RAM is the main memory that is responsible for executing all processes at the software level . Imagine a highway, which has two channels and at rush hour traffic increases. The result would therefore be slower than normal traffic. This is the case with computers, the less memory you have, the less processes are supported and, therefore, a slower operation is obtained, for this reason, the more RAM the computer has, the faster all the processes will be executed.
Expanding RAM memory improves the performance of your device , installed programs and processes run quickly, so you can see when you are downloading, watching a video or playing online, the computer slows down, you probably need to add to another memory and for that you should know the capabilities, the type of capacity and identify what your computer needs.
In this sense, in this tutorial you will find everything you need to know to expand the RAM of your computer or laptop to improve its performance . We will give you all the information about its capabilities, the types and the number of memories that you can add on the motherboard. In addition, we will teach you to identify the correct memory for your device and as if that were not enough you will learn to configure and install it.
Index:
What are the RAM capacities and what types are there?
In the commercial market you will find memories of various capacities and the same goes for the types, which are classified as follows: DRAM, SRAM and the so-called Swap . In how many, to its capabilities, will depend on the equipment you have :
Suppose you have a X58 mother chipset card for Intel i7 processors, supports a maximum of 6 slots, would be 24 GBytes of RAM , since the largest module is 4 GBytes. Another example is if your computer is a Pentium IV Dual Core 2.5 Ghz that has the capacity to support DDR2 memory with two 2GByte slots, you can get up to 4GBytes.
The latest RAM memories can support up to 32 GBytes of capacity . Here it depends on the number of slots your motherboard supports, I invite you to read the manual of your device. Here are the types with their characteristics:
DRAM
Its acronym means (« Dinamic Random Access Memory «), Dynamic Access Memory, because its chips are designed based on condensers, which require to be permanently ventilated, its charging method They are the bits and their performance in terms of speed is average, but they are the cheapest in the market. Within this range, there are the following :
- TSOP (“Thin Small Out-line Package”) : its acronym means elements of low periphery. They are memories made on the basis of trainers. They were the first isolated modules that were placed in motherboard sockets. These semiconductors increased the amount of RAM in the computer and made it slightly faster.
- SIP (“Single In-line Package”) : means simple online base. They were the first types of DRAM that integrated several TSOP memory modules into a single card, making them commercialize greater capacities on a single board. The terminals were concentrated in the lower part in the form of pins (30) that were placed inside the single slots of the motherboard.
- SIMM (“Single In line Memory Module”) : means single line memory module. They are a type of DRAM, which have the chips on only one side of the card and have a 30 or 72 terminal connector for slots for the motherboard.
- DIMM («Dual In line Memory Module ») : means dual line memory module, they are a type of DRAM memory, which can have chips on both sides of the card, they have a special connector of 168 terminals for card slots main.
- DDR1 (“Dual Data Rate”) : means sending double data, which have chips on both sides of the card and have an 184-terminal connector for motherboard slots. It was known as DDR type DIMM.
- RIMM («Rambus In line Memory Module») : means line memory module with bus, which integrates integrated circuits and in one of Its sides have the tips, which are used to be placed inside the special slots for those of the motherboard.
- DDR-2 (“Dual Data Rate 2”) : means Double data transmission 2nd generation, which have integrated circuit on both sides of the card and have a special connector of 240 terminals for slots of the main card of the computer.
- DDR-3 (“Dual Data Rate 3”) : means double transmission of 3rd generation data, which have memory chips on both sides of the card and have a special 240-terminal connector for main card slots . This type requires the use of fan cooler, because they generate a lot of heat.
- DDR4 (“Dual Data Rate 4”) : means double data transmission 4th generation. Like its predecessors, it is based on the use of DRAM type technology with 288 terminals, which are designed for the slots of the new generation main cards with Intel support.
SRAM
Static memory, («Static Random Access Memory») do not require to be permanently ventilated and this makes them extremely fast, but also very expensive. It is known as Cache Memory , it is also possible to get them adapted on hard drives and pendrive.
Swap
Known as virtual memory , it is not a RAM as such, but an emulation. This means that creates a large volume file on the hard disk , which stores information pretending to be RAM when it is partially full, its function is to prevent your computer services from stopping.
How to know and identify what is the RAM of my PC or laptop ?
To know the memory used by your computer you must do the following. In this tutorial was done for Windows 10 , the same applies to the other previous versions. Now, there are two ways to know this information, the first is by doing the following:
- Go to Start and in search place “Control Panel” and click.
- In «Adjust device settings» , click on moreSystemnd.
- Tells you the type of RAM memory it has.
The second way is as easy as the first and you may prefer to do this before the previous one. What you should do is:
- Go to the beginning and position yourself on importantEquipment distinguished.
- Once there, right click and then left click where it says “Properties”. Here you can see everything about the technical characteristics of your computer.
Now if you want to know more details about the memory and the amount of slots your PC supports, you should do the following:
- Start, in search place “Task Manager” and click there.
- Here you will select “Performance” and inside You will click on “Memory”, will tell you how many banks or slots you have free to add more, in addition to informing yourself of the type that is.
What are the aspects to be taken into account if I can consider ram of my laptop or PC?
The aspects to consider have to do more than anything with the amount of memories that supports the model of the motherboard that your team has. So once again we invite you to read the manual, there you will find all the specifications of the board and the number of slots or slot of the same .
If your team uses it to do office work, send an email from time to time or check social networks, maybe you should not expand it much. Now if you are a user who has spent downloading applications, movies or playing online with other Internet users, you should definitely increase the RAM of your laptop or PC .
This is because you are running several processes at the same time and that demands resources. Suppose your computer has 4 slots and you are using a 2GB one; Try buying another of the same capacity to measure the performance of the equipment. If you are not satisfied, acquire others until you perceive the expected performance .
How to configure and install the RAM in the BIOS of the PC?
Before doing the installation I recommend using a rubber eraser to clean the grooves since sometimes it does not recognize the memory because they are full of dust. Once this is done, the steps to follow are as follows:
- Check if it is in perfect condition .
- Choose the bank or slot where you are going to place it . Remember, just enter one form, use the tab to guide you and look at the bank slots.
- Touch any metal part to remove the static and thus do not damage your computer.
- Identify the modules and slide the tabs where you are going to fix this computer component.
- Carefully, place the new RAM in the same direction as the manual indicates.
- Slide the tabs to hook the RAM and close the CPU.
To configure the RAM in the BIOS you must do the following:
- Press the Delete key or wait for the system load to appear on the screen depending on the card model will tell you F2, F1 to enter the Setup or Bios.
* Note: The method to enter the BIOS changes according to the manufacturer.
- In the BIOS menu search “Settings” and press there.
In this part you can configure the RAM , for that you move with the arrow keys and you can activate the Mhz frequency so that you gain a few megabytes of speed. In addition, we leave you a comparative chart of RAM memories in terms of frequency and speed they can support.
- Then, check that the RAM has been recognized by the motherboard. It is important that you make sure that the amount of memory is correct. Then, press the appropriate key to save the BIOS settings and exit, which is usually F10. This will restart the computer.
When loading the operating system, you can go to the Control Panel> System and buy the installed RAM value and the speed of the equipment.