computer upgrades – ram
When you buy a new computer, whether it’s a desktop machine or a laptop, most people don’t realise that it can be upgraded. I have recently upgraded the RAM memory for a couple of people who saw how easy it was to do. This is really the first stop when it comes to improving the performance of your computer.
With new computers they usually install the minimum amount of memory that the machine needs to operate, but this is usually lower that the optimum amount and certainly much lower than the maximum amount. Memory modules are becoming much cheaper, so I think it is within everyone’s budget to expand their memory capacity to the maximum.
So how does one go about it?
The first thing to do is to look in the manual. If you got the machine second hand then you can usually find an online manual from the manufacturers website by putting in the model number. These are things that you need to know before you go and buy RAM.
- The type of RAM memory that you need
- The maximum amount that your machine can take
- If they need to be installed in pairs
Technology is changing rapidly and there are many manufacturers, so there are many types of memory. You need to get the one that will work in your machine. The manual will tell you that. You’ll see terms such as SIMM, DIMM, DDR etc. You don’t need to know what any of this means except to make a note of it. So whether you are buying the item from a shop or online, you can make sure that you are getting the right one. Here’s a checklist.
- PC2700 etc.
- DDR, DIMM, SIMM or whatever
- the speed 333MHz etc.
- CL 2.5 or 3.0
- Number of pins 184 or 200
- ECC or non-ECC
Next you have to find out how much your computer can hold. Your computer may have half of it’s maximum capacity you would only need to get that much again. For example, if you have 256MB already installed and your maximum capacity is 512MB then you need to get another 256MB. What if you got more than that? Your computer wouldn’t be able to use it. You could install it and it could work, but the computer would only recognise up to its maximum. So it’s not worth getting any more.
Some laptops only have one slot for RAM while others have two. When they have two slots, sometimes the modules have to be installed in matching pairs. That’s another thing to check before you buy your upgrade. Desktop computers, whether PC’s or Macs usually tend to have more slots for RAM than laptops. They tend to have 184 pins as opposed to the laptop standard of 200 pins.
Which brand? Either Kingston or Crucial are considered the top brands when it comes to RAM memory. Any other well known brand such as Samsung, Infineon or HP are fine. Cheap and unknown brands can have an adverse effect on the performance of your computer and may cause a crash or erratic behaviour. You want to enhance performance not make it worse.
Now to install it
So what next? Now that you’ve got your RAM? You have to install it in the machine. Again the manual is a good place to start. Most computer manuals have a chapter or section about user upgrades which offer step by step instructions with diagrams on how to install parts. If you don’t have the manual, you can usually download a digital version of it from the manufacturers website by looking at their support pages and typing in the model number.
Each computer is slightly different and will require some sort of guide as to how to access the RAM slot. Especially with laptops. Although newer laptops make it much easier to access the RAM. This will involve opening the computer and inserting the new part into the slot. I’m not going to explain this detail but give a brief outline.
Turn off the machine and perhaps wait a little till it has cooled. Discharge yourself by touching a radiator. Find an unpainted part such as a pipe or join. This can have an effect on the sensitive parts inside the machine. Just as a precaution. Make sure your hands are clean, ie no grease or dust. Once you’ve opened the computer and located the RAM slot(s), you can simply install the new module that you have purchased or first have to remove the ones already installed for the higher capacity ones. This can be tricky as you need to be firm without using any great force. You should hear a click when the module is in place. Close the machine again and that’s it.
On the PC/Windows you can check by looking in Control Panel>System and on the Mac in System Profiler. No drivers to install. Now just enjoy a faster and more efficient computer.