The most common upgrade you'll probably undertake is upgrading or replacing your computer's RAM. By upgrading your RAM capacity, your computer will be able to run multiple programs more efficiently, as well as handle more memory-intensive programs and projects more easily. While installing new RAM is simple, there are some things to keep in mind when completing your upgrade, including speed, number of processor cores and RAM type.

Instructions

  • Know your RAM types. Laptop RAM can be identified by its name, small outline dual-inline memory modules (SODIMMs), while desktop RAM typically has no acronym.
  • Know your RAM speeds. The PC number (e.g., PC-5400 667MHz) identifies how fast the RAM processes information, measured in megahertz. It is best to match the front side bus (FSB) speed of your processor to the processing speed of your RAM for optimal performance. If your RAM is too slow, it can malfunction.
  • Divide the amount of total RAM you want by the number of processor cores in your computer. If you want to install two gigs (2048 megabytes) of RAM on a dual-core processor, two sticks of 1028 megabytes will function more efficiently than one single stick of 2048 megabytes.