How to Install More RAM

So there it is: your old computer. Looking at it almost brings a tear to your eye. You sit there, thinking about your adventures together – all the baddies you've killed, all the races you've won, all the people you've saved. You got it in 2009, and back then it was awesome. There were six whole gigabytes of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and two ATI Radeon HD5000s in CrossFire mode for stunning graphics. When it was new, this machine was top-of-the-line. This was the best box money could buy.

But now, as you sit there and look at it, the old comp just doesn't cut it anymore. In the intervening years, the rest of the pack has caught up and overtaken you. Now, there are laptops that are more powerful. What was once the best gaming machine in the world now struggles to run more recent games on even decent settings. Maybe it's finally time to let your old rig go in peace and get a newer machine. For the final time, you close all your open applications, hit the Start button, and shut her down. At last, that glowing power button that has been on for so many years winks off for the last time.

But this doesn't have to be the end.

You see, even though your computer is now outdated, there are many, many ways to easily inject more life into it and bring it back to its former glory, and the cheapest of these is to upgrade the computer's RAM. "What is RAM," you ask? Well, RAM is short for Random Access Memory, and it's basically a cache that your computer stores files in when a program is running, so that it can access them more quickly. Think about it like this: You're a mechanic fixing a car, and you have two toolboxes. One of them is smaller and can hold fewer tools, but you're able to bring it under the car for quicker access. The other one is bigger and can hold more, but won't fit under the vehicle. Before you start work, you take your most commonly used tools from the bigger toolbox and put them in the smaller one. However, some tools won't fit, so while you're working, you have to climb out from under the car and retrieve the bigger one from the large toolbox, while putting back smaller tools that you don't need anymore. This wouldn't be such a problem if your other toolbox was bigger, so that it could hold them. A computer works in much the same way: when a program starts, it takes the program's most important and commonly used files from the big toolbox (its hard drive) and stores them in memory (the small toolbox). If there's not enough space in memory for a larger file that it needs, it'll take one or more other files that are less important from memory to make space for the larger file. The more RAM it has, the less it has to do this, so the faster it will run.
So you might be wondering how to make the toolbox bigger than it already is. You probably think it's extremely difficult and involves tampering with things that the manufacturer didn't intend to be messed with.

Well, that's not the case.

In fact, it's actually quite easy. First, you'll need two things: the RAM you intend to install, and a grounding strap to prevent you from getting electrocuted while working on the machine.

Before you go out and blindly buy the first RAM kit you see, you'll want to do a little research so that you have a good idea of what exactly is in your machine. Many purpose-built gaming machines, such as those made by Alienware, come with some sort of file which lists your computer's specs as of when it was made. You'll need to know what kind of processor you're running and how many PCI and/or PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect and Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, respectively) slots you have free. If you've got three RAM cards installed, then you've probably also got three extra slots to install more, since most memory module connectors come with six slots. In particular, it's important to know when your computer was made; older machines will typically use 168-pin PCI buses, while newer ones are more likely to use 184-pin buses, which allows for a higher memory bandwidth, which in turn reduces the time it takes to swap out files, making your computer faster. If your computer was made before 2007, it's more likely to use the 168-pin bus to interface with its RAM, which means that to get the best memory on the market today you'll also have to get a new PCI connector set, as that's where the memory modules go, but we won't go over that since installing one of those is an entire how-to article in itself. The reason you want to know what kind of CPU you have is because CPUs from different manufactures interface – talk – with the memory in different ways. For instance, AMD CPUs interface with memory in a different way than processors from Intel, so trying to use memory made for an AMD chip when your computer uses an Intel chip will cause severe problems whenever your CPU tries to talk to your memory; in some cases, it won't even be able to load its Basic Input-Output System (BIOS), which is responsible for kickstarting your machine's OS. As for prices, these vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but they're typically pretty cheap. I managed to get a kit of two Corsair 4GB DDR3 SDRAM cards for $70, which isn't that much for the amount of speed that you'll gain by installing some new RAM.

Also, keep in mind that CPUs from different families within the same product line interface with memory a bit differently than those of other families, so it's also good to know what model your CPU is. While you're buying memory, don't forget to get a grounding strap to avoid getting electrocuted. This is a small Velcro strap with a rubber cord that can clip onto it, and the rubber cord has an alligator clip on one end so you can clip it onto a grounded surface to ground yourself. You could avoid getting one and touch a grounded surface every now and again to dissipate any static electricity you may build up in your hands while installing the new memory card, but this is the safest way to go.
Now that you've got your new memory sticks and a grounding strap, it's time to take the computer apart. First, shut the computer off as you normally would – by hitting the Start button and clicking "Shut down." Wait until your computer has completely stopped running before you unplug it. Once it's unplugged, make sure to move the computer at least a foot from the power cord. It's extremely unlikely, but there's always a risk of a power surge, so if that happens, we don't want any electricity to jump from the cord to the computer while you're working on it.

Next, lay your computer on its side and remove its side panel, which is more than likely on the left side of your machine when you're facing the front of it. The process for this varies from case to case – on the case for my Alienware Aurora, this is achieved by sliding a security latch on the back of the computer and then pressing a button on the rear-top to pop it off. Like I said, though, depending on what sort of case you're using, the way you remove the side panel may be entirely different, so it's wise to read your case's instruction manual beforehand.
When you've got the side panel off, you may be tempted to dive straight in and begin work right away, but don't. Instead, hold the power button for five seconds, and then walk away from it for a minute or two. Both of these steps will help dissipate as much static electricity from the machine as possible. When you return, assemble your grounding strap (if you haven't already), and clip it to a grounded area within the computer, such as the part of your computer's chassis closest to the power supply. Once you're safely grounded, it's time to install the RAM. Once you have the side of the case off, you should see what looks like a plastic bar blocking your way. This is the PCI shroud, which covers your PCI slots. There should be a button somewhere on it which will unlatch it. Hold the button, lift the PCI shroud, and you'll see one or more circuit boards plugged into the motherboard.

These are your memory modules. Try to find a free slot to install your new memory; there should be at least one. If there isn't, then you can easily remove a preexisting card and replace it with a new one. To remove the card, if it isn't encased in a metal heat sink, you'll have to grab it by its edges, but if it has a heat sink, you can grab it anywhere. Once you have hold of the card, undo the plastic pins that hold it in place, and then gently work it back and forth until it's out. Once you have a free slot, grab your replacement card and turn it so that the notch on it aligns with the notch on the PCI slot, and then gently but firmly press it into the slot until the plastic pins snap into place. Wash, rinse and repeat until all of your new RAM cards are installed, close the PCI shroud, remove your grounding strap from the computer's chassis, snap the side panel back into place, lock it, and plug it back up.

If you've installed your new RAM correctly, your computer will take a bit longer to boot up when you first start it again, but this is only because your operating system has discovered it and is deciding what to do with it, so this is perfectly normal. Once you're at your desktop, feel free to launch a few programs and see how quickly they run.
You should see a marked increase in overall speed when running your favorite programs for the first time after giving your machine more RAM; if not, or if the computer runs slower (or doesn't run at all), then chances are you've screwed it up somewhere along the way. If you haven't and you're still having issues, then it's most likely due to a bad RAM stick, which should be nothing more than a minor inconvenience since most stores will give you a refund if you return it on the same day you get it.

So, that's it! As you can see, giving an old machine new life really isn't as hard as most people think – just do a bit of research, get some new RAM, open  your computer up, whack the RAM in, close the case again, done. If you need a way to easily and cheaply spruce up an old box, this is it. All you have to have is some money and some spare time and before you know it your aging machine will be running like a champ once again. Now you and your computer will be able to enjoy many more years together, killing bad guys, saving worlds, and winning races. It seems like you can teach an old computer new tricks after all.