Buying computer memory is really not that difficult. Each commercially built computer has a specific type of memory and amount of memory that can fit on the motherboard If you have a Dell, HP, Compaq or Gateway or almost any other mainstream model you can simply go to www.crucial.com and use their selector to find out what type of memory and how much a work in your computer. Once you've done this it would good to pull the side of your computer off and make sure that what they show on the website and what you have your computer is the same. These commercial charts are mostly accurate but I have found errors such as stating that there 4 slots and when I take the cover off there's only 2 . Finding out the memory of your computer can also be done by simply removing the side and pulling the computer chip and looking on the tag to find out what it is. Please look at the pictures below for examples of each the different kinds of memory. In the next section we will talk about the difference between each of these types of memory.

Please Watch this Video on Crucial.com before you read more.
Please Watch this Video before you read more.

Types of DDR? memory: In today's desktops there are three types of memory that are used, each of these are what's known as double data rate memory or DDR. DDR comes in standard DDR, DDR-2 and DDR-3 types of memory also known as speeds of memory as far as the time it reads the memory per cycle. In this section we will not talk about mechanics of the different speeds, we will mainly talk about witch on fits your computer. DDR being the oldest, DDR-2 being common, and DDR-3 is our current type of memory being used in new computers. What's your computer has is a certain type of memory it cannot change between these models for instance, older machines that run DDR-2 cannot run DDR-3 type memory, they are physically as well as mechanically different. Please make sure you have the right chip when replacing your memory, as always if you're not sure please consult a friend or professional, if you get the wrong chips you can damage your computer. Since the chips are all physically different you should not be able to plug the wrong chip into your computer so with a little caution you should do fine.

Please Watch this Video before you read more.

DDR-2, 205 pins, 1.8 - 2.0 volts

A few years old, DDR-2 is used widely, comes in 256MB, 512MB, 1 GB, 2GB, and 4 GB chips.

DDR, 184 pins, 2.6 - 2.75 volts

The oldest of the DDR memory, comes in 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1 GB chips.

DDR-3, 205 pins, 1.35 - 1.5 volts

The newest of the memory types, comes in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB chips.

Laptop Memory are called SO-Dimm's

200 Pins, the same amount of pins for each chip, but check the notchs, they are slighly diffrent, alway be sure and never put in a chip your not sure in the right one.

Slots: Each motherboard will have between to two and four memory slots each. These slots may be color-coded such as to blue and black. DDR memory of all types works best when it's put in pairs this allows the memory to run at full speed. You can put it just the singles module but this would slow down your computer and is not recommended. Each slot for each type of memory is unique, when you look at the memory chips above notice that the notch in the middle of the chip does not line in the same place for each the DDR speeds. Make sure when you install your new memory at the slots line up exactly so that you do not try to install the wrong chip.

How much memory do I need?: The big question asked is how much memory do I really need? Each computer can take up to a maximum amount of memory. Most machines made today will come with between 4GB and 8GB memory if you have an older machine it may only have 1GB or 2GB. Adding more memory does and does not make the computer faster, let me explain. Each computer with more memory runs more efficient and not neccessarly faster. When the computers runs efficient it appears to run faster as processes in memory run much more quickly than processes that have to swap out to the hard drive. Having enough memory for each of the programs and processes make sure your computer runs at optimal speed. If you're looking up your computer on www.crucial.com it will tell you the maximum amount of memory that you can install your computer. For most people today that would be between 4GB and 8GB memory. The type of operating system or OS have also makes a big difference. If your computer system is running a 32-bit version of Windows the maximum memory it will see is 4 GB, if your computer is running in 64-bit version of window you can install up to a maximum of 128 GB of memory, but currently most processors and motherboards will only support a maximum of 24 GB memory in 64-bit mode. So how do you know what you need well it's quite this easy in the next section will discuss the difference between the motherboards and the number of chips you have and how to best mix them.

Finding out what you need for memory: Let's use a few examples to find out how we would upgrade memory and are computer. First of all we need to decide how much memory we actually have, go to control panel and click on the system icon, your Windows Operating System will be listed and you will notice near the bottom or in the middle it will tell you how much RAM is currently installed for instance 2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB of memory. This however will not tell you how is divided on the motherboard. For this you will have to take the side of the case off, once again if you don't feel comfortable doing this ask for help from a professional or close friend. Notice how many slots you have and which ones are full, if you have four slots and two are full and window says you have 4 GB of RAM, then you have to 2 GB chips. If you have four slots and all four are full that it would take for 512 MB of RAM to total 2 GB.

Example 1: So let us say I have an older computer, but currently only has 1 GB of RAM and I look up on crucial and find out it has four slots and the maximum amount of memory I can put in it is 4GB. First decide if the cost of the RAM is worth upgrading your computer. Second, I find out I have 2 slots full and 2 slots empty, adding 2 x 1 GB chips for a maximum of 3GB would be a better than trying replace all four chips for 4 GB. The extra cost for the extra 1GB is really not worth it.

Example 2: Let's say I have a newer computer, 2 years old and uses DDR-2 memory. It's not a name brand, so I take the side of the computer case off and notice that I only have two slots on the motherboard. I have to find out the name and model the motherboard before I can find out how much memory will take. Almost all motherboards will have a name and a model number, the model number is usually a large number such as G-8 -- something something -- something something X 35, or the brand name such as Asus, Biostar or many others. Once I find a brand name the model I can simply go to the Internet plug-in information and find the manufacture of the motherboard. On their websites under the support section you will find information on what size of memory and how much will fit in the motherboard. Once again I recommend if you have a clone or put together computer to get help from somebody that knows what they're doing before ordering memory and finding out it won't work. Watch the video below to learn more.

Example 3: The let's say I'm industrious and I found out that my board has two slots will take a maximum of 8 GB memory. Since I have a 64-bit system I know I can use all 8GB of memory. I find and read the motherboard specifications and it told me a maximum 8GB could be used. 2 x 4GB chips would give me 8GB of memory. I now can purchase the chips installed on my computer. It's always smart to check what speed such as DDR-2- 5300 or DDR-2- 6400 in the Motherboard specification it will tell you what speeds it supports. Some motherboards will use different speeds at its best always replace it with what you currently have. Watch the video below to learn more.

One last example: Let us look at a new computer about 1 -year-old, this computer came with 8GB of RAM and has a large processor, I find myself using this computer for graphics would really like to have 16 GB of RAM. I look at the specifications and find out the motherboard will support a maximum of 32 GB. Understand that most processors made today will only see up to 24 GB, and the cost of 32 GB is quite high. I do have four slots on my motherboard and all the slots are full. Should I buy 2 x 8GB chips or 4 x 4GB chips? It's always best to use the largest amount of chips you possibly can, the computer does was called du-plexling or reading or writing for each bank of chips. I would get a slight speed advantage with 4 x 4GB chips. Always go with the larger amount chips with lower sizes to get my 16 GB of RAM. The cost is usually fairly close to the same. With a little help and a little investigation you can find out what type of memory you have and how to upgrade it. Please watch the video below it explains it better.

Please watch this Video before you read on.

Mixing types of memory: You may find sometime in the future that you may have to mix types of memory. What I mean by mix types of memory, this mostly happens in older machines, a computers memory is rated at the maximum amount of speed that will run, it can run at a lower speed if needed for instance 6400 DDR-2 can also run at 5300 and 4200 speeds if needed and supported by the motherboard.

Let's say I have an older computer with 2 GB of memory and four slots with 2x 2GB, DDR-2 4200 chips installed. I want to add 2 x 1GB chips for total of 4 GB. Maybe I cannot find DDR-2 4200 memory or maybe even DDR-2 5300 memory, or maybe I've found DDR-2 5300, but found that DDR-2 6400 is currently the cheapest when I buy 4 chips. Remember we talked about the chips are best installed by pairs, if the first to chips are installed in the two black slots, the I can install the two new chips of DDR-2 6400 in the two blue slots with no problems. Never mix to speeds of chips in the same banks or colors of slots. However install two different pairs in different slots and be OK, the computer will adjust the speeds accordingly. The computer detects the slowest speed and matches all memory chips to that speed. The second set of chips will automatically clock their speed down slower from the 6400 to the 4200 speed. Try not to jump more than two memory speeds you can help it, one is best. However a warning, the motherboard must support the faster 6400 speed check the specs on the motherboard. Once again if you're not sure always consult somebody as experienced or a professional.

Cooling: Computer memory chips can run really really hot, heat causes errors when information is transferred through memory chips. You will find most newer memory chips such the picture above the DDR-3 come with cooling fins to keep the chip cooler. If you use your computer for graphics or video, having some type of cooler or cooling fins on your chips is very helpful this decreases the amount of errors that may occur under heavy use. If your computer chips do not come with coolers, aftermarket fins can be purchased a low price. I always recommend cooling fins for your computers memory. . If you do not have the option of putting cooling fins, simply mount a fan that will blow across the memory chips, that will work well to. You may have to bring out your inner Geek out to do this, but I've seen people do it and it works great. In computers remember heat kills and cooler is always faster.

In conclusion upgrading your memory is not only difficult. Small upgrades will not necessarily make huge differences, for example going from 6GB to 8GB will probably not give you huge amount of performance increase. The speed of your computer is more than just memory, it's the right amount of memory, the right processor and the right load of software that give you a fast computer.

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