why it is important and how to do it

There are some hardware upgrades that have a direct impact on the user experience and whether or not you can perform certain tasks on a personal computer. Expanding RAM is one of them and just like replacing a hard drive with an SSD, it is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that allows you to improve your computer without having to change major components such as the motherboard and processor or expensive dedicated graphics cards.

Today we are going to review the essential information you need to know about this type of memory, its different types, the amount we need depending on the focus of the equipment and finally its purchase and assembly. If you want to know more before you start, we recommend reading our RAM memory guide.

What it is and what it is used for

RAM is a random access memory that is primarily used to load instructions from the CPU and handle system and application data. It is not the only  “memory” that exists in the PC and shares tasks with others such as those used for internal data storage, be it a hard disk or SSD.

The main difference between them is that RAM memory does not store data persistently and deletes/downloads it when not in use or when the computer is turned off. This is a fundamental difference compared to the operation of an SSD (or hard disk) that stores data even if it has no power, until the user deletes it.

This is why the RAM capacity of a typical PC does not need to be as large as that of an SSD, but in return the SDRAM memories they use are much faster than the NAND of a storage unit. There have been attempts to “merge” the two as you may recall from Intel’s Optane technology, but they have not been successful. There are more promising projects such as UltraRAM, Samsung’s Z-NAND, or XL-FLASH from Kioxia and Western Digital, but they are still in the development phase. RAM will remain a fundamental component of computer architecture for a long time to come.

These memories can be incorporated in a PC from two main wayssoldered on the motherboard (usually used by manufacturers in mobile devices, embedded and some laptops) and based on modules that are installed in slots (DIMM or SO-DIMM slots respectively in desktop-portable) prepared for this purpose and that in different numbers are offered by motherboards.

If soldered chips cannot be replaced or upgraded by a user, the use of modules allows expand the RAM memory of a PC in a relatively simple way. These modules are standardized and upgrading them improves both capacity and performance.

Expand RAM memory

Types of memory

Before we start, it is important to know that RAM memory is an extremely sensitive component and therefore, if we intend to combine new modules with others already installed, they should be as similar as possible in characteristics to those we already have or, better still, they should be identical to those already installed in order to avoid subsequent errors. Before purchasing the new modules, we need to know a series of characteristics as:

  • The number of slots available for the modules (generally 4 to 8 on desktops and 2 on laptops)
  • The maximum supported capacity (8-16-32-64-128 GB on consumer PCs)
  • The standard used (DDR5, DDR4 and DDR3, although there are older computers running earlier standards)
  • The form factor (DDR in DIMM slots in desktops and LPDDR in SO-DIMM slots or soldered slots in laptops)
  • Main specifications: voltage, operating frequency or latency.

And where do we get this information? Operating systems do not provide enough information, little more than the installed capacity. Some more information can be found in the BIOS, but it is still insufficient. If we are upgrading a desktop, the motherboard manual is a good place to start. We can also physically access the installed modules and consult the information that is usually included on a sticker.

But if you want all the information you need in a moment, there is software that can help us. One such tool, specialized and free is RAMMon. We download it and install it to know not only its interface, performance and capacity, but also its manufacturer and model number It is a key step to get it right when buying new modules.

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How much memory do I need?

While there are certain use cases where speed may be more important than capacity and the most reasonable strategy when upgrading a PC is to always seek balance, the answer to the question is simple the more the better.

We have already said that absolutely all the data that moves a personal computer goes through RAM, from CPU instructions, operating system, applications or games. In addition, integrated graphics cards, usually with little or no amount of memory, use general RAM to increase their capacity. It may vary depending on the type of PC and its focus, but an idea based on your usage can help you know what you need:

  • 2 GB. This is the minimum requirement for the 64-bit version of Windows 10 and (although a PC could boot with less) is the absolute minimum you should handle. It’s just enough for basic operations like web browsing, email, word processing or basic multimedia. And very little else.
  • 4 GB. It’s only twice as much as the previous one, but it’s going from day to night. Not only do applications run faster, but you can also run more applications simultaneously or use the multiple tabs in memory guzzlers like web browsers tend to be.
  • 8 GB. It is the current standard from the mid-range in PCs. It is offered by most manufacturers in new computers and is what you should look for (minimum) in a new computer in 2021 whether desktop or laptop. It is the amount recommended by Adobe for users running their applications and, in general, allows them to handle photo or video editing and rendering applications.
  • 16 GB. This is the amount to look for in a newly acquired advanced computer, although – depending on the budget – 8 GB can be purchased and upgraded later. This opens up a world of new possibilities, including (basic) professional work with CAD and 3D, RAW image processing or 4K video with applications such as Premiere Pro or After Effects. Multitasking is greatly improved and we can accumulate multiple tabs / web browser sessions.
  • 32 GB Although it is possible to work with smaller amounts, from 32 Gbytes and above we add to all the above the possibility of running with some ease virtual machines to which you have to dedicate resources of the main computer
  • More than 32 GB. If you use it for professional purposes and need more, there are mobile workstations with support for 64 and 128 GB. On high-end consumer desktops it is common to support 64 GB, while on professional workstations you can install practically everything you need thanks to boards with 8 expansion slots.

Expanding RAM

How to upgrade the RAM memory of a desktop computer

Once we have gathered the necessary information about the type of memory (interface, frequencies, latencies…) supported by our motherboard and decided the capacity we are going to mount we go shopping. Retailers like PcComponents and Amazon offer RAM modules of all kinds. Corsair, Kingston, Crucial, Samsung, Patriot…. Any of the major manufacturers have a wide range of products in their catalogs.

For the example, we start with a PC with 16 Gbytes of DDR4 memory installed in two modules and with two other empty DIMM slots. As an extension, we will add an additional 16 Gbytes through the purchase of a kit of two modules (8+8 GB). Although single modules are also sold, the kits usually offer better prices. In this case, we were able to purchase identical modules to the ones we already had, ensuring a trouble-free upgrade.

Installation is simple. We turn off the tower, remove any type of connection and access to its interior not without having made sure to eliminate static electricity. If you do not have dedicated mats or bracelets simply touch with a screwdriver any component of the chassis. The design of current motherboards usually place the memory modules in the upper right side of them.

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As you will see in the image, in our example it is lossless and also allows us to install the additional modules without having to remove any other components. This is not common and on many motherboards you will not have such good access and you will have to remove the processor fan or some other component first. We can do it directly, we open the safety latches and click the two modules into their slots.

Be careful, but not afraid, press down until you hear a click and the safety latch drops back down to hold the modules. There is nothing more to do for now. We close the tower and reconnect sound, Ethernet, peripherals and power supply cables.

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Point out that if we cannot find compatible modules or all slots are already occupied, we always have the option of purchasing modules of greater capacity and install only the new ones. Obviously the budget will skyrocket because we will lose the capacity of the installed ones, something that usually happens to quite a few users. If you start from scratch, make sure from the beginning that you have plenty of RAM or that you will have the opportunity to increase it without difficulty so as not to be left later with unusable modules.

How to upgrade the RAM on a laptop

The process on a laptop is basically the same as on a desktop, although it has some peculiarities. In a desktop PC that we have assembled we will not have any problem, but in a laptop is more complicated because the included module has been manufactured specifically for the OEM manufacturer to mount them in new equipment and it is not possible to find an identical one as it is advisable.

In addition to reviewing the information provided by applications such as the aforementioned RAMMon, it is worth going to the manufacturer’s website to know the compatibility with additional modules. Also note that notebook modules are different from those installed in typical desktops, smaller in size and in LPDDR (Mobile) format versus desktop DDR.

For the example, we start from a laptop with an 8 Gbyte LPDDR5 module installed in a SO-DIMM slot and a slot available to install another one. Once the second module has been purchased, we will install it. It is a little more complicated than a desktop, but any user will be able to do it. Access to memory is different for each laptop, although in models that allow upgrading/expansion it is usually simple. Either you have a dedicated cover on the back or you have to remove the entire case as in the example.

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Once the cover is removed we will soon locate the occupied memory module and the free slot. Slightly open the safety latches, insert the new module (in its correct position and in this case slightly tilted) and lower it down until it locks into place. If we have purchased the correct module there is no mistake, but as in the tabletop should be as firm as careful. We reassemble the cover and finish the installation.

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Installation test

Whether on desktops or laptops, once the upgrade has been performed, it is advisable to perform a reliability check of the update. We have already mentioned that hardware, system and applications make massive use of it and that RAM performance is very sensitive if we have not installed identical modules or at least as similar as possible. There are times when an incompatible module produces random errors that can drive us crazy.

As soon as you reboot for the first time you can enter the BIOS and there you will see that the computer detects the new memory configuration. Once in the operating system, in the settings you can also view the installed capacity. If you want to go further and perform a thorough check, nothing better than using applications such as MemTest86, one of the most complete and available for free for consumption, supports Windows, Mac and Linux 32 and 64 bit operating systems; it is compatible with BIOS or UEFI firmware including secure boot modules and offers images to create bootable drives on optical disks or USB drives.

Don’t be afraid. Expanding the RAM memory on a desktop or laptop is not a complicated task and it is not a offers great advantages in terms of performance or simply in the ability to perform new tasks that we would not otherwise be able to perform. Like replacing the hard drive with an SSD, it is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that allows you to leverage your PC and reap immediate benefits.

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