- one of the main components of any computer. The amount of RAM greatly affects the overall performance of the computer. If there is not enough memory for current tasks, the computer will run slowly. In this material we will talk about how to add RAM to a computer and solve this problem.
Step No. 1. Determine the number of free slots for RAM.
If you want to add RAM to your computer, the first thing you need to do is determine the number of free memory slots on your motherboard. This can be done using programs, but in this case there is a small risk of receiving incorrect information. Therefore, it is better not to be lazy and look for yourself. To do this, you need to completely disconnect the computer, lay it on its side and remove the side cover.
The RAM slots will be located to the right of the processor cooler. Budget or compact motherboards usually only have two slots. Mid-level motherboards usually have four slots, and the most expensive motherboards can even have eight memory slots (in this case they are located on both sides of the processor cooler).
RAM slots
Pay attention to how many slots are free. This is how many RAM modules you can add to your computer. If all the memory slots are already occupied, then in this case you can add RAM to the computer only by replacing the already installed memory.
Step No. 2. Determine the current memory configuration.
When adding RAM to a computer, you should strive to ensure that all memory modules are as similar as possible to each other. They must have the same volume, the same timings and, of course, the same type (DDR, DDR2, DDR3 or DDR4). Using the same memory modules will avoid possible compatibility problems.
Therefore, since you have already opened the side cover of the computer, remove one of your memory cards and. There is usually a sticker on the RAM that has all the information you need written on it. You can read about how to remove and install a RAM module at the end of the article.
Sticker with RAM characteristics
If there is no sticker, then you can get information about the installed RAM using the CPU-Z program. Launch this program on your computer and open the SPD tab. The characteristics of each RAM module will be indicated here.
Characteristics of RAM in the CPU-Z program
In the upper left corner of the SPD tab there will be a switch that you can use to switch between the characteristics of different memory modules.
Step No. 3. Buy new memory modules.
Based on how many free RAM slots you have, as well as the characteristics of the memory already installed, you can determine which memory modules are needed and how many of them can be installed. The ideal option is to find on sale exactly the same modules as you have on your computer, from the same manufacturer and with the same characteristics.
If you cannot find exactly the same memory, then buy modules from another manufacturer, the main thing is that their characteristics match those that you already have installed.
If you completely change all memory modules, then it is no longer necessary to maintain compatibility with old modules, the main thing is that the new ones are supported by your motherboard.
Step No. 4. Add RAM to the computer.
Once the necessary modules have been purchased, you can begin to install them. If you need to remove already installed modules, then to do this you need to release the two latches that are located on the sides of the module and, holding the module by its ends, carefully pull it out of the connector. In this case, you do not need to apply much force; the module should come out of the connector without difficulty.
Installing a RAM module
Installing the module into the slot proceeds in the same way. Open the latches on the sides and carefully insert the module into the connector on the motherboard. It is important to correctly orient the module in the connector. To do this, you need to pay attention to the connector and the module itself. There will be cutouts on the module that should match the jumpers on the connector (key). Usually the module gets into the desired position in two clicks. After the memory module is inserted into the slot, you need to close the latches on the sides of the connector. After this, you can assemble the computer.
Computer RAM is designed to temporarily store data that must be processed by the central processor. RAM modules are small boards with chips and a set of contacts soldered onto them and are installed in the corresponding slots on the motherboard. We'll talk about how to do this in today's article.
When installing or replacing RAM yourself, you need to focus your attention on several nuances. This is the type or standard of the strips, the multi-channel operating mode, and directly during installation - the types of locks and the location of the keys. Next, we will analyze all the working aspects in more detail and show the process itself in practice.
Standards
Before installing the strips, you need to make sure that they match the standard of the available connectors. If the motherboard has DDR4 connectors, then the modules must be of the same type. You can find out what memory your motherboard supports by visiting the manufacturer's website or reading the included instructions.
Multi-channel mode
By multi-channel mode we mean an increase in memory bandwidth due to the parallel operation of several modules. Consumer computers most often include two channels, server platforms or “enthusiast” motherboards have four-channel controllers, and newer processors and chips can already work with six channels. As you might guess, throughput increases in proportion to the number of channels.
In most cases, we use conventional desktop platforms that can work in dual-channel mode. In order to enable it, you need to install an even number of modules with the same frequency and volume. True, in some cases, unsuited bars are launched in a “two-channel”, but this rarely happens.
If there are only two slots for RAM on the motherboard, then there is no need to invent or figure out anything here. We simply install two strips, filling all available slots. If there are more places, for example four, then the modules should be installed according to a certain pattern. Usually channels are marked with different colored connectors, which helps the user make the right choice.
For example, you have two sticks, and the motherboard has four slots - two black and two blue. In order to use dual-channel mode, you need to install them in slots of the same color.
Some manufacturers do not separate slots by color. In this case, you will have to refer to the user manual. Usually it says that the connectors must be alternated, that is, insert modules into the first and third or into the second and fourth.
Armed with the information above and the required number of strips, you can begin installation.
Installation of modules
After installing the memory, the computer can be assembled, turned on and used.
Installation in a laptop
Before replacing the memory in a laptop, it must be disassembled. How to do this, read the article available at the link below.
Laptops use SODIMM type brackets, which differ from desktop ones in size. You can read about the possibility of using dual-channel mode in the instructions or on the manufacturer’s website.
Examination
In order to make sure that we did everything correctly, we can use special software such as CPU-Z. You need to launch the program and go to the tab "Memory" or, in the English version, "Memory". Here we will see in what mode the strips operate (Dual - two-channel), the total amount of installed RAM and its frequency.
On the tab "SPD" You can get information about each module separately.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing complicated about installing RAM in a computer. It is only important to pay attention to the type of modules, keys and which slots they need to be included in.
Hello friends! I think many will agree that when assembling a PC, especially a gaming one, you should try to get the most out of the available components. However, this does not mean that you should ignore the possibility of improving the computer used for work - extra frequencies never hurt.
One of the desirable conditions is the use of dual-channel RAM mode. You can read in detail about what this is.
When purchasing RAM, it is better to take not one large capacity stick, but two smaller ones. In terms of price, it will not be much more expensive, but the computer will work faster, which is important for any user.
In this manual, I will tell you how to install RAM in dual-channel mode correctly and what needs to be taken into account. At the end of the publication you will find a thematic video.
Design features of motherboards
Typically, motherboards have 2, 4 or 8 RAM slots. In the first case, these are most likely budget solutions, with the most reduced capabilities (I don’t recommend messing with them), in the second, mid-range and top-end ones, and in the last, the most expensive and sometimes server-based ones.
To operate RAM in dual-channel mode, you must install two (or however many of them you have) sticks in the correct slots, otherwise the option simply will not be activated. Naturally, it is necessary that the motherboard supports such an option, which you should make sure of before purchasing it.
Activation implies the use of an even number of memory modules (two, four or eight), preferably not very different in size, timings, frequency and other characteristics. 
If these conditions are met, sticks installed in paired slots for RAM will operate in dual-channel mode. Usually they are marked with one color, and the other two are paired, respectively (most often they are blue and black). However, this is not always the case.
In this case, you should look at the designation on the motherboard itself. Schematically it looks like this
- Channel A DIMM 0 – strip from the first pair;
- Channel A DIMM 1 – strip from the second pair;
- Channel B DIMM 0 – strip from the first pair;
- Channel B DIMM 1 – strip from the second pair.
If you have only two strips, then leave the slots for the second pair empty. Roughly speaking, the slats should be installed one at a time - in most cases this will be the correct position. The same applies to the four memory modules that you are going to install on a motherboard with 8 slots.
If you have doubts about the correct location of the RAM, do not be lazy to look at the documentation for the motherboard: about the location of the slots and the correct installation of parts, everything is indicated there.
Many people mistakenly believe that installing RAM is as easy as shelling pears, there is supposedly no need to configure it, and there is no point in overclocking it at all. In reality, everything is much more complicated, and now I will tell you in the form of questions and answers how to squeeze maximum performance out of RAM.
The editors would like to thank the companies that kindly provided memory kits and motherboards for testing.
Is it possible to combine memory of different models, brands and frequencies?
In theory, a PC can use several RAM modules not only from different manufacturers, but also with different frequencies. In this case, all memory will operate at the frequency of the slowest module. But in practice, incompatibility conflicts may arise: the PC may not start at all, or periodic OS crashes may occur. Therefore, it is better to immediately buy RAM in a set of two or four modules, especially if you plan to overclock. Modules from the same set use chips from the same batch and have identical overclocking potential.
How useful is multi-channel memory mode?
All modern Intel and desktop processor platforms support at least dual-channel memory. In turn, Intel Core i7 Gulftown and Intel Xeon Nehalem and Westmere processors support three-channel mode, and AMD Opteron 6000 series, Intel Core i7 LGA 2011 and Xeon E5 and E7 support four-channel mode (eight memory slots).
The dual-channel memory mode adds 5 to 10 percent performance to the processor, while the integrated graphics accelerator adds up to 50 percent. That is why when assembling on an AMD A8-7600 processor with integrated Radeon R7 graphics, we strictly recommend using two memory modules.
If you have only two memory modules and a motherboard with four DIMM slots, it is important not to make a mistake with the installation order. So, in order to use the dual-channel mode, the modules need to be inserted into the connectors through one, that is, the first and third, or the second and fourth. Perhaps the second option is more universal, since the first slot can be covered by a large processor cooler, such as . However, for memory and with low-profile radiators this is not a problem.
You can check whether the memory really works in dual-channel mode using the AIDA64 application (menu item “Test cache and memory”). The same program will help you measure memory performance before and after overclocking.
How to adjust memory frequency and timings?
Immediately after installation, the RAM often operates at its minimum frequency, or at the frequency that the processor officially supports. For example, the 2400 MHz HyperX Savage on an Intel Core i3-4130 processor ran at just 1600 MHz by default. You can set the maximum memory frequency in the motherboard BIOS settings: either manually or using Intel XMP technology (supported even by AMD motherboards).
If you manually select 2400 MHz, the memory will operate at standard timings (latencies) for this frequency of 11-14-14-33. But in practice, HyperX Savage can work stably at the same frequency with lower timings. But it is the ratio of high frequencies and low timings that guarantees high memory performance.
To avoid having to manually select the value of each timing, Intel has developed a technology called Extreme Memory Profile. It allows you to literally select the optimal memory profile, prepared in advance by the manufacturer, in literally two clicks. So, our version of HyperX Savage supports two XMP profiles: 2400 MHz 11-13-14-32 and 2133 MHz 11-13-13-30. The first is relevant, for example, for a motherboard with support for memory overclocking to 3300 MHz, and the second for a motherboard in which the RAM frequency is limited to 2133 MHz.
How to overclock memory?
Overclocking something (processor, video card, memory) is always a lottery: one copy can overclock well, the second one, exactly the same, can overclock poorly. There is no need to be afraid that the memory will fail during overclocking: if you set the frequency too high, it simply will not start.
If the motherboard does not have a function to automatically rollback overclocking settings after several unsuccessful attempts to start the PC, you can reset the settings manually using the Clear CMOS jumper (another name for JBAT).
In the case of RAM, you will have to select experimentally not only the frequency and supply voltage, but also the timings. Moreover, it is not a fact that it will be possible to select a better ratio than what is provided by the maximum XMP profile. In the case of HyperX Savage, this is exactly what happened: the memory was overclocked to a frequency of 2600 MHz, but the timings had to be increased to 12-14-15-33.
AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark
| 28479 | 24721 | -15 |
| 36960 | 32572 | -13 |
| 31109 | 27343 | -14 |
| 55 | 55 | 0 |
Measuring memory performance with the aforementioned AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark program before and after overclocking showed an average speed drop of 14 percent. So overclocking the memory by 200 MHz above the nominal turned out to be effective in theory, but useless in practice. But this is the case with the top 2400 MHz version of the HyperX Savage, and the lower frequency version, such as the 1600 MHz, has much better potential for manual overclocking.
conclusions
As you can see, installing and configuring RAM correctly is not that difficult, especially if it supports ready-made XMP profiles. If you buy memory as a kit, you can get a performance boost not only from the dual-channel mode, but also from successful overclocking. To avoid incompatibility with large processor coolers, it is better to choose a low-profile RAM, especially if you plan to use the memory slot closest to the processor.
RAM is one of the most important components that affects computer performance. Therefore, adding it is one of the most common “upgrades”. The first sign that there is not enough RAM is the slow operation of the personal computer. The PC stops coping with many of the tasks assigned to it by the installed software, and cannot ensure the correct and good operation of new games.
The most budget-friendly way to solve this problem is to install additional RAM. This can be done both on a desktop computer and on most laptop models. Before we jump into the proper steps, it's worth mentioning that desktop iMacs can only install RAM designed for laptops.
The first thing you need to do is determine what type of RAM is installed on your computer in order to install a new one or replace it entirely. This will depend on the type of motherboard. To understand this, you can open the case or look at the attached documentation. If the necessary documents are not available, you should go to the manufacturer’s website.
There are only three types of RAM, DRR, DDR2 and DDR3. The vast majority of modern desktop computers are equipped with the last two types of RAM. The essence of identifying RAM is its speed and throughput. It is very important to make sure that both characteristics will fully correspond to the factory parameters of the motherboard. These parameters are also called identifiers. The following examples of determining compliance can be given. An ID such as PC3 12800 means that the maximum bandwidth is equivalent to 12.8 GB. Another identifier, for example, DDR3 1800, tells us that the speed is 1800 MHz.
Slots
The next step to installing memory is to determine the number of slots intended for RAM modules. Most motherboards have a limit on the amount of RAM. And this indicator will not depend on how many connectors it has.
In any case, the best option would be to buy SDRAM RAM. If you choose RAM, you will have to purchase two or four modules. Example: to get an “extra” of 8 GB of RAM, you need to take two 4 GB modules or four 2 GB modules. It is important that they all have identical parameters that we mentioned above (we are talking about speed and throughput). If you ignore this issue, the overall performance of the computer may decrease significantly, since the system will configure itself in accordance with the minimum factory values recorded in the PC. It is very important to double-check the motherboard's capabilities.
Preparation
Before installing memory, you need to turn off not only the computer, but also all peripheral devices - monitor, mouse and keyboard. Only after this can you open the case and then place it on a table or floor so as to gain maximum access to the motherboard.
It is important to completely eliminate the possible occurrence of static charges. This may damage some computer components. You can get rid of charges in two ways:
- touch the body of a switched off computer while it is connected to the network;
- Wear an antistatic wrist strap.
Also, do not stand on the surface of a carpet or carpet while working with the components of the PC system unit.
Start installation
You need to find the motherboard connectors. In most cases, there will be either two or four such slots. Finding them is easy. They are located next to the processor. If you can’t find the connectors, you can use the documents for the motherboard. But the easiest way is to just look where exactly the old RAM modules are located.
Removing the video card
There are some motherboards whose design is such that the video card will significantly interfere with the correct installation of RAM. This means that before installing the memory, it will need to be removed. One or two power cords can be connected to the video card. You should pay attention to what the mounting diagram is.
Usually there are levers on the cords, after pressing which the cord can be easily pulled out correctly. The next step is to unscrew the screws connecting the video card to the motherboard. Most devices have a latch or retainer located on the PCI Express slot. It is to this socket that the video card is attached, and it serves to ensure that the card can be connected very tightly to the connector. This is necessary, since this is the only way to provide support from the front side. On the reverse side, screws serve as fastenings. The latch will need to be moved back enough so that you can easily remove the video card. It should be remembered that each procedure is carried out as carefully as possible, the card is pulled out and not pulled out of the slot from the front side. There is no need to apply force.
Now we have access to RAM. But there is one more point. If the computer has been in use for a long time, then removing the video card gives us a chance to clean it. Only a soft brush should be used. There is absolutely no need to disassemble the cooling system of the video card, since its design is very fragile. You can carefully clean only the fan, but even here, using force can lead to damage.
Insert the memory module
Let's return to RAM. Then you need to pull out the RAM module by opening the clips on both sides. The new module is removed from the packaging, but it must be held in such a way as not to touch the contacts on the bottom and the microcircuits located on the sides.
The module is inserted so that its groove clearly coincides with the protrusion in the motherboard connector. To do this, you need to lightly press the module, which, after it enters the connector, must be fixed using the connectors.
When performing this procedure, you must ensure that installation is done in the correct slots. The latter are marked on the motherboard, or they are different from each other in color. But it's still worth looking through the documentation again. According to the described scheme, each RAM module is installed.
We complete the process
Before closing the housing, it is highly advisable to completely clean the surface of the housing and all components using a compressed air supply device. This will increase air circulation inside the case, which, in turn, will increase the performance of the computer.
After cleaning, you need to close the computer case. There is no need to turn it on if the case is open, this will negatively affect the cooling process. Peripheral devices must be connected to a non-working computer.
Checking the result
Then you need to turn on the PC. Some systems start a process to test the functionality of components after the configuration has been changed. This is how you can ensure that you were able to install the new RAM correctly.
If the computer has not started scanning, you can do it yourself - directly in Windows. It's easy to do. You need to press Win+Pause/Break, then the “System” window will open. There is also an alternative option for opening a window through Explorer or the Start menu. The System window is located in the Properties section of the My Computer folder. You can get here by right-clicking on the folder. In “Properties” there is detailed information about the RAM that has been installed by the user.
Different operating systems will display RAM size differently. Some systems are able to reserve a particular amount of memory for specific needs. For example, if the amount of new RAM was 2 GB, then the PC may display it as 1.99 GB.
If you can’t do independent testing, you can use one of the existing utilities. They are provided free of charge and can be downloaded online.
Correctly installed RAM will increase the performance of your computer several times. Improvements will be felt within the first minutes after launching the game or any software.
