RAM upgradation is a common thing all users do especially with desktops and laptops. Whenever there is a need for an increase in performance, a RAM upgrade can make it happen.
Many desktops easily enable you to increase your RAM capacity. But when it comes to laptops, only some laptops enable you with RAM upgradation.
Usually, high-end laptops have two or more slots to insert extra pieces of RAM. But how to find out whether your laptop is eligible for a RAM upgrade?
In this article, we will find out how you can know the potential to upgrade your laptop’s RAM.
How To Know If You Can Upgrade Your Laptop RAM?
The following are the five different ways to inspect whether your laptop is eligible for a RAM upgrade:
- Using Task Manager
- Check your laptop specifications
- Using system info tools like CPU-Z
- Using Command Prompt
- Check for empty RAM slots physically
Using Task Manager
If you want to quickly find out the RAM slot availability in your laptop, you can simply use the task manager and find it out.
Press CTRL + ALT + Delete on your laptop and choose the Task Manager option
In the task manager, choose the Performance menu in the sidebar. This performance menu will show you the RAM stats and below the graph, you can find the number of RAM slots used.
If you find the RAM slots used to be 1 of 2 or something similar to it, then there is an extra slot available for RAM upgrade.
If there aren’t any such empty slots available, you cannot upgrade the laptop RAM along with the existing one.
You may replace the existing RAM with a higher one. But you must check the form factor and ensure whether it is SODIMM or a row of chips. If it is SODIMM, you can replace it. If it is a row of chips, then it is soldered and you cannot replace it.
Check your laptop specifications
Another easy method to find out RAM slot availability is to check your laptop specifications.
Go to your laptop manufacturer’s website and check out your laptop model specifications. You can also find out the user manual and look for the spec sheet.
The specifications will let you know the available RAM slots, the form factor of the RAM slot, and how much RAM comes out of the box.
If there is more than one slot for RAM, you can easily install a new one and upgrade it.
Sometimes, there can be only one slot but the form factor will be SODIMM. In such a case, you can replace it with a higher-capacity RAM. But if the form factor is a row of chips, you cannot upgrade it.
Using System info tools like CPU-Z
CPU-Z is a tool that provides you with hardware and software information on your PC. You can simply install it and get all kinds of details about your laptop hardware and software. Go to the link: cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html and download the appropriate version for your laptop.
Then, install the application and run it on your laptop. The tool provides you with the memory type, size, timings, and module specifications.
With this information, you can find out whether there is an extra slot available for RAM installation and decide. The RAM module specs let you know what kind of RAM you should buy for your laptop.
Using Command Prompt
You can find out information regarding the memory present in your laptop with the help of the Command prompt. Open the command prompt and enter the following command:
wmic MemoryChip get MemoryType, Capacity, Speed, Configuredclockspeed, DeviceLocator, FormFactor, Manufacturer, Serialnumber, Partnumber
Once you enter this command, you can get all kinds of details about the memory present in your laptop. You can consider the memory type, capacity, speed, and form factor as the primary details.
Every detail will be mentioned in the code number. For example, Memory Type is mentioned as 21, 22, etc. This means that it is a DDR memory with 2nd and 3rd gen respectively. Similarly, Form Factor will be mentioned as 8, 12, etc. which indicates DIMM and SODIMM modules respectively.
So according to the code, you can decode the type of memory and the ability to upgrade the RAM in your laptop.
Check for empty RAM slots physically
If you are well versed with laptops, you can physically check the inners of the device and find out the RAM installed in it.
Turn the device upside down and look for screws holding the bottom panel of your laptop. You can also get help from the user manual to locate the screws.
Remove the back panel and look for the CPU. Usually, the RAM is placed near the CPU and you can find it in either soldered form or SODIMM form.
If you find any empty slots, you can install and upgrade your laptop’s memory capacity.
These are the different ways in which you can find out whether the RAM is upgradable or not in your laptop.
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What are the main considerations before upgrading your laptop RAM?
Even if you find your laptop to be compatible with a RAM upgrade, you have to check whether it is compatible or not. Because there are several factors to consider before installing a new RAM along with the existing RAM in your laptop.
So, here are a few things you should consider before upgrading your laptop’s RAM:
Compatibility
The first thing you should check before upgrading is whether the RAM you have chosen is compatible with your laptop or not.
It should support the maximum capacity and the slot available in the laptop. If the form factor mismatches, your RAM is not compatible.
So, before installing the RAM, check compatibility and ensure proper form factor and capacity.
Slot availability
If you want to upgrade RAM, you must first ensure whether empty slots are available or not. Only then you can decide the capacity to upgrade.
Without an empty slot, you cannot upgrade your RAM. Even though you can replace the existing RAM, most laptops have it soldered to the board which makes it impossible to change.
Therefore, you must upgrade the RAM only after ensuring that there is an extra available slot in the motherboard.
Physical Size
The size of the RAM is also very important. Because your RAM may not be compatible even if the size differs. The RAM’s form factor and the type will ensure the physical size. Only then you should install it on your laptop.
Your laptop should be able to accommodate the RAM and you must ensure it with the help of the user manual. You can also check it out with your manufacturer’s website.
Speed
RAMs can operate at different speeds. But your laptop must support that speed which must be ensured before upgrading.
The laptop specs will clearly list the maximum capacity and speed it can support. With that information, you can buy a compatible one and use it for upgrading the RAM.
Also, you should try to match the speed of the existing RAM to ensure better performance.
Power
If you are choosing a faster RAM with more capacity, it may draw more power. This will heat the laptop and may cause severe performance issues.
Therefore, ensure adequate cooling before installing or upgrading RAM in your laptop.
Testing
Run some diagnostics in your laptop after installing the new RAM to verify how the RAM performs. You can also do some manual testing like running some benchmarks or testing some demanding applications.
This will confirm whether the RAM is working properly and give you the performance you sought with the upgrade.
Will upgrading RAM void my laptop warranty?
If you upgrade the RAM by yourself without seeking the manufacturer’s official store, your laptop warranty will be void.
When you have the laptop under warranty period, you should always seek the assistance of the manufacturer’s service center to do any kind of upgrade or repair.
Otherwise, they will find tampering with the device easily and void your warranty. Therefore, it is best to seek assistance from authorized service centers when your device has a warranty.
Conclusion
Upgrading your RAM is an excellent method to get a significant increase in performance. But you must check whether your laptop supports it and make sure to check compatibility. Only then you can upgrade your memory and get better performance.
