How do I find out a) what type of RAM my laptop has and b) slot availability?

Question

I need to update my RAM card(s) in my laptop, and cant remember how to do it. I need to check for my laptop and my mother's (mine running XP and mothers Vista) so if someone could answer this, it would be great. Cheers

Answer 1

Hi, adding RAM is physically simple, but it is very important to know what type and how much your system can handle. Most desktop home computers are unable to utilize more than 3.5 Gigs of RAM. I found this out the hard way by purchasing too much and wasting a bit of money. How much your particular computer can handle is determined by the processor installed. However, as I said already a good rule of thumb for these computers is 3.5 Gigs.

Now, you need to know what type, the speed and GHz. For example: I use DDR2 at 2.8GHz with a speed of 5000 which is basically the same as the corresponding three digit measurement. So, a package which states DDR2 at 6000 is the same as DDR2 at 667; or DDR2 at 5000 is the same as DDR2 at 557 or some such numbering system. The key is the first digit, which in my case is a five, whether it is four digits or three digits. Now, you also need to know that you can install a stick of memory which has a higher speed than which is installed in your system. This means I can use a 667 speed without any problems, but it will only work at the slower speed. If I put in a stick of memory which is slower, then all of my memory will work at that slower speed AND I need to be concerned with compatiability issues.

My husband and I installed memory in a computer and it seemed to work fine for over a week and then it threw a BSOD at us. As it had been a while since we installed the memory we assummed it was an issue with a newly installed printer. We went through all sorts of drama while trying to fix our problem. The computer would not even boot. Finally, we took out the newly installed memory and re-installed the old memory and it booted up as if nothing had been wrong with it. We were amazed to put it mildly, that the memory could work as long as it did before throwing it back up, or in other words, crashing the system.

The best method of discovering what memory you need is call the manufacturer of the machine. If it is not still under warranty, I am afraid they won't tell you a thing! HP refused to tell us what memory was installed or even give us a hint unless we purchased a longer warranty period. It had only been out of the first year warranty period three days! Bummer!

Now, if you look at you paper work you may find your answer their. If not there, and Dell is horrible about sending out any meaningfull paperwork with their systems, then look in the system inself. Reboot your system and at the first screen press the key which accesses the system menu. Once inside use the arrow keys to navigate to the area which details the RAM installed in your system. Write down the specifications and then go out and purchase RAM which is equal to or higher in speed as what is installed. Go into System Restore and set a Restore Point, to ensure you can revert back to a pre-existing point in time when all was running smoothly. Then turn off your system, unplug it, touch the floor then the casing to discharge static electricity, (even unplugged you can get shocked and/or cause harm to your hardware if it is not discharged properly, touching the ground and then the casing "grounds" all of the hardware in your machine), then unplug the current RAM modules, pop in the newer ones, make sure they are properly secured, put the casing back on, plug in your system, and boot up.

As mentioned before actually removing old RAM and installing new is the easy part. Finding out exactly what type and speed you need is the more difficult chore. Don't just take out the old module and take it to an electronics store as we did this and they still sold us the wrong RAM. The so called "experts" at the store didn't have a clue what they were talking about and crashed our system. Do utilize your own common sense and discover exactly what you need BEFORE going out to purchase it. Also keep in mind your system can only handle a certain amount of RAM. Any extra you install will NOT be used by the system, it will just go to waste.

You can determine how much memory is currently in use by accessing your System Information. Check after installation how much is in use by clicking Start-then hover your mouse over My Computer-Right Click-select Properties and your System properties will open in a dialog box. On the General Tab the memory in current use by your system will be displayed on that tab. Make sure ALL of the memory is being utilized and if not return the portion which is being wasted.

My husband purchased four gigs of memory of the correct amount. However, after installing it we discovered the system was only utilizing 3.5. This meant a full 512mb were wasted! He determined that having that extra half gig which WAS in use was not worth the price of paying for a full Gig and so returned a portion. He had removed the old memory totally and installed the four new sticks. He made this purchase by buying two sets of one gig in one stick each, so two containers of two sticks of one gig. He returned one package containing two gigs, re-installed the one Gig which came with the system and put in the package of the two sticks of one Gig each. He then had three sticks installed, totally three Gigs, the original Gig, and the two one Gig sticks which came in a set together. Each package of two one Gig sticks cost us $359.00. We simply could not justify spending $359.00 on RAM in which only 512MB actually was utilized by the system! Now, many sales people do NOT want consumers to know about this limitation by the machine, as it limits the amount of RAM they sell. Don't get suckered by these folks. Some will also try to tell you your vifdeo card is using the amount not showing up as utilized by the system. This is NOT true. Video cards come with their own onboard memory and do NOT use the installed RAM.

If I rambled on too much, I apologize. The bottom line is finding out what type of memory is installed and what the speed is, and how much RAM your system can actually utilize. Go into your user's manual and find the section on RAM. There it should list how much RAM your particular system can use. It will show a maximum amount. Now, mine says four Gigs, but it actually only utilizes 3.5, and I have since learned most desktop home computers have this same limitation. Don't purchase memory your system can't use. Stick to the 3.5 and you will do fine. It also matters how many memory slots you have for use. If you have two, you are stuck buying the more expensive two Gig sticks and having to waste that unused amount if you wish to max out what your system can use. If you have four, then you can install three sticks of one Gig each and one of 512MB. Then you would have the max 3.5.

Vista is different. You can have a lower amount onboard and then use the USB Memory Boost sticks to increase the amount of available RAM used by the system without actually having to install it internally. However, many technicians I have discussed this with say they have yet to really see a difference when plugging such a stick into the machine. I have not yet tried this myself, so have a tendency to not listen to the electronic store techs due to my previous experiance with them steering us wrong when it comes to making a sale.

I am not sure how much installed memory a Vista machine can utilize, but as Vista is an OS and not the motherboard or the processor I would assume it depends on the processor and motherboard and not the OS itself. Look into the paperwork and User's manual to determine what this limitation is and go from there.

Good luck and much success in increasing your RAM specifications. You could always change out your processor and motherboard if you have that type of experaince. However, that is major open heart surgery and will basically gut your current machine and rebuild a new one. This is a rather drastic and expensive road to select, and so I don't really reccomend it. I only mentioned it as it is an option.

P.S. Device Manager will not tell you what type of RAM is installed only what Brand is installed. Also, System Properties will only show you what is currently installed and able to be USED by your system, not the total amount installed if an amount is onboard over that which the system can actually utilize. If it can only utilize 3.5Gigs and you have 4Gig installed it will only show 3.5Gig not the 4Gig installed. I know as this is how we determined what our systems was able to handle and utilize NOT what we actually had installed.

Your best bet in finding out the type of memory you need is your paperwork, User Manual, calling the manuacturer IF still in warranty, OR going into your System Setup as outlined above.

Also, as I said before, actually installing the memory is simple; it is finding out exactly what type you need which is most challenging!

Good luck and have a great day!

Answer 2

Go to www.goldenram.com. There is an activex control that will analyze your system and tell you what slots you have, how many are open, how much RAM you currently have, and what types are compatible with your system. Of course it then tries to sell you more RAM, but you don't have to buy it. It may give you several speed options; This is where it gets tricky. As a previous poster mentioned, you want to match or exceed any currently installed RAM, as the slowest will dictate the speed of the system.

Answer 3

I would also download or find the Instruction manual or seeif the Laptop has built in help with details.

You need to know how many free slots you have and the maximum RAM allowed, besides the exact RAm type and speed.

I hope this helps !

Answer 4

right-click on my computer and go to properties. on the general tab it will tell you how much ram you have an it might tell you what type. you can also find the ram in your device manager on the hardware tab. to see slot availability, you need to open up your laptop. you will see if there are any open. you can also take your laptop into a computer store and tell them what you want and they can help you pick out the best. good luck!

Answer 5

laptops cant run more than 2gb of Ram , if u have 512mb Ram , maybe u have an Extra Slot, only one, since your pc is older...if u pc is new it has 2 slots for 1gb/1gb, u'll onl y know if u open the machine and check it...

Answer 6

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