How to Upgrade Laptop Memory
If your laptop is running slow and sluggish and programs are taking a long time to load, or freezing up then you may need a memory upgrade, or RAM. It is amazing how an increase in RAM memory can speed up a laptop, especially for gaming, video, photos and Internet browsing.
Doing a memory upgrade is a very simple job, and while some may elect to call a technician, in reality most people can do it themselves and save an average of $50-$75 in labor costs. It is basically a card that is inserted in a slot inside the laptop and does not need any manual configuration; the laptop will automatically detect the new storage space.
Prior to Upgrading Laptop Memory
The most important thing to do before considering a memory upgrade is to check your laptop model’s memory upgrade information. Every laptop computer has a certain amount of open slots, maximum memory capacity, and a specific model of RAM upgrade. Similar to desktop computers, you can purchase and install additional memory for your laptop but it is crucial to make sure to get the right memory card as they are not universal. You can find this information in your machines manual, call the manufacturer or check their website for a copy of the manual for your computer. Also, many websites that sell memory cards have wizards that will tell you what model of memory card you need.
It is then necessary to find out the maximum RAM capacity that can be handled by your laptop. Again, you can find this information with the manual or from the manufacturer. Once you determine the maximum RAM capacity on your laptop, you can then check how much laptop memory you all ready have. This is available in the system information of your control panel.
Memory cards come in a variety of sizes, some in MB, such as 256MB or 512MB and some as high as 1GB or 2GB. 1GB is plenty and will greatly accelerate your laptop especially for gaming, video, and DVD functions. Some laptops only allow for 1GB total RAM, and each slot can only handle 512MB, so you could not purchase a 1GB memory card, you would need to buy 2 512MB cards that total 1GB, or if the laptop all ready has 1 512MB, you would purchase an additional 1 512MB card to make a total of 1GB.
Installing Laptop Memory Tips
1. Power off the laptop when installing memory and handle the memory card gently.
2. Use a screwdriver to open the panel.
3. The memory modules are in the slots and locked with small clips at the ends. If you are swapping out an existing memory card then remove the existing laptop memory by pulling the memory modules gently after unlocking the strip clips. If you are adding a memory card then just locate the empty slot.
4. Place the new memory module firmly into the slot and clip the module at both ends of the strips.
5. Close the panel of the laptop back in place with a screwdriver. The laptop should automatically detect the new RAM capacity upon boot.
