Upgrading RAM
Installing RAM is perhaps the easiest upgrade of all, it takes about 2 minutes and the only tool you need is a Phillips Head screw driver. Besides that you also need your ram, this tutorial is about upgrading desktop ram. Before we get into ram upgrades, it is best that you familiarize yourself with the intricacies of ram (computer memory) and what all the expressions mean.
First things first, RAM or (Random Access Memory) is what the computer uses to store and retrieve information sent from the hard drive. It is basically a reservoir for information storage and is constantly processing data, storing it until ready for the CPU, and then moving it on ready to accept new data. You might say it is data in a holding pattern, however this holding pattern is only milliseconds long and as soon as one plane or (parcel of data) clears the pattern, the next is loaded in.
All this data transfer operates at an accelerated rate, and generally speaking the faster your ram and the more you have, the quicker this process operates. With this in mind it is more than plausible to imagine that a RAM upgrade would improve your computers performance.
Pictured below are two common types of RAM, the desktop type and the Notebook type.
All this data transfer operates at an accelerated rate, and generally speaking the faster your ram and the more you have, the quicker this process operates. With this in mind it is more than plausible to imagine that a RAM upgrade would improve your computers performance.
Pictured below are two common types of RAM, the desktop type and the Notebook type.
You can see obvious notable differences between these two, one is longer and the other shorter, but they both do the same thing. In a desktop it is known as a “DIMM”, Dual Inline Memory Module, and in a Notebook it is known as “SODIMM” or Small Outline Dual inline Memory Module.
Ram is classified by its speed, you may hear the expression PC533, this is also DDR667, if you divide the "PC" number by 8 you will roughly end up with the DDR number. The DDR number is usually rounded to the nearest 10 or 100. PC533 is actually DDR66.625 (667).
Basically the higher the number the faster the ram. When upgrading ram also be sure to use compatible modules, you can use faster ram but the system will run at the speed of the slower module. Let's say you have PC6400 already installed in one slot on your computer and you will be installing PC8500 in the other, it will still work but only run at a speed of 800Mhz.
RAM is fairly easy to acquire depending on its age, generally speaking the older it is, the harder it is to get, not to mention the more expensive. RAM chips recently made are produced in abundance, and therefore are somewhat inexpensive, but as time progesses like all things "IT" this to changes with age.
So where do you purchase your new ram, the obvious stop is perhaps your local computer shop, or for the cheaper alternative, try a google search and purchase online.
It does not matter that much what brand of ram you get, I have heard people say that the “cheap stuff” is no good. Turns out these people saying that are not qualified technicians!! The top of the range ram comes from vendors l like Corsair, this is the stuff you want in high-end gaming machines, but it may cost you a little more.
Others like Kingston, OCZ, etc are more than fine and I personally have not had any problems with any of the above, except for perhaps one or two sticks that were DOA. Like all things electronic this can and does happen. If your computer won’t boot, after you check that your ram is seated correctly in its slot, try and replace it or use an alternate stick if you have two modules. Boot failure can be the result of bad ram.
Installing the Ram
Before you open your case and access your ram, be sure to discharge yourself of static electricity, “touching the case” normally does it. Also be sure to do this when handling your ram, if your ram came in an antistatic bag, “protects the module from static”, keep it inside the bag until you are ready for install, again ground yourself by touching the metal case.
Now you will see the ram slots where your ram resides inside your computer as shown below. These slots come in different colours, they may be green, yellow, blue or even purple. !
You may find the module a tight fit, ease it in with some gentle rocking from side to side, once it is in place you should hear the retaining clips “snap back” into locking position.
Now it is simply a matter of replacing the side panel, screw it back in place and plug in all your peripherals. Power up the system and you may or may not receive an “F1” prompt. If you do, simply press F1 to accept the changes and continue on your way. Now the computer should have more "getup and go" and improved performance.
Well done, you just upgraded your ram. See also: Virtual Memory