RAM, or random access memory, is what you need to run programs on your computer effectively. With the speed of updates in the computing world today, it’s perfectly normal to have a computer with extra RAM when you buy it only to find your computer almost incapable of running a program a few years later. Fortunately, if your computer is sluggish, you can do a cost-effective upgrade to boost the RAM in your machine and boost the speed at which your computer works, too.

Identifying RAM and Your Needs

If you’re not entirely convinced that your need more RAM, you can always check with your computer to be sure. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del (in that order) and you’ll be given the option to start the Task Manager. Once you’re in the Task Manager, click on the Performance tab.

Look at the box labeled Physical Memory. If the number next to Available is near zero and your computer doesn’t seem to be as zippy as it once was, you’re in need of some new RAM. The next trick will be figuring out what sort of RAM you actually need to get for your machine.

If you have Windows XP, you probably need about 1GB of RAM at the minimum. If you run a lot of demanding programs on your machine, however, you’ll probably want at least 2GB of RAM to be sure everything continues to run smoothly. If you’re upgrading your operating system at the same time as this RAM upgrade or you’re planning to upgrade in the near future, opt for 2GB for the best performance.

You can find RAM is three basic varieties – DDR, DDR2 and DDR3. The newer a technology is, the better you can expect it to perform, but your motherboard probably only takes one sort of RAM. You just need to figure out which sort of RAM it is before you head to the store to buy more. The best way to determine which sort of RAM you need is to pull out your computer manual and check.

If you don’t have your computer manual with you or you don’t know what you’re looking for inside the manual, there are online tools to help you determine which sort of RAM you’re using. The search tool at Kingston, for example, takes you through a series of questions to help you narrow down the sort of RAM your machine currently is using.

Once you know what sort of RAM you need, you can order it online or you can drive to the local computer store to buy the module. Be sure to write down the specifics before you head out of the house. With the similarities between the types of RAM, this would be a bad time to forget exactly what you’re looking for – buying the wrong kind can harm your computer.

Don’t plan on buying the cheapest RAM available either. You want to buy a dependable brand of RAM for the best results, so be sure to get advice from experts in the store or do some checking online for the best brands of RAM to buy.

While you’re in the store, buy an antistatic wrist strap. This will help you stay grounded during the installation. These straps are very affordable and offer you some peace of mind at least as you go digging through your computer innards.

Installing RAM

Once you have the right kind of RAM in hand, it’s time to open up the case and get started on the installation. Always unplug your PC first and find a nice work area. You’ll probably be more comfortable standing rather than crawling on the floor, so clear a table or counter where you can comfortably work.

•    Open the computer’s case. You may find that laying the computer on its side is the easiest way to get access to the area of the computer where the RAM is located. If you’re working on a laptop, unscrew the access panel on the bottom of the machine, but be especially careful in this area.

•    Be sure you’re wearing your anti-static grounding bracelet before beginning or at the very least touch the metal case before reaching into the compartment. Static electricity can damage fragile computer components, and grounding yourself releases static electricity safely protecting your computer circuits.

•    Using the computer manual, look and see which RAM sockets you should be filling. You’ll likely have to move cables and panels out of the way to access the RAM sockets correctly.

•    In many cases, you’ll need to remove the existing RAM module inside your computer. This is much easier than it sounds. There are small clips on either side of the RAM that is currently inside your computer. Simply push on these clips gently and the RAM currently inside your machine will pop up slightly. This is an indication that it is ready to come out easily. Simply pull out the old RAM to remove it.

•    The new RAM arrived in a static-free case or envelope. Carefully remove the RAM and leave them on top of the envelope for now. Never touch the chips or the fragile parts of the component. You can handle RAM safely by the edges, only.

•    To actually install the RAM, push down on the latches on either end of the RAM socket in your computer case. Once the latches are open, line up the notch at the bottom of the memory stick with the bump that matches it in the socket for the memory.

•    Gently touch the top edge of the memory to the top of the socket and slide the memory into place inside your computer. As you carefully push the new memory down into place you should feel and hear the latches at either end of the socket rise and latch into place. You can double check that these latches are closed correctly by pressing on each one carefully before closing up the computer.

•    If you’re using a laptop or notebook, the installation process is essentially the same, but the memory will face the bottom of the socket. Just be sure to line up the notch in the slot and rise on the memory as you’re installing RAM and wait for it to click into place as you gently insert the RAM.

•    Finally, once the RAM is assembled, put the case back on your computer and plug it back in. Turn on the computer and watch your monitor carefully to be sure that the new RAM is recognized correctly.

•    If the RAM isn’t recognized on the first try, restart the computer in set-up mode and follow the instructions on the screen to press either F1 or Del as prompted. If there still isn’t any recognition of the memory, go through the installation process again to reseat the new RAM modules.