Add RAM to Your Laptop

If you've ever switched from a desktop computer to a laptop,
the experience can be liberating. While some might enjoy
having a single space in which to work at a computer and
organize files both physical and digital, a desktop can also
keep you feeling anchored to the spot. It relies on
electrical outlets 100 percent of the time, and carrying all
of its bulky components from one place to the next isn't
convenient, either.

Laptops, however, run on battery power, and, once
sufficiently charged, can operate anywhere you carry them.
They're small, thin and lightweight, so whether you want to
lounge on the couch or work at the coffee shop, laptops are
portable and easy tools to use.

But the only real difference between a laptop and a desktop,
of course, is how they're put together. A laptop has all of
the same hardware and accessories a desktop does, like
a screen, a keyboard, a microprocessor, memory storage and
a series of fans to cool the system down. Everything is just
arranged differently since it needs to fit in a much smaller
package. That means once you start building up more files,
adding more pictures, uploading more music and using more
programs simultaneously, you'll experience something many
laptop computer users lament -- slow load times and sluggish
performance.

Typically, the culprit behind any performance issue is
an insufficient amount of random access memory, or RAM.
Although some owners cringe at the thought of adding more RAM
because a laptop's layout isn't as straightforward as
a desktop, sometimes adding or upgrading the RAM on your
system is the easiest and cheapest solution to increasing
your laptop's performance.

So what exactly are you doing when you add more RAM to your
system? How do you choose the right RAM? And once you've
opened up that laptop, how do you install RAM correctly?

Choosing RAM

When most people refer to a computer's "memory," they're
talking about random access memory, or RAM. RAM is considered
important to your laptop's central processing unit (CPU),
because memory allows you to run several programs at once
without too much interruption. How do you know if you need
more RAM, though?

The telltale sign of too little RAM is slow performance.
Usually, when you purchase a new laptop, it takes very little
time to start the computer and run its existing programs. But
as you add files and perform more tasks simultaneously,
things start to slow down. If you boot up your computer and
it takes several minutes for everything to work properly,
chances are you could use more RAM.

Fortunately, adding RAM to your laptop is probably the
easiest and most inexpensive method to boost computer
performance. Even getting a new CPU for your laptop might not
do as much as adding RAM. But if you do a little bit of
searching on the topic of RAM, you'll find there are several
different kinds and many different sizes available. What's
the right RAM for your computer?

First of all, you need to judge the performance of your
laptop and ask yourself what kind of work you'll be doing. If
you play games on your laptop or run lots of programs that
take up a lot of processing power, you'll want a good amount
of RAM -- 2 GB of RAM or more. If you're using your laptop
for simple day-to-day work, you probably won't need more than
512 MB of memory.

Adding RAM

Once you've purchased the necessary RAM module, you're ready
to add more memory to your computer. Before you start
anything, make sure the laptop is completely turned off and
unplugged from any power sources for the sake of safety. It's
also recommended that you use an antistatic wrist strap while
you're handling a RAM module.

Once everything is powered down, you'll need to find the
memory compartment door. Different manufacturers put these
slots in different places, but on most laptops, you'll find
a small door on the underside of the machine. Using the
appropriate screwdriver, open the door and take a look inside.
There are typically two slots for RAM. If both slots are
full, you'll have to remove one of the modules and replace it
with a module with more memory to upgrade your laptop's RAM.
You can remove a RAM module by pressing on the little ejector
clips that hold the module in place. If one of the slots is
empty, you can simply place the new module in the slot.
Adding a module is fairly straightforward -- it should just
slide into place and, once you give it a little push, it'll
lock down with the help of the clips. Again, your experience
may be different depending on the company that made your
computer, so make sure to check your owner's manual or
support Web site before you start opening your laptop's case.

Once you have everything back into place, replace the access
door and turn on your computer. If everything goes well, your
laptop should automatically recognize the extra memory.
You'll find that your computer will boot much faster, run
applications more smoothly and switch between programs with
less lag time.