Since you need to run heavier programs on your computer, you are looking for a tutorial on the Internet that explains in detail how to increase the RAM of a Windows 10 PC so you won’t have problems. We at Teknologya have created an ad hoc article!
Preliminary operations
Before moving on to the main topic of this new guide today, it is necessary to perform some preliminary operations. Since the RAMs are not all the same, you need to use a free and lightweight software that lets you know various useful information to buy the correct modules. In particular, it is necessary to find out in detail the frequency band, the form factor and the type of RAM (eg DDR3 or DDR4 ). In this case, we will rely on software called CPU-Z.
Let’s find out how to use it:
- Open the default browser on your computer, connect to the download page for CPU-Z and then click the button before SETUP ENGLISH, then click Download Now!.
- Once the installation is complete, open the program and click on the Memory tab from the top menu to access information about the RAM.
- At this point, pay attention to the Type items (the type of RAM installed as DDR3 or DDR4) and Size (the amount of RAM currently installed). For more information on the individual RAM banks, click on the SPD tab at the top. Here you can find out the dimensions of each single bank (Module Size ), the frequency band ( Max bandwith ), the manufacturer and various information on voltage and access times through the Timings table section. To check for any free RAM banks, click on the drop-down menu just below the Memory Slot Selection item.
After identifying the correct information via CPU-Z, other factors must be taken into account. The frequency band reported in CPU-Z is indicated with a halved value compared to the standard one, so in this case refer to the normal value. Find this information in the DRAM Frequency entry.
Another thing to consider is the form factor of each module. On notebooks and mini PCs it is necessary to buy RAM in the SO-DIMM format while on desktop PCs you need to buy RAM in the DIMM.
If you have a desktop computer, you can also check whether or not the heatsink on the RAM is used to provide a high profile or low profile. In conclusion, make sure that the RAM is identical (therefore it is necessary to combine a DDR4 type module with one of this format already present in the PC) and check the compatibility with the access time values ( CAS ) in the Timings table section.
How to increase the RAM of a Windows 10 Desktop PC
If you have a Desktop PC, you can insert the new RAM banks in a very simple way. First of all, make sure that the computer is completely turned off and that it is not connected to electricity. At this point, locate the screws on the back or side of the case and unscrew them using a special screwdriver.
Once you open the case, you will find the motherboard and all the other hardware components of the computer in front of you. Find the slots where the RAM or free banks are installed and move the safety latches outwards if necessary.
Now, remove the current RAM module and apply the new bench making sure you do it in the right direction. If the RAM has been inserted correctly, the two levers should be taken automatically.
Once this operation is completed, close the case panel and use CPU-Z again to see if the new RAM has been correctly recognized by the desktop PC.
How to increase the RAM of a Windows 10 laptop
If you want to upgrade your RAM on a laptop, you need to work a little differently. First, turn off the laptop, remove the battery if possible and unplug the power cord. If your computer has an integrated battery (and therefore not removable), use insulating gloves and screwdrivers to avoid electric shocks during the procedure.
At this point, turn the laptop upside down, locate the screws and use a special screwdriver to remove the panel. There are some models that allow you to quickly access the RAM banks without completely removing the back cover of the laptop but only a portion.
Once the back panel is removed, access the hardware components of the laptop, including the motherboard where there are RAM banks. As seen for the Desktop PC, even in this case it may be necessary to bring the levers outwards in order to replace the RAM.
After that, grab the new form and insert it instead of the previous one doing the right way up. At the end of the installation, mount the panel or the door, access the laptop and use CPU-Z to check if everything is working properly.
How to virtually increase the RAM of a Windows 10 PC
If you don’t want to work in a do-it-yourself way or don’t want to spend money to rely on an expert, you can use virtual memory, better identified as a paging file. This is a file that provides additional virtual RAM when the physical memory becomes full.
In this case, Windows moves some data to this file and uses a part of the hard disk or SSD‘s storage space. Of course, the user experience depends a lot on the performance of the drive, so surely you will have better performance if an SSD is present.
Let’s find out the steps to follow:
- Click on the Start icon at the bottom left, type in the term advanced settings and click on View advanced system settings.
- At this point, through the Properties window of the system, click on the Advanced tab and then press the Settings button in the Performance section.
- In the next step, press the Advanced tab and then press the Change button in the Virtual Memory section.
- Now, remove the option to Automatically manage paging file size for all drives and then select the partition where Windows is installed using the Drive [volume label] box.
- Once this is done, activate the Custom size option by pressing on the appropriate circle and set the minimum paging file size when not in use and the maximum one that you can add using the Initial size (MB) and Maximum size (MB) fields. If you do not know which values to enter, take the number as a reference shown under the heading Recommended under Total page file size for all units.