Find out what type of ram

Now you have all of this information, you can start searching for RAM. Simply touching them at the wrong moment can fry them, and their golden connector pins can be easily damaged with repeated installs. To get the full benefit of new RAM, all motherboard slots should have an identical amount of memory , running at the same speed.

This can actually leave you with a less stable computer than you started with. It really is worth investing in a matching pair of identical chips — same speed, same RAM, same brand. This is one of those jobs that is worth doing well.

Before you do anything, it's important you check that your system allows for RAM expandability. While most modern PCs and laptops will have an extra slot for adding in more memory, some older machines might not. Many models of MacBook are the same. It's also worth remembering that if you do upgrade the RAM in your Apple machine, it will take specific size and shape, different to what you'd install in a Windows laptop. When it comes to upgrading, you can - if you really want to - use any RAM chips you have lying around.

RAM chips come with different frequencies — in other words, their speed. Check the support pages for your machine and look for the fastest frequency RAM your machine will support for best results. There are a few other things you should look out for when buying RAM.

While this won't be too important unless you're building a high-spec PC, it's worth noting that the lower the CAS value, the faster the latency. Heat spreaders, too, are worth looking out for. The efficient heat spreader provides effective cooling to improve overclocking potential.

This is optimized for performance on the latest 3rd and 4th generation Intel Core platforms. XMP 1. Sale 67, Reviews. A low-profile height of just 34mm ensures that vengeance LPX even fits in most small-form-factor builds. A solid aluminum heatspreader efficiently dissipates heat from each module so that they consistently run at high clock speeds.

Supports Intel XMP 2. Get daily tips in your inbox Newsletter. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Related Reading. If you're in the market for an upgrade, knowing the exact specs of your RAM will help ensure compatibility.

DDR4 operates at a lower voltage than DDR3, but the voltage difference won't be too significant in home use. It can, however, make an impact for large-scale computing, such as running servers.

Here, you'll see a breakdown of your system memory. This will tell you how many gigabytes of RAM your computer current has.