Installing RAM

Technical %escription
Figure 1.1 (Motherboard)

The purpose of this manual is to teach technology literate computer users how to increase the speed and performance of their machines by installing extra RAM in their computers. RAM, also known as random access memory, is a form of volatile memory that stores data so that it can be immediately accessed at any time, or randomly. There are two types of memory volatile and nonvolatile. !olatile memory stores the data until the power is turned off meaning whenever you shutdown your computer the memory is lost. "onvolatile memory is permanent and Source: Tiger Direct. Copyright 2013 remains on the device regardless of whether or not the by Asus. epri!ted "ith per#issio!. power is on. #ome examples of nonvolatile memory include hard drives, $%&R'M(s, and RAM is specifically housed within the computer(s case in the form of a )chip* or )stick* that is located in one or more slots in the motherboard(s memory bank. The motherboard is the heart of any computer. It houses the computer(s processor, slots for the graphic card, the sound card, the +thernet card, the ,#- card, and the keyboard and mouse controller although nowadays those are usually ,#- controlled. More importantly the motherboard houses several connectors and ports to connect the main battery, the $., fan, auxiliary fans, the hard drive/s0, the $% drive, and the floppy disk drive. 1hile the point behind installing extra RAM, is to increase the speed and efficiency of the computer there are other reasons why one may want to or need to increase a computer(s RAM. Almost all operating systems have a minimal RAM re2uirement and many applications and games have a memory re2uirement as well. 1hile an older operating system like 1indows 3. may have a minimum re2uirement of 45 M-, or a recommended amount of 678 M-, newer operating systems like 1indows 9 re2uire upwards of 6 :- in order to run properly. %epending on what the computer is being used for, a lot of the software will also have re2uirements. Source: Tiger Direct. Copyright 2013 ;or an example a graphic designer would more than by $atriot. epri!ted %ith likely need to use Adobe $reative #uite for their artwork. per#issio!. Many of the applications re2uire 6 :- or more of memory in order to run properly. +ven if you already have the re2uired amount of RAM, installing more will still produce positive results. #ince the computer will be able to store more data that can be randomly accessed, it will load applications faster, be able to run multiple applications at once, and the computer will be able to smoothly switch between applications without slowing down. Increasing the RAM of a computer is essential for anybody who needs to multitask.
Figure 1.2 ( AM)

Materials Re2uired
6. %ifferent si<e and different head screwdrivers .hilips or slot headed depending on the screws needed to open the computer. (This depends completely on whether or not your computer needs to be unscrewed in order to open it and gain access to the motherboard. The cases of most computers usually just slide open revealing the motherboard.) 7. The stick or sticks of RAM that you intend to install in the computer. (The number of sticks you use depends on the number of RAM slots that the motherboard has available.) =. A can of compressed that will allow you to clean the dust out of the computer case. 5. A computer of course. ( or the purpose of this manual! we will be focusing on installing RAM in a desktop computer. Although installing RAM in a laptop isn"t difficult you won"t be able to completely open the computer and view the components inside. #t is however difficult to upgrade the other components of a laptop because of the way they"re made.)

.reparation
The first thing you need to do is make sure that opening your computer won(t void your computer(s warranty if you care. "ext, you need to find out what type of RAM is compatible with your computer. If you purchase the incorrect type of RAM it won(t fit into the slots of the motherboard. The best way to do this is to find out the manufacturer and model of the computer and simply go to a site like www.crucial.com. If you have a custom built machine you will need to find out what type of motherboard you have and the RAM that is compatible with it. Most RAM is specified by either %%R3 333 or as .$ 3333, the amount of pins they have, and the amount RAM in each stick. /The 3(s are >ust placeholders for numbers0 The pins usually let you know whether or not the stick will fit in the slot. Mixing different Figure 2.1 (Syste#) types of memory IS NOT recommended. The amount of RAM you purchase will more than likely depend on the operating system that you use. 1indows 9 is the most current and popular operating system right now and the minimum re2uirement for the =7 bit version is 6 :- but the maximum amount of RAM that it can utili<e is 5 :- /=.7? :-0. If you have the 45 bit version of 1indows 9 the minimum amount of RAM needed is 7 :- and, depending on which edition you have, the maximum amount ranges from 8 :- all the way up to 6@7 :-. To see how much memory you have installed on your machine simply go to the control panel, navigate to system and security and click on the system icon. Aou(ll be able to see how much RAM the computer currently has and whether it is using =7 or 45 bit operating system.

#tep by #tep .rocess

This process should only take $%&'% minutes. 6. The first thing you need to do is power off the computer. Make sure that you remove the plug in the back of the computer. As a precaution you should probably remove all the connections to the connections and any peripheral devices. This may include the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse, and any other ,#- devices. Make sure that you are grounded meaning that you don(t have any static electricity on hands. Aou don(t want to )disturb* any of the electrical components in the Figure 3.1 (&ac' o( computer with any foreign currents.
Co#puter)

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7. "ext you need to open the case of the computer in order to gain access to the motherboard. %epending on your computer(s case, you may need to use a screwdriver in
Figure 3.2 ()pe! Co#puter)

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order to unscrew the panel, or you may be able to >ust slide the panel off of the case by hand. Make sure you remove the panel on the correct side of the computer case so that you won(t be looking at the back of the motherboard. It won(t harm the computer but you(ll probably waste 6B&6? minutes. =. After you(ve opened the case of the computer you(ll need to locate the memory bank in order to find the old sticks of memory on the motherboard. %epending on how many slots there are available for memory you will be able to add the stick/s0 or you(ll have to remove the old sticks and replace them with the new ones. 5. Aou don(t need any tools in order to remove the memory. There should be two clips holding the stick/s0 in place that you can simply flip don(t so that you can pull them right out of the slots. 1hen you want to place the new RAM in the slots you simply flip the clips back down in the notches on the ends of the sticks. Almost all memory sticks have a space between the pins that will prevent you from putting them into the slots
Figure *.1 (Me#ory &a!')

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backwards. DO NOT try to shoehorn them into the slots backwards. 'nce you turn on the computer you will short them out and possibly short out the entire motherboard which means you(ll have to buy a new computer. ?. 'nce you(ve installed the new RAM, the computer will automatically recogni<e it and you can check to make sure by opening the control panel, navigating to system and security and going to system. ;rom here you should be able to see the amount of memory installed. Aou(ll now notice that many of the applications on your computer open much faster and you navigate between several applications at once without any performance hiccups.

-ad Memory
There are instances where the memory sticks will malfunction causing system instability such as you machine crashing, applications randomly closing, and the blue screen of death. If you have a bad stick/s0 you(ll need to test them in order to find out which one is bad and return and replace the bad stick. Aou will need to download Memtest84 and burn it to a $%. 'nce you(ve done this you will need to test the memory sticks individually. 'nly one stick of RAM can be tested at a time. "ext you simply need to insert the $% and restart Figure /.1 (Me#Test01) the computer. The program will automatically begin testing and let you know which stick/s0 have errors. Aes this is tedious but at least Memtest84 is free.

Source: Me#test01. Copyright 2013 by $ass#ar' So(t%are. epri!ted %ith per#issio!.