How to Upgrade Laptop RAM
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
Upgrading to a bigger RAM makes a laptop perform better. You can upgrade your RAM to speed the laptop’s performance and to make loading of programs faster. You can also run multiple programs at the same time without the laptop hanging. Other users also upgrade the RAM of their laptops instead of buying a new laptop or to increase the speed of games that are installed on the laptop.
Materials Needed:- RAM chip
- screwdriver
Step 1
Check how much RAM your computer has. Also, check the maximum RAM that your laptop can accommodate. You can do this by clicking on the 'Start' button on the desktop. Select 'Control Panel' and choose the 'System' icon. A window will appear. On the window, access the 'General' tab. You will see the current RAM of your laptop.
Step 2
Determine the amount or RAM that you want to add to your laptop and purchase the RAM chip.
Step 3
Make sure that your laptop is turned off. Unplug the laptop from the power source. Turn the laptop over and remove the battery.
Step 4
Locate the slots for the RAM chips. Some laptops have RAM slots with screws. Unscrew the slots using a screwdriver.
Step 5
Remove the old RAM chip from the slot if you are replacing the old RAM. Replace the old RAM chip with the new RAM chip. Be careful in handling the RAM chip so as not to damage it. If you are only going to add RAM, do not remove the old RAM chip. Simply place the new RAM chip into an empty slot.
Step 6
Lock the RAM slot in place by screwing it. Replace the battery of the laptop and make sure that it is securely in place.
Step 7
Plug the laptop to the power source and turn on the laptop. Check if the laptop recognizes the upgrade of the RAM. To do this, click on the 'Start' button, choose 'Control Panel' from the menu, and click on 'System' from the Control Panel window. The 'System Properties' windows should appear. Check if the additional RAM is recognized.
Step 8
If the RAM is not recognized by the laptop, turn off the computer and unplug it from the power source. Open the slot for the RAM and make sure that it is securely placed on the slot.