How to Determine How Many RAM Modules a Computer Holds

Random Access Memory (RAM) is an important component of your computer that determines its speed and memory. You can find a tiny circuit board with many chips in your computer which is called a Memory module. Here’s how to determine how many RAM modules a computer takes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Determining RAM Modules

1. Check your computer's configuration. To understand RAM modules, first learn about RAM size, speed and sockets.
2. Determine the type of RAM in your computer. To do this, go to "Start" and select "Settings." This will lead you to the "Control Panel." Here click on "System" and choose "General." You can view the amount of RAM at the bottom of the screen.
3. Get familiar with the types of RAM used in a computer. The most common type is SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM). Other types of RAM include DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM) and RDRAM (Rambus DRAM). Pentiums and Celerons now usually have an SDRAM installed in the CPU. Newer machines have DDR and RDRAM. Remember that RAM is usually expanded by the power of two such as 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 and so on. Confirm the RAM size in your computer before investigating the number of modules.
4. Verify the current RAM usage. If you have Windows OS, open the taskbar or press "Ctrl + Alt + Del." This will lead to your "Task Manager." Click on it first and then press the "Performance" button. You can view the amount of memory currently used by each program running on your PC. If you have Mac OS X, choose "About this Mac" from the menu located on top left corner of the screen. Open "Activity Monitor" from the Utilities folder. Click on the "System Memory" button located at the bottom of the window to see how much RAM is installed and the current usage.
5. Note that RAM modules are installed on the computer motherboard. There are usually up to four memory module sockets on the motherboards.
6. Determine the number of memory modules in your computer. To do this, open the computer case. View the motherboard and then look at the memory sockets. You can now calculate the number of modules that are easily visible.
7. Learn how your computer reads different RAM modules. For example, when using a Pentium processor, 32 MB of RAM installed on the computer uses 8 modules each of 4 MB. Upgrading your computer to 64 MB will require adding 8 more modules of 4 MB RAM. Check the number of modules, speed and parity. There are mainly two types of modules present in each computer: a 30-pin module and a 72- pin module.
8. Confirm the module your computer takes. A 30-pin module may show 1 x 9-60 or 1 x 8-60. The number 1 denotes the size of MB. While number 9 shows the parity, number 8 is for non-parity. When you see number 9 and 8, it also means that you have a 30 pin module. The final number 60 indicates the speed. Similarly, a 72-pin module will read 1 x 32-60 or 2 x 32-60, 4 x 36-60 and so on.
9. Remember that the number of RAM modules a computer can take will depend on the motherboard and number of sockets in your machine.

Tips & Warnings

• Newer RAM such as SDRAM, DDR and RDRAM are extendable. You can increase the memory of your computer without changing the motherboard.
• Get more information from computer memory website (see link below).

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