The exercise of upgrading the memory of your computer is often the chief means of achieving a boost in performance. Upgrading of the RAM, or Random Access Memory as it is called, is necessary to keep pace with the resource hogging needs of new software.

The easy-to-follow tips and directions in this article should help you accomplish the task.

Determining the amount of main memory you need

One gigabyte of RAM is usually suggested to average users running Windows XP. However, many users prefer to go for 2 GB or more because of high-end applications and games, particularly in the Windows Vista environment.

The Right Kind of RAM for your PC

The RAM that you should choose will depend on the type of motherboard you have. Depending on the compatibility, your RAM could be DDR, DDR2 or DDR3, among other types. Contemporary PCs enjoy the benefits of dual channel memory for unprecedented performance benefits.

Going about the upgrade

  1. Before getting to handle computer parts, tie an antistatic band on your wrist to make sure all static electricity charges are safely conducted to the ground. If a strap is not available, touch the non powder coated area of the chassis to discharge yourself.
  2. Remove the chassis of your PC and position the case with the open side facing up. If you are upgrading on a laptop, remove the lower cover and look for the slots to install the new RAM.
  3. Your PC's memory will most likely look similar to this DIMM:  After you locate the RAM slots on the motherboard, you will want to either replace an old module or install into an empty socket. If you want to remove an old RAM, gently press the two clips at either end of the module until it pops out.
  4. Remove the new RAM module from its static-free cover and keep it on the cover. Ensure that you handle the RAM modules by the edges.
  5. After making sure that the latches at the ends of the RAM socket are open, gently push the module in by aligning it so that its notch matches the corresponding protrusion in the socket. Apply gentle pressure from the top edge till the latches rise and lock. If you are upgrading a laptop’s memory, slowly push the module towards its socket, until the clips position themselves in place.
  6. Put back the chassis cover of your PC, or screw the bottom cover of the laptop in place. Power up your machine and go to the CMOS setup by pressing the delete key. Confirm whether the new RAM is recognized. If not, you will need to remove the RAM and repeat the installation steps to ensure that it is firmly fixed.