How to upgrade memory in a laptop or desktop computer

If you’re thinking about upgrading your PC then the first, best and probably cheapest option is always to start with the PC’s memory.

Putting more memory into your computer will allow it to respond more quickly, even with basic tasks such as turning the computer on and waiting for it to start up.

It will help individual programs run more quickly, and allow you to have several programs open at the same time so you can quickly switch from your email program to your web browser, or to a word processor so you can get your work done more quickly.

Upgrading the memory in your PC might seem complicated – there is a lot of jargon to wade through and, of course, you need to physically open up your PC too.

However, it’s not as difficult as it might seem, and most of the information you need should be found inside the manual that was originally supplied with your PC.

Memory modules
There is an old saying in the computer industry known as ‘Moore’s Law’, which states that computer processors double in power roughly every two years.

Well, computer memory gets faster and more powerful too, and most of the jargon that you will come across when upgrading your PC’s memory simply refers to the different types of memory modules that are now available.

Back in the 1990s, most computers used a type of memory module known as ‘SDRam’, or synchronous dynamic random access memory. However, about 10 years ago SDRam was replaced by DDR memory, which stands for double data rate.

As the name suggests, that ran much faster. A few years later there was DDR2, and most current computers now use even faster DDR3 memory modules.

The main difference here is simply the speed at which the memory runs, which determines how quickly it can deliver information to your computer’s processor chip.

The first DDR memory modules only ran at about 266 megahertz (MHz), but modern DDR3 modules can be as fast as 1,333MHz, which will obviously help your computer run faster.

Get the right memory
Before you rush out and buy the fastest memory you can find, though, you need to ensure those memory modules will fit inside your PC.

As well as running at different speeds, memory modules also come in different shapes and sizes. Older PCs might use Simm (single in-line memory modules) but most PCs sold in the last few years use Dimm (dual in-line memory modules), which are faster but sometimes also larger.

Of course, size is an issue for laptop computers, so there is also a special type of ‘small outline Dimm’, or So-Dimm, that was developed specifically for laptops.

That sounds horribly complicated, but the manual supplied with your computer should tell you exactly what type of memory you need.

If it doesn’t, or if you’ve lost the manual, then there are companies that specialise in memory upgrades, such as Crucial and Kingston, and their websites have guides to help you out.

You can just enter the name of the PC’s manufacturer and the model number, and they will tell you what types of memory you can use and how much it will cost.

If your PC is a few years old, you may be offered newer memory modules that are faster than the speed listed in your computer’s manual. Don’t worry though, as your PC will simply tell the new memory modules to ‘throttle down’ to the recommended speed, without causing any damage to the PC.

At the other extreme, you might find some companies offering ‘gaming memory’ or ‘performance memory’ that runs at higher-than-average speeds in order to squeeze some extra performance out of your PC.

However, this type of memory is very much aimed at hardcore gamers who like to customise their PC to the limit, and it’s not really necessary for ordinary home users.