How Does Laptop Ram Differ From Desktop Ram?

Module size

Laptop RAM differs from desktop RAM in the size of the module, or card, that is inserted into the motherboard of the computer. A laptop RAM module is smaller than a desktop RAM module. Otherwise, the way RAM (which stands for random access memory) processes data is the same.

Number of modules

Desktops usually have one RAM module card, while most laptops have two. So, if there is one 512 MB RAM card in a desktop computer that's all the RAM that computer will have until a card with more RAM replaces it. In a laptop you can have one 512 RAM card and the computer will run fine, but you can also add another card with 512 of RAM and double your RAM to 1GB.

Types of RAM for desktops and laptops

RAM is not interchangeable between desktop and laptops. The RAM used in a laptop is specific to that model due to the size of the card and the connectors on the motherboard. Beyond the size of the module the types of RAM are the same. SDRAM and DDR used to be standard but have now been replaced by DDR2 and DDR3. 512 MB of RAM used to be standard, but now 1 GB is considered the minimum needed for full optimization of your laptop or desktop.

Resources

• RAM educational site