RAM: What’s it all about?

Most have you have probably heard of RAM. You’ve probably heard it used by a salesman when shopping for a new computer, along with other terms like 8GB and DDR3. But what does it actually mean?

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It is basically a temporary storage place that help your computer multitask. However, it is volatile and gets wiped clean every time you shut off your PC. Here is a very simple analogy to help you understand: http://davidrothman.net/2006/07/08/how-to-explain-ram-to-non-geeks/

One common misconception about RAM is that it is a blanket solution to computer speed issues. Without getting very technical, not all RAM is created equally. It comes in a wide assortment of generations, shapes and sizes. Certain factors like clock speed, timings, and dual channels also come into play. 

I’ve had many people ask me, “Hey can you put the RAM from my old laptop into the new one?” I try to explain that the new computer uses DDR3 and the old chips won’t fit as a result.

So how do you find out what kind of RAM you need and how much your computer can take? I’ll show you a very simple way.

Crucial, a RAM manufacturer, offers a free system scanner here: http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/systemscanner

Simply download the scanner, and execute the file. You will be taken to a loading screen which should only last for a few seconds (If it gets stuck on this screen try disabling your pop up/ad blockers). You will be taken to a results screen that displays relevant information.

As you can see above, these are the results for my computer model and its maximum RAM capacity. I have two RAM slots, both of which are currently full.

On the other side, you will see what type of RAM you need and the speed your computer can handle.

With this information, you know not only how many slots you have, but what the maximum size per slot is and the type of RAM that is compatible. Remember, RAM works best in pairs, and it’s a good idea to use identical chips when installing new RAM.