To improve laptop performance, check available RAM in Task Manager and consult the manual to find compatible notebook memory. Purchase and install the correct type, considering the configuration of existing RAM and whether pairs are required for optimal performance. Be careful when handling RAM to avoid electrostatic discharge.
Computers often come with less random access memory (RAM) than we’d like, and this can be especially true in laptop or notebook PCs. Minimal amounts of RAM might be fine for a while, but as the months go on, you may find yourself looking at chunks of RAM online or at your local retailer wondering if an upgrade would add some snap to your trusty mobile PC. You can easily see if more notebook memory would actually improve performance.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del (or in Vista® Start -> Task Manager) to bring up the Task Manager. Click the Performance tab and look under the “Physical Memory” header to see how much memory is “available” or in Vista, “free.” If this figure is close to zero, you’d likely see a significant improvement from adding notebook memory. If, on the other hand, you have 512 Megabytes (MB) or more available, adding memory may not make a significant difference.
Assuming you want more notebook memory, first find out how much RAM the notebook supports. This information will be in the manual, which is likely available online. Enter the laptop model into a search engine along with the plus sign and the word manual; e.g. (model here) + manual. You can also try entering your laptop model plus a phrase like “Maximum RAM.” The information should be readily available, but make sure the source is reliable if you’re not consulting the manual.
Memory manufacturers like Kingston, Crucial, and others have extensive databases to match memory to the right notebook. In most cases you can simply enter your laptop model into one of their search boxes and it will match you with the specific type of memory your laptop supports. It’s always a good idea to have this information independently, however, as a cross-reference.
Like desktop RAM, notebook memory comes in memory sticks, and each stick fits into a slot or bank in the motherboard. There are many types, speeds, and types of RAM, and you need to get the right notebook memory for your laptop or it won’t work. The type required will also be listed in the manual, and online websites will also provide a match based on the model.
Before purchasing notebook memory, you need to know the configuration of the RAM that is already in the machine. For example, let’s say a given machine has 1 Gigabyte (GB) installed and the goal is 2GB. One might assume that you only need to buy 1GB to add to the RAM you already have. But the machine might only have two slots, and both might be occupied by (2) 512 Megabyte (MB) sticks, for a total of 1GB. To upgrade to 2GB you will need to remove both sticks and replace them with (2) 1GB sticks or, if your laptop supports it, (1) 2GB sticks, leaving an open bank for future expansion.
The idea of leaving banks open may save you money in the long run, but it’s not always practical. Some notebook memory is designed to run in parallel for faster processing, meaning it requires pairs of sticks to operate at peak performance. In this case it would be better to use (2) 1GB sticks to get that 2GB total, rather than using a single 2GB stick by itself. The disadvantage of filling the banks with pairs is that if, in our hypothetical example, you wanted to expand to 4GB later, you would have to replace both 1GB sticks with (2) 2GB sticks, whereas if there was already one 2GB stick, you should just add another. Your decision may depend on whether or not you plan to add more sticks anytime soon.
Once you have purchased notebook memory, you just need to install it. The laptop must be turned off (not put into hibernation) and the AC adapter must be unplugged. Also remove the battery.
Care must be taken when handling RAM, as electrostatic discharge can ruin notebook memory before it is even installed. We recommend that you ground yourself before starting and hold the RAM sticks by their edges, avoiding the gold pins.
The RAM slots are accessed by removing a plastic cover plate on the underside of the laptop. Plastic clamps generally hold memory sticks in place. By gently pushing the clamps back, an installed stick should pop out of the slot so it can be removed at an angle. The new stick is carefully aligned with the gold pins down and gently pressed into the slot, even at an angle, where it locks into place with the end clamps. Refer to the online instructions for more specific make and model guidance.
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