How to Find Out What Type of RAM My Computer Needs to Upgrade
Each computer contains two important components---a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and memory chips. The CPU and memory chips work together to process computations within your computer. You can't have one without the other. Your computer has a base amount of memory installed, 512 Megabytes or higher, that can be expanded to beyond 1 Gigabyte, in most cases. Before you upgrade your computer's memory, you need to know what type of RAM your computer takes: SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), Rambus DRAM (RDRAM), DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM) or other type.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Open your computer's Internet browser by clicking on the program's icon on your computer's "Desktop," this applies to both Windows and Mac platforms.
-
2
Enter www.crucial.com/systemscanner/index.aspx in the URL box at the top of your browser's screen. The "Crucial System Scanner" tool application website will open.
-
-
3
Click on the check box next to the wording "By selecting this box and clicking the download the scanner button, I agree to the Terms and Conditions."
-
4
Click on "Download the Scanner." The "Opening CrucialScan.exe" dialog box will open.
-
5
Click "Open" or "Run" to download and set up the program directly.
Click "Save" or "Save As" to save the program's setup file on your computer if you don't see the "Open" or "Run" option or you are using dial-up or a slow Internet connection. The program will download and setup on your computer if you selected the "Open" or "Run" option.
-
6
Navigate to the directory where you want to save the file, if you selected the "Save" or "Save As" option. Select the "Desktop" if you have a hard time locating downloaded files on your system.
-
7
Double click on the "CrucialScan.exe" icon to open the program, if you selected the "Save" or "Save As" option.
-
8
Click "Run" when prompted with the "Open File -- Security Warning." The "CrucialScan.exe" program will run and appear in your computer's Internet browser.
-
9
Scroll to the second section on the "Memory upgrades from Crucial.com -- Determine My Memory Needs" website. The section is labeled "Your XXXXX Specifications." The "XXXXX"s represent your computer's brand and model.
-
10
Locate the wording "Each memory slot can hold..." Write down the this sentence on a piece of paper---this is the type of RAM your computer accepts.
-
11
Click "File," "Print," "OK" to print this website, if you have a printer attached to your computer.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The Crucial.com website also has information about the memory slots in your computer, recommended memory for your system, pricing on memory and other information related to your computer.
You can also find out what type of RAM your computer needs by opening the computer's case. Once the case is open, locate the memory on your computer's motherboard---the memory will be sitting upright or slanted. Remove one of the memory strips and look for the wording "SDRAM," "DRAM" or "DDR." If no wording is present on the memory, take the memory strip to a electronic or computer store for identification. If you have a laptop, the memory is located under a door underneath the laptop.
