How to Install RAM in a PC

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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Installing RAM in your PC is perhaps the easiest part of a PC build, and also a simple upgrade you can do to add performance later. More RAM allows you to smoothly run more software, edit video, open lots of browser tabs or play video games.

The RAM is effectively short-term memory, storing data that needs to be used in the programs you’re actively using. Having more memory lets your CPU access more data, which can improve performance. It’s a great way to increase performance on even the best gaming PCs. (If you’re not using a desktop, learn how to upgrade the RAM in your laptop.)

Whether you’re in the middle of building your PC, or making an upgrade, you’ll have to make sure you pick RAM that works with your motherboard and determine how many sticks you’ll need.

Determine what kind of memory you need (and how much)

The kind of RAM you’ll need depends on your motherboard. You’ll have to check if it uses the newest standard, DDR5, or the older DDR4 — both are still commonly found (you can tell from the manual, the product descriptions or Crucial’s Advisor Tool). The other thing to consider is whether your board has two or four slots for memory. Full-size ATX and micro ATX motherboards will usually have four slots, while mini ITX often have just two.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

So if you want 32GB of RAM, you could use two 16GB of sticks on any of those board types, or four 8GB sticks on the ones with four slots. Once you have the best RAM for you, move on to the next part of the guide.

Picking Your Slots for Dual Channel RAM

Most modern motherboards support dual channel RAM configurations, which means that there are two 64-bit lanes from the memory to the CPU as opposed to just a single one, a huge speed advantage. To take advantage of dual channel speeds, you need to have two or four sticks of RAM and place them into the correct DIMM slots so that half of the memory is on one channel and the other half is on the other. 

If you’re installing two DIMMs into a board with four empty slots, you need to make sure that you check your motherboard manual to see which slots represent channel A and B. Usually this means putting the RAM in other slot, but check the instructions and look for a diagram like this one.

(Image credit: Asus)

Once you know which slots to use, you’re ready for installation.

How to Install RAM in Your PC

1. Unlock the latches on the RAM slot. Some boards have them on both sides of the slot, while many now just have one. Push down on the latches to ensure they’re in the open position.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

2. Line up the first stick. You’ll see that the motherboard has a notch and the RAM has a divot. These have to line up. If they don’t, the RAM won’t fit. Make sure you have the RAM facing the right way. If you don’t, turn it around.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

3. Place the RAM in the slot. Make sure it’s aligned between the latch guides.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

4. Press down on the RAM until it makes a clicking sound. You may need two hands. If it’s your first time building, don’t be alarmed that it takes more pressure than you expected; the process requires a bit of force.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

You shouldn’t be able to see any of the gold contacts. The latches on the sides of the RAM slot should have popped up to lock the memory in place.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

5. Repeat the process with each stick of RAM until you’re done.

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

If your RAM isn’t fitting in, make sure you’re pressing down with some force. Also be doubly sure that the RAM is facing the right way, and that the notch and divot are aligned.

With the RAM installed, you can continue your build. Learn more with our full guide on how to build a PC.  

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Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom’s Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom’s Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Twitter: @FreedmanAE

How to upgrade your PC with RAM

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Nov 2022

• PC Performance

• Gaming

• Kingston FURY

• DIY PC

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Have you ever thought about upgrading your PC’s RAM? Performance is king when playing games on a PC. You’ll need a decent rig if you want to be at the top of your game. Playing demanding video games and running intensive programs can put a lot of strain on your systems, especially when using them all at once. If you’ve noticed a sudden drop in your computer’s performance, you may be tempted to splash out on a new rig. However, before you go raiding your piggy bank, it may be worth checking to see if your slowdown issues can be fixed by increasing your system’s RAM. These days, most of the processing power is handled by your PC’s graphics card. That said, the amount of gaming memory you have will still determine the number of tasks your computer can perform before grinding to a halt. Random Access Memory (RAM), also referred to commonly as “memory”, helps store data that needs to be readily available for various programs to run. If you’re seeing spikes in performance, then it may be time to boost your PC’s RAM.

When do you need to upgrade your PC’s RAM?

If your PC is struggling to load programs and becomes unresponsive during crucial gaming sessions, then chances are it’s time to upgrade your RAM. Computer RAM allows you to run data-intensive applications with ease and increases your PC’s multitasking capabilities. Running multiple programs can lead to performance-related problems, as every application you’re running demands various amounts of memory. If you love to game, browse the web, stream and chat all at the same time, you’ll need enough RAM to handle the load. Thankfully, you don’t need to throw out your current rig just yet! You can overcome sluggish performance by installing Kingston FURY memory.

Be sure to check how much memory your PC is using by opening Windows Task Manager. To do this, simply right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), and then click on the Performance tab to see how much memory is currently being used. The performance tab will also indicate how many physical memory slots are available, so make sure you have the required slots before purchasing any new RAM.

How do you install Kingston FURY memory?

Thankfully, installing new RAM into your rig is incredibly easy and you’ll only need to set aside a few minutes of your time. Before installing, check your motherboard’s manual to find out the optimal sockets for 2x or 4x module installation.

Why choose Kingston FURY memory?

Kingston prides itself on delivering fast, reliable memory at an affordable price. You shouldn’t have to spend thousands on upgrades. All our memory modules offer faster speeds, reduced power consumption, increased memory capacity and improved reliability. They’re pre-optimised to work seamlessly with the latest Intel motherboards. Our RAM gives systems the boost they need to maintain peak performance. Even older PCs can be brought up to speed with our memory modules, with a minimum of fuss. Kingston believes things should be simple and that’s why many of our memory modules come packed with our staple Plug N Play functionality, allowing you to overclock to the highest frequencies without fiddling around with the system BIOS settings. If your PC is struggling to keep up with all your working and gaming demands, then Kingston’s reliable RAM modules will give it the performance boost it needs.

#KingstonIsWithYou #KingstonFURY

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HOW TO UPGRADE RAM (RAM)

HOW TO UPGRADE RAM
If you are learning how to upgrade RAM, we have good news. RAM is perhaps one of the easiest upgrades you can make to your PC. But that doesn’t mean that knowing what kind of RAM, how much RAM, or which model is right for your PC is also a simple process.
We will guide you step by step so that you can make the best decision when upgrading your PC.

WHAT IS RAM?
RAM or Random Access Memory is your computer’s short-term memory. It temporarily holds the instructions of all the various programs you use and sends them to your system processor as needed. This way you can easily switch between programs (or browser tabs).
When you upgrade your RAM, it helps improve the performance of your processor, provide smoother and faster boot times, and improve the overall performance of your PC.
SO WHAT DO I NEED? WHAT RAM DO YOU NEED?
So what kind of RAM do you really need? There are several ways to determine the RAM update that is best compatible with your system, but it is best to refer to your system manual. If you’re still unsure, there are plenty of online system scan tools to help you determine your compatibility options.
It’s also important to know how much RAM you need. If you currently own a gaming PC or other high-end system, you need to have at least two RAM cards and at least 16 gigabytes of shared storage. This ensures that if one flash drive fails, you will have a backup. Plus, 16 gigabytes should cover most of the performance requirements for your games or other demanding programs.
You can always get more RAM if you want, but this should be a great starting point to get you on your way to high performance.
Once you’ve scanned your computer and purchased the right type of RAM, you’ll want to start installing it. Fortunately, this is a fairly simple process.
1.) ASSEMBLE EVERYTHING YOU NEED
To get started, you will need a few tools:
– Screwdriver
– Grounding device (optional)
– New RAM
– Your System Manual

2.) TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER
This is pretty obvious, but make sure your system is completely shut down and unplugged before doing any updates.

3.) OPEN YOUR COMPUTER
Carefully lay the computer on its side and remove the side panel.

4.) GROUND YOURSELF
If you do not have a wrist strap or other grounding device, simply touch an unpainted metal part of the case to discharge any electricity that may be in your hands. It is very important that you ground yourself before touching any component inside your PC, as static electricity can short out your system and destroy one or all of your components. Make sure your surface is clean and work in an area with wood or other non-carpeted floors.

5.) REMOVE EXISTING
MEMORY MODULES Just click on them and your RAM should pop up. Remove the old RAM and set it aside.

6.) INSTALL NEW RAM
The new RAM should fit into the slots on the motherboard just like the old one. Your RAM will have a notch that should line up with your motherboard connector. Align the notch, push down on the RAM and wait until you hear a click.

7.) FUNCTIONALITY TEST
Before you install the sidebar on your computer again, you must make sure that your system is working correctly and that no additional settings need to be made in any of your components. Put the computer back, plug it in again, turn on the power supply, and turn on the system.

8.) TROUBLESHOOTING
If you’re having trouble booting your system, here are some general fixes:
If you hear the motherboard beep several times or get an error message: Your RAM may not be installed correctly. Shut down the computer, remove and reinstall the RAM. Before turning on the computer again, make sure that all memory modules are securely installed.
If your system won’t boot at all: You need to check all connections inside your computer. When upgrading components, it’s fairly easy to accidentally hit a cable or unplug something.
For any other error messages: contact the remote control wizard or use online resources.

9.) CLOSE YOUR COMPUTER
Once you’ve made sure your computer is working properly, shut down your system, replace the side panel, and enjoy the new performance you’ll get from your new RAM!

How do you upgrade your computer’s RAM? – Yu.L. Computing

Upgrading your computer’s RAM is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to improve your computer’s performance and multitasking. RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of memory that is used by software and applications on your computer to quickly store and use data. Having more RAM on your computer allows you to run more programs and applications at the same time, without interruption. RAM is relatively cheap and easy to replace, so this is the perfect upgrade if you want to boost your computer’s performance without spending a fortune.

However, before upgrading your computer’s RAM, it’s important to make sure it’s compatible with your computer. The amount, type, and speed of RAM your computer uses may vary depending on the type and age of your computer. Most computers list the information you need to know in their specifications, which can usually be found online or in the user manual. Review this information before purchasing RAM, as different computers may require different types or speeds.

Once you know what type and speed of RAM your computer needs, it’s time to find a compatible drive or module for your system. RAM comes in different sizes and speeds. Larger RAM modules will allow you to install more memory at once, but speed can affect your computer’s performance. It’s important to make sure the RAM you buy is compatible with your motherboard and fast enough to meet your needs.

Once you have the right RAM, it’s time to start the installation process. Most RAM installations are pretty straightforward and don’t require a lot of tools.