How To: Upgrading your memory or RAM

This can be a very simple task if you know exactly what to do.  The first thing you need to do is check to see what type of memory you currently have.  You can find this in the motherboard manual that came with your computer, or you can look it up online.  Go to the manufacturer’s website and find your computer model.  When you find the documentation on it, you will need to know a few things.  First, the type of memory, usually DDR2 or DDR3.  Second, you need to know the speed.  This will be in MHz.  You will need to know how many slots are available (either 2 or 4).  Lastly, you need to know the maximum capacity.

With this information in mind, you are ready to purchase your new memory.  I would recommend shopping around for different brands of memory.  One website I like to use is newegg.com.  Another good one is CDW.  There are many brands out there and some are better than others.  Most of them will offer lifetime warranties.  Kingston is a major player in memory.

Something to keep in mind is if you have 2 slots available, you can buy 2 different kinds of memory.  If you have 4 slots available, you can still only buy 2 different kinds of memory.  The trick is, with 4 slots, two have to be the same.  There are actually only two banks of memory with two slots in each bank.  Each bank has to have the same type and size of memory in each slot.  With that in mind, go ahead and purchase your memory.

Physically replacing your memory is really easy.  Turn off the power to your computer and remove the chassis.  Remove the old memory by flipping the levers on either side of it and pull it straight out.  I would also recommend grounding yourself to the chassis or a grounding outlet so that you don’t short out the new memory.  After you remove the old memory, place the new memory exactly as it was inside the slot.  Pull the levers back and push down on the memory to make sure it is fit properly inside the slot.  After your memory is installed, put your computer back together and turn on the power.  There should be a message that the system memory has changed.  To verify the change, go to your control panel, click on system and maintenance, and click on system.  About half way down the page with be Memory (RAM) and the amount you installed.

Congratulations, you just upgraded your memory.