decrease performance. Try not to touch the gold pins or the chips on the RAM module. It may damage it.

If your computer runs into a serious error at this point, the RAM may be improperly installed, or there may be an errors with one of your new modules. See this guide for instructions on testing your RAM modules.

Windows - Open the System Properties window by pressing ⊞ Win+S to open Windows Search. Type in “About your PC” and select it to open the System Properties window. Verify your installed RAM in the System section. Mac - Click the Apple menu and select “About This Mac”. Verify your installed RAM in the Memory section.

Turn off the computer using Windows Key > Power > Shut down (Windows) or Apple menu > Shut down (macOS). Unplug the power cable. Unplug any remaining cables attached to the computer. Hold down the power button for 5 to 10 seconds. This will discharge residual electricity. Remove the battery. If your laptop has an internal battery that can’t be removed, take precautions when working inside your device. Don’t puncture or dent the battery, as damaged lithium-ion batteries can be a fire hazard or release toxic fumes.

You may have to remove multiple panels in order to access the RAM. Or, you may need to remove the entire bottom panel of the laptop.

Not all laptops need pairs of RAM modules. Check your laptop’s documentation for details. Try not to touch the gold pins or the chips on the RAM module. It may damage it.

If your computer runs into a serious error at this point, the RAM may be improperly installed, or there may be an error with one of your new modules. See this guide for instructions on testing your RAM modules.