Laptop RAM

Yes, you can, it only requires a bit of technical knowledge and maybe a manual.

We recommend letting a technician do it.

There are notebooks where the RAM is located on the back of the machine, these often have an access hatch for easier installation of RAM. If the RAM is located underneath the keyboard a full disassembly of the notebook is required.

You can install RAM from a different manufacturer, as long as the specifications are the same.

For example, when your computer currently has a DDR3 SO-DIMM module with a speed of 1600MHz installed, you should only use DDR3 SO-DIMMs with a 1600 MHz speed to upgrade/replace your RAM. It is possible to use different frequencies but the system will then use the speed of the slowest RAM module.

From DDR4 onwards, the MHz no longer play a role in the compatibility.

The difference between the two types of DDR3 is in their supported voltages. Normal DDR3 requires 1,5 Volt, whereas DDR3L (L for Load reduced) also supports 1,35 Volt. This reduction in voltage results in a slightly lower power consumption. However, this reduction is so small, that the difference in battery life caused by using load reduced RAM even in laptops is hardly noticeable. It only makes a difference in data centers with hundreds of computers, each with up to 32 memory modules.

Even though the power consumption difference is tiny, you have to watch out for compatibility. Systems, which only support normal DDR3 usually, work with DDR3L, too, because it also supports 1,5 Volt. But there are computers, especially laptops, which only support DDR3L. Normal DDR3 might work here, however this is not guaranteed and might come with some stability issues. So, if you are not sure, which type of DDR3 your system needs, it is better to buy the load reduced variant or consult an expert.

Expanding the main memory by retrofitting a RAM module is a common tuning measure. Significant improvements result when working with many applications in parallel or when the device already swaps out data to the FP by default (swapping) from the operating system. Nowadays, more and more devices have their main memory soldered directly to the mainboard and can therefore not be replaced. The decisive factor is whether the device still has a free slot for additional memory modules and how many GB you can put in there in total. If such a free slot is available, it is important to determine the right memory module and insert it into the appropriate slot, which is usually located under the bottom of the device or under the keyboard. Almost all devices, with the exception of some ultrabooks and netbooks, already have two or more sockets for storing memory modules. Up to which GB maximum size you can upgrade depends on the mainboard, chipset (information on this is provided in the device manual) and the availability of the modules.

• Why does my notebook show less RAM, than I have installed

You can use the following tools to see what RAM your Notebook needs:

AIDA (Download: www.lavalys.com)

CPUZ (Downlaod: www.cpu-z.de)

SIW (System Information for Windows) (Download from www.heise.de)

HWiNFO (Direct download here)

Alternatively, you can remove the currently installed RAM and read the necessary specifications from the labels on them. Should there be no label or should you not be able to recognize the type of RAM needed. You can still use the tools listed above or consult a specialist.

In Windows 10 open the Task-Manager (Control+Shift+Escape), then click on more details in the bottom left corner. Select the tab performance and click on RAM Now you will be able to see many values about your RAM including its speed.

To see how much memory you have installed in your PC, you first need to open the Task-Manager. The you click on "more details" in the bottom left corner. Now choose Performance in the menu on the top, afterwards select Memory from the menu on the left. The you will not only be shown the amount of Memory in your System, but also further details, like how many slots are occupied. If there still is a free slot, you can easily double your memory by installing another one of the same modules already installed.

To see how much RAM you have installed in Windows 7 you have to do the following steps:

It could because you installed a 32-Bit operating system, since they can only address up to 4 GB of RAM. Additionally, other system components like your graphics card also need RAM. That is why if you have 4GB installed you won’t be able to utilize every last MB of it.

A 64-bit operating system can address more than 4GB of RAM. So, you can install more than 4GB even in an older Notebook, provided the rest of the hardware supports it too.

There can be many reasons for your operating system crashing but bluescreens are often a clear sign for defective RAM. Error messages like "pci.sys could not be found" also hint at faulty RAM.

You can use a memory test to check your RAM for faults. These can be found on every Ubuntu installation CD under "Memtest".

On www.ubuntu.com you can download an image of this CD, burn it o a CD and boot your PC from it to execute the Memtest on it.

Or you could bring your laptop to a technician, who can fix the fault for you.