How to install RAM on different laptop models? Step-by-step instruction. How to increase RAM on a laptop How to increase RAM on an Acer laptop
I have already said that a device such as a laptop can be improved by adding new components or replacing them with others. Unfortunately, not every laptop can be upgraded, but almost everyone can have their RAM increased.
If your laptop is several years old, but it has a pretty good processor, and maybe a video card, but not enough RAM, then you can improve this laptop. Typically, the maximum amount of RAM is different for each laptop, for example, 8 GB or 16 GB. Before purchasing RAM modules, you need to understand some nuances, which we will talk about now.
How to increase RAM in a laptop? Nuances
On the back of the laptop there is a cover behind which the RAM modules are hidden; I also have a Wi-Fi adapter there. If you don't find it, look in the instructions.
We can find out without disassembling it; a special utility, CPU-Z, will help us, which tells a lot about the components of the computer. To avoid installing the program, download the portable version, indicated via a ZIP archive, and run it after downloading.
After launching the utility, we can see the following window:
To begin with, we are interested in the tab "SPD", in which we find out how many slots are present in the laptop, the type of memory, its size and manufacturer.
If there is no information in any of the slots, it means that it is empty, that is, the module is not installed there and we can purchase an additional one.
Next we need a tab about the motherboard called "Mainboard". Based on the specifications of the board itself and the chipset, you can find out what memory is supported. Although all the necessary information is already in the tabs that we looked at.
Now one more thing. . You need to look at the processor, search the Internet for information about it. You can also use the AIDA64 program, in which you need to go to the tab "Motherboard", and then in "Chipset", there is a line about the maximum amount of memory.
How to install RAM on a laptop?
This process is very simple and will not take much time. You need to find where the memory modules are hidden, usually on the back of the laptop there is a cover held on by a couple of bolts, unscrewing which you will see the RAM memory.
Before starting disassembly, unplug the laptop and remove the battery. When removing memory modules, you need to look very carefully at how they are attached. Usually there are latches on the sides that need to be pushed to the sides without any effort, after which you pull out the old module or insert a new one into the free space. You need to press it lightly until it clicks.
After successful installation, tighten the lid, insert the battery and turn on the laptop. Now you can check if the new RAM is working, for which you go to the device manager and go to the parameter "Performance", and then click on the item "Memory" and see if the amount of memory has increased.
You can also go to “Computer”, click the “Computer” button at the top and go to "Properties of the system", you will see the updated RAM value there too.
That's all, to make this article more understandable and effective, a video was prepared on installing RAM in a laptop. Let's look below.
Laptops have long been much more popular than desktop computers. They are more mobile, take up much less space and are easier to operate.
A laptop can easily work for several years with virtually no failures, but its main disadvantage is the almost complete lack of ability to improve performance. However, one of the parameters of a laptop computer that can be changed relatively easily is the amount of RAM. But before that, I recommend that you try getting rid of garbage.
Any user can easily increase the RAM of a laptop, and in this issue we will look at how to do this.
You can watch a Video on how to increase RAM on a laptop or study the article below.
When does it make sense to increase RAM?
RAM- one of the important parameters of any computer. Nowadays, standard programs use much more RAM than they did a few years ago. This is due to the fact that it has become much more accessible, and most computers now have 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB of RAM installed out of the box.
If your laptop is quite old, but has been updated to the more demanding Windows 10 operating system, or uses resource-intensive applications, it may make sense to increase the amount of RAM in it.
This is advisable when the laptop has a good processor and video card, and the performance problems that arise are related specifically to the lack of RAM.
There are several “symptoms” that indicate that the computer does not have enough RAM to perform the assigned tasks:
- If, after the next update of the operating system, the computer begins to cope with assigned tasks much more slowly, this indicates that standard applications are seriously consuming RAM, and there is not enough of it;
- Also, if a message appears about low memory while the computer is running;
- When a number of programs or games simply do not start, but according to other characteristics the computer is suitable for them.
Important: Remember that if your laptop has a 32-bit operating system, it can only run with a maximum of 4GB of RAM.
Before you start replacing RAM, you need to decide what ports are in the laptop for its installation, as well as how many there are in total.
Note: Not all RAM slots in a laptop are always occupied. Often there are several free slots, so new RAM can be added to the existing one.
The Windows 10 operating system now has a convenient tool right in “Task Manager”, which allows you to see what kind of RAM is used in the laptop, as well as how many slots are occupied.
To do this, click Ctrl+Alt+Del and go to "Task Manager", then select the tab at the top "Performance" and switch in the left column to the column "Memory".
After this, it will become clear how much RAM is now in the laptop, what kind of memory it is, how many memory slots there are, and also at what speed it operates. If your computer has not been updated to Windows 10, there are other ways to find out information about RAM without disassembling the device case.
The simplest option- use one of the third-party applications, for example, the program CPU-Z.
It allows you to find out information about your computer, including RAM. RAM information is listed on the SPD tab.
Using the drop-down list, you can determine how many RAM slots are in the computer. If, after switching to one of the slots, it does not contain information about RAM, this indicates that this slot is empty.
The type of RAM can be found on the tab that contains the memory module; it is indicated at the very beginning of the information about the installed module. There you can also see the size of a given memory module and manufacturer.
If you need to find out the total amount of memory on your laptop, you can do this on the tab Memory.
In a similar way, you can determine how many free slots for RAM there are in the laptop. And also what modules you need to purchase to avoid compatibility problems.
Important: If you plan to purchase additional memory for your laptop, it is better that the modules RAM were identical (at least in volume). This is required so that the computer can operate in dual-channel mode.
HOW TO INSTALL RAM INTO A LAPTOP
The situation may vary from computer to computer. Typically, laptop manufacturers provide for the possibility that the user will want to replace the RAM. Therefore, they make access to it as simple as possible.
Most often, you do not need to disassemble the entire computer. To get to the memory slots, just remove the separate cover.
It is important to understand that if the laptop is still under warranty, then if you replace the RAM in it, the warranty will go away.
To replace RAM in a laptop you will need:
Well, that's all for today! Please write in the comments, did you manage to increase the RAM on your laptop? And what exactly helped YOU personally? Do not forget subscribe to our channel if you are not yet subscribed, click on the bell next to the subscribe button to receive notifications.
The need to know how to increase RAM on a laptop appears in cases where the RAM already installed on the device is not enough to run the necessary games or programs.
It is very important to resolve this issue in advance, since a module designed to operate on a different bus or a larger volume than supported by the laptop will not work.
If a module is not changed, but added, its frequency and volume must match the parameters of the already installed one.
Although the device will be able to work with different strips, it will most likely be much slower - and there will not be much benefit from such a replacement.
For example, you are unlikely to notice an increase in performance when adding another 1–2 GB module to a 4 GB module installed in one slot, although you will spend some money and time on it.
The cost of memory for laptops is currently practically no different from computer memory. However, it has a special slot size, half the size compared to the connectors in a PC.
For laptop computers, a smaller version, SO-DIMM, is required, which should be taken into account when ordering RAM in an online store or at a regular retail outlet.
Advice: If there are no RAM chips for your laptop on sale anymore (for example, it supports the still outdated DDR2 type), you still need to decide whether it’s worth increasing the memory, or whether it’s better to buy a new gadget.
Memory installation
When the memory has already been selected and purchased, they proceed to installing it on the laptop.
On some models like Asus, this will require removing the entire back cover and removing other elements that interfere with replacing or adding RAM.
Most often this applies to compact devices – mini-laptops and netbooks.
Most newer devices allow you to replace and add a bar in no more than 2-3 minutes. To do this you just need to:
- Disconnect the device from the network;
- Take out the battery;
- Open the cover of the memory module compartment;
- Remove old microcircuits (if they are being replaced), taking into account that they can be held on by latches;
- Install new memory until the latch snaps into place;
- Replace the battery;
- Close the lid.
You can make sure that everything is done correctly after turning on Windows and checking the amount of installed RAM in the computer properties.
When upgrading memory, you should make sure that your actions do not violate the warranty for the new device.
In addition, if there is no back cover for quick access to the RAM, you should read the instruction manual for this model.
In some Lenovo models, you will even have to remove the hard drive for installation. Older laptops may require even more complex steps to access free slots.
For example, sometimes one or two strips are installed in different places.
Increasing memory using a flash drive
There is also a simpler and cheaper option to increase the RAM of a laptop - without even opening its case or buying new modules.
All that is required from the user is a free flash drive with a capacity of 4–16 GB and Windows 7 or a newer version installed.
In principle, the same method is suitable for a stationary PC, the memory of which is not enough for any actions or the operating speed is simply too low for the user’s purposes.
Reasons for choosing this method
The main reasons to choose a way to increase laptop RAM using a flash drive can be:
- reluctance to spend money on improving the equipment when replacing the device with a new one in the near future;
- lack of physical ability to install or replace the bracket (outdated module type, faulty slot, etc.);
- the need to increase memory at this very moment.
Operating principle
In the Windows 7 operating system, it is possible to increase RAM using an additional paging file created on the drive.
The utility that allows you to do this is called ReadyBoost.
And you can call it by simply opening the properties of the flash drive and selecting the tab with the appropriate name.
Using this system feature allows you to increase physical memory by the following amount:
- up to 256 GB for 64-bit Windows 7;
- up to 32 GB for Windows 7 32-bit;
- up to 4 GB on other OSes, including XP, if you download the utility additionally (it is not built into the OS).
That is, if the laptop has 2 GB of RAM, it is not advisable to make the page file size on the flash drive larger than 5 GB.
The effectiveness of the method is quite decent - when reading small files, the speed increases by about 5–10 times.
However, when working with large areas of data, the difference will be almost imperceptible.
Process of increasing memory
To increase memory you will need:
- Take any free flash drive with an interface of at least USB 2.0. However, the best choice would be to use USB 3.0, whose data transfer speed (up to 5 Gbit/s) is comparable to the parameters of DDR3 memory modules;
- Insert the device into the USB port;
- Format the flash drive (not necessary, but recommended) in NTFS format, which will increase the amount of possible memory from the maximum 4 GB for FAT32 to a much larger size.
- If there is any data on the media, you should uncheck the “Clear table of contents” checkbox. This will increase the formatting time, but will ensure that the data that is now used as RAM is completely deleted.
After a few minutes, a message indicating that formatting is complete will appear on the screen.
And after selecting the ReadyBoost tab in the properties of the flash drive, you can configure the required amount of memory increase.
So, for example, if the storage capacity is 16 GB, the laptop can use more than 15 of them.
In this case, the flash drive cannot be used to store data, and when viewing its properties, the following information will appear:
It is entirely acceptable to use less flash drive memory. In this case, it can be used for other purposes.
However, before removing the device from the USB port, you should cancel ReadyBoost by opening the disk properties and the utility tab again, but selecting “Do not use this device.”
Such actions will not always speed up the operation of your games and “heavy” applications. But at least this method is guaranteed to increase the speed of opening photos and videos.
According to users who have tried this technique, the browser also works faster after using it.
Results
Having learned how to properly increase the size of RAM on a laptop PC, you can, even if you have a not very powerful device, increase the speed of working with it and even launch those programs that were previously unavailable for use - new games, the latest versions of video editors.
However, when increasing memory, it is worth considering that for the operation of many gaming applications, the main role is played not only by the RAM, but also by the graphics memory of the video card, which, remaining at the same level, will reduce the effectiveness of increasing the amount of RAM.
How to increase laptop RAM
Installing RAM in a laptop is not difficult.
Every laptop user should know about the ability to significantly expand the RAM on their PC. This will be needed when your device has too little RAM, or it is occupied by other applications, programs or games. Such situations happen much more often with laptops, so let's talk about expanding the RAM on a laptop.
The good thing about this method is that nowadays additional memory sticks are not that cheap.
Manufacturers, in turn, make laptops that are, for the most part, more compact and designed mainly for work and study, which does not imply high performance
When buying a laptop specifically for gaming, you will need to choose a model that will be suitable for several more years. These gaming laptop models include up to 32 GB of RAM, mostly from the MSI brand.
Of course, the prices of such laptops are “cosmic”, about 150 rubles, which is not always suitable for the average user, who would rather expand the laptop’s memory with his own hands.
The first signal that you need to change or supplement RAM is a direct message that at some point the computer simply does not have enough RAM, or certain programs and games have stopped running on it.
This is noticeable in cases where your model is already old, but not very old, and programs, as a rule, are updated once a year, and you need exactly “that”, “non-startable” program.
If some files stop opening, this indicates that most likely the device needs to be completely changed. But sometimes this problem is corrected by additional RAM sticks.
And most devices do not have enough memory. For example, manufacturers install only 4 gigabytes of RAM on standard quad-core processors, when the board itself can support up to 16 gigabytes of RAM.
Advice! If you decide to expand (increase) RAM, you should change Windows x32 to Windows x64. After which the RAM will be used at full capacity. If the system is not changed, only 3 gigabytes of RAM will be used.
If this function is not available, that is, you have a processor that only supports 32-bit, then expanding the RAM beyond 3 GB is out of the question; you will have to change the laptop completely.
1. Selecting RAM
Before you go shopping to increase memory, you need to check whether this can be done, and also look at the type of RAM itself, and the required number of sticks. You can install exactly as many additional RAM modules on a laptop or computer as there are slots for it.Determining the number of slots is easy - disassemble the laptop and look at the location of the installed RAM strip. Are there empty modules there, how many are there?
But the issue can be resolved in another way, using the CPU-Z program, which will help with information. The program works on Win7 and higher.
After you download and install the software itself, a special window will open. One of the windows will show how many RAM slots in your laptop are occupied, and how much memory is currently installed. The first slot will show all the information about the parameters of the operating device.
For example, here is a DDR3 stick with a capacity of 4 GB. If there are two such boards, and there are no other slots at all, in order to increase the amount of RAM, you will need to completely replace them.
This is easy to do, remove the 4 GB sticks, and put other 8 GB sticks in their place. If only one slot is occupied, then install an extension there for the same amount of memory. It is very rare to find 4 RAM expansion sticks on laptops.
There is software that is designed to select memory. Some of these programs will show, in addition to the parameters of RAM and its components, also the volume of this storage device.
Others will even help with information and tips on installing planks. It will give the user links to pages with these components, and also indicate the price for the extension.
2. Buying memory (RAM)
When purchasing a new RAM stick, you need to find out whether its frequency can be increased. Some motherboards allow the user to install additional DDR sticks, with a frequency (speed) of 1400 to 1900 million operations per second.
Others can support even higher frequencies - up to 2400 MHz. To find out about the memory that is suitable, read about your motherboard.
It is advisable to resolve this issue in advance, as it is very important. If some parameters do not match, then the purchased module simply will not work on your laptop.
If you do not change the module, but add it, their volumes should be the same as that of the installed bar. Working with different slats is also possible, but at a lower speed, which makes the addition impractical.
The price of RAM for PCs and laptops is almost identical. But the size of the RAM slot in a laptop is much smaller than a PC.
Laptops require a smaller version of RAM called SO-DIMM. This should be taken into account if you order the bar via the Internet.
Advice: if there are no more RAM sticks left on sale for your laptop, you need to decide: increase the memory, or is it better to purchase a new gadget for comfortable work.
3. Installing memory sticks (RAM)
When you have already purchased memory, you should install it in your laptop. Some models, for example Asus, require complete removal of the back cover, which prevents the replacement or addition of RAM or other elements.Most often, you will spend up to 3 minutes installing or replacing planks.
It's very simple:
1. Turn off the device completely;
2. Remove the battery from the special connector;
3. Locate and open the RAM compartment;
4. Remove old planks, if possible. The slats can be held on with latches;
5. Insert the new module until the latch clicks;
6. Reinstall the battery;
7. Reinstall the cover.
You can verify the genuine expansion and installation of RAM after Windows turns on, just check the amount of RAM through the PC properties.
When increasing memory, make sure that your actions will not violate the warranty in the event of a breakdown. In addition, if it is difficult to access the RAM through the back cover, read the instructions for disassembling and operating this laptop model as a whole.
For example, on a Lenovo laptop model, to install RAM strips you have to remove the hard drive (hard drive). In older laptop models, the RAM strips may be located in two different places.
4. A method to increase RAM memory using a flash drive
There is a very simple option to increase the RAM of your laptop. This method does not even involve disassembling your PC and purchasing new RAM slots (modules).
All we need is a flash drive with a capacity of up to 16 GB and an OS higher than Windows 7. The exact same method works great on a PC.
Why is it better to choose this method?
The main reason for increasing RAM using a flash drive:
- unwillingness or inability to spend money on new RAM;
- inability to manually replace slats and other things;
- the need to increase RAM at this very moment.
Operating principle of RAM expansion
In Windows 7 there is a real opportunity to increase RAM. This is done using a paging file that can be created on the drive. Utility ReadyBoost copes with this task.
You can call ReadyBoost after opening the flash drive, and after selecting the appropriate field.
Using this method allows you to significantly increase RAM to the following values:
256 GB for Windows 7 x64
32 GB for Windows 7 x32
4 GB for XP. It is not built into HP - you will have to download it.
But it is recommended to set the ratio of flash memory to physical memory in a certain proportion of 2.5 to 1. For example, if the laptop has only 2 GB of RAM, it is impractical and not advisable to install a page file on your flash drive larger than 5 GB.
How to increase laptop memory
To do this you will need the following:
1. Take an empty or new flash drive with USB 2.0, no lower, of course better than USB 3.0, to increase data transfer speed;
2. Install the flash drive into a special USB port;
3. Format the flash drive and set the format to NTFS (optional).
4. If there is any information on the “Flash drive”, the “Clear table of contents” checkbox must be unchecked. After all, this will only increase the formatting time, but will delete all data that will later be used as RAM.
After a notification appears about the completion of formatting, you need to go to the already familiar ReadyBoost tab, where you need to configure the amount of memory increase on the laptop.
For example, if the flash drive capacity reaches 16 GB, the laptop can use 15+ of them. But after this, the flash drive can no longer be used as a data storage device, and if you view its properties, you will see the following:
It is quite possible to install a smaller, required amount of RAM on a flash drive. In this case, the remaining space can easily be used to store files.
Before disconnecting, the device should be disconnected from the USB port, first canceling ReadyBoost by selecting “Do not use device” in the disk properties.
This method is not always an option for full-fledged operation of “heavy” applications. But this method will significantly speed up opening photos and loading videos, as well as the operation of the browser.
5. Conclusion
Having received information about the correct increase in RAM on a laptop, you can make your own, weak device, increase its speed and run even those programs that were previously inaccessible. These could be games, some video editors.But do not forget that it often happens that the main role in games is played not by RAM, but by graphics memory, for which the video card is responsible.
My laptop has 4GB of RAM, but this volume is not enough for me. How can I increase its volume??
Alexander Morkhin
To make your laptop work better, you need to know how to properly increase your laptop's RAM. “Correct” in this case means that the stick of RAM you purchased will be compatible with the motherboard, processor and already installed RAM module.
How to choose the right new bar
Before you go shopping for an additional stick, see if you can increase the RAM on your laptop. If you have an old laptop, then its motherboard may simply not support more RAM. Let's find out the model of the motherboard and look at its specifications on the manufacturer's website:
- Download the CPU-Z utility (you will also need it to determine the number of free slots).
- Launch the program and go to the "Mainboard" tab.
- Check your motherboard model.
- Find information about your motherboard on the laptop manufacturer's website.
In the motherboard specification, you need to pay attention to the points related to RAM.
From the information provided you should get the following information:
- Supported type: DDR3. If the laptop is old, then it may have DDR2 or DDR1 memory. They are interchangeable, so you need to buy only those brackets whose type is compatible with the motherboard.
- The maximum allowed volume is 64 GB. There is no point in installing any more; additional gigabytes will not be used.
- Supported frequency is from 800 to 1800 MHz. The RAM frequency should fit within this range and be as high as possible.
- 4 x DIMM – number of slots for strips with SO-DIMM form factor.
What characteristics should the new bar have?
For maximum compatibility, it is better to immediately purchase sets of two identical modules. If you install one additional strip, then it must completely match the characteristics of the already installed module.
- Launch CPU-Z.
- Go to the "Memory" tab.
Check the type again – DDR3. Pay attention to the line “DRAM Frequency” - it indicates the bandwidth.
Timing (delay before executing a request) is shown below: 
You need to buy a stick of RAM with exactly the same characteristics. If nothing is displayed when you select a slot on the “SPD” tab, then nothing is connected to it, that is, you can install an additional RAM module in it. Basically, that's all you need to know about how to increase your RAM. However, there is another way to speed up a video card - overclocking.
Increasing the video card frequency
If you calculate how much it costs to increase RAM, it becomes clear that this is a serious financial investment in upgrading a laptop. However, if you look at it, you don’t have to buy an additional stick of RAM.
Increasing the frequency (overclocking, overclocking) is performed in the “Advanced” section. Depending on the motherboard model and BIOS firmware version, the names of specific items change. Let's see how to increase the amount of RAM in the BIOS, using the example of an ASUS motherboard:
After expanding the item where the RAM frequency is indicated, you will see the available values.
Do not set a value that exceeds the maximum allowable value for your RAM model, otherwise the bar may burn out.
After increasing the frequency, run a memory test. Press Win+R and type the command “mdsched”. Agree to perform a reboot, during which the RAM will be checked for errors. If no errors are found, you can increase the frequency a little more without exceeding the maximum permissible values.
