When upgrading and repairing a computer, it is often necessary to determine what kind of RAM is in the system unit or laptop. This operation often causes difficulties for beginners, but nothing special is required to complete it. The article will describe several ways to help you learn all about the RAM used in the PC.
The main characteristics of RAM
First you need to figure out what exactly you can find out by looking at the RAM information:
- Type of RAM or its generation (DDR1, DDR2 or DDR3).
- Volume. Measured in gigabytes. Determines how much data can be stored in RAM at the same time.
- The number of modules, their manufacturers and serial numbers.
- Timings. Characterize the delays that necessarily occur when transferring data between different RAM chips. The lower the timings, the better.
- Frequency. The memory bandwidth depends on it. The higher the value, the faster and more stable the computer.
- Voltage. For the average user, this characteristic does not play a big role. Most important for practicing overclocking.
In addition to this data, specialized software can provide a lot of other information, but it is not so important.
AIDA64
One of the most popular applications for viewing information about the computer hardware is AIDA64. After installation and launch, the main program window will appear on the screen. It consists of two parts. On the left are tree-shaped components. On the right is a table of details.
How to find out what RAM is in the PC using AIDA64?
- Click on the "+" next to the "motherboard" line.
- Click on the "Memory" tab. Here, the top line will indicate the total amount of RAM.
- Then click on SPD. After that, the screen will display detailed information about each of the brackets installed in the system.
At the very bottom of the table is a link. By clicking on it, you can view all the data about the module that the official website of the manufacturer has.
CPU-Z
CPU-Z is an equally popular application. The main advantage of the product is its use absolutely free. You can download it from the manufacturer’s website. No installation required. However, the program is completely in English.
- How to find out what RAM is in the PC? Download and run the application. It is a single window with multiple tabs.
- First click on the inscription Memory. In it, you can find out with what parameters RAM is working right now.
- The SPD tab provides data on the values set by the manufacturer and on information recorded in a special RAM chip. Moreover, for each bar separately, in order to switch to the next module, you should expand the menu under the words Memory Slot Selection.
As noted earlier, the program interface is completely in English, so it’s worth giving more information about each item that describes RAM.
Memory Tab:
- Size - the total amount of installed RAM.
- FSB: DRAM - the ratio of the frequency of the system bus to the frequency of RAM.
- CAS Latency, RAS to CAS Delay, RAS Precharge, Cycle Time, - timings.
- Frequency - frequency.
SPD Tab:
- Module Size - the volume of a separate RAM strip located in a particular slot.
- Max Bandwidth - maximum frequency.
- Manufacturer - manufacturer.
- Serial Number - serial number.
- Voltage - voltage.
Pc wizard
Like the two previous applications, PC Wizard is made in order to get the maximum data about the equipment installed inside the system unit or laptop. The product is absolutely free, you can download it from the official site. In this case, it is advisable to choose the ZIP version, and not SETUP, because it does not require installation.
How to find out what RAM is in the computer?
- Run the program. Wait for it to finish scanning devices.
- Click on the icon in the form of the motherboard, which is located on the left side of the window. If this icon is not there, you should first click on the inscription "Iron".
- Now select "Physical memory". After that, detailed information about the RAM modules will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Speccy
This product was developed by the team working on the popular CCleaner. For home use, Speccy can be operated absolutely free. After downloading the application from the official site, you will need to install it. Installation is as simple as possible, the only thing worth paying attention to is the choice of language. The options menu will appear in the very first step, so it’s very easy to skip.
How to find out what RAM is in the computer using Speccy? To do this, run the application and select the desired item in its window. It is called "RAM". In addition, nothing is required to be done.
Hwinfo
HWiNFO is a small free, but extremely powerful program. When downloading it, be careful, because there are two versions. One is 32-bit, and the second is 64. Accordingly, the latter will not work under the control of a 32-bit operating system. Installing the product is not required.
After starting, a small utility will appear on the screen, in which you should press the RUN button and wait a few tens of seconds. Having scanned the system, the application will show complete data about it.
Where can I see which RAM is installed in the system unit? Pay attention to the lower right corner of the System Summary window. It has two areas. Memory Modules shows information about each bar separately. Memory displays the total amount of RAM, the frequency at which the modules are working right now, and real timings.
If this data is not enough, go to the window with the name HWiNFO and double-click on the inscription Memory.
SiSoftware Sandra
SiSoftware Sandra is software that is primarily used for comprehensive computer testing, but it is also possible to obtain information about system components using it. To use the application you need to buy, but the manufacturer allows you to download a trial version from your website.
Before you see what kind of RAM is installed on your computer, you must install the application. This process is simple, even a beginner will cope with it.
After starting the application, a window with several tabs will appear on the screen. Go to the one that has the name "Devices". Double-click on the icon labeled "Motherboard." In the table, you can see several subheadings with the name "Memory Module". Under each of them is recorded information about the RAM slots: volume, type, serial number, manufacturer, frequency, timings, power, possible operating modes.
Obvious way
If the computer cannot be turned on, the software will not help. In this case, it is necessary to examine the physical device itself. Disconnect the computer from the network and remove the system unit cover. Open the latches that hold the RAM bar, and then pull the module toward you. How to determine which RAM is used in the computer?
A sticker should be placed directly on the RAM. It often contains all the basic data - volume, maximum possible frequency, generation, timings, voltage. If this data is not available, the serial number and model should be written on the bar. For example: CMP4GX3M2C1600C7. It is often impossible to judge what is hidden behind the numbers, however, knowing the model of the module, it is easy to find out information about it using any search engine.
For laptop users
The first thing to do when figuring out which RAM is installed on the laptop is to look at the user manual that should be supplied. If you cannot find detailed data in it, at least you can find out which model of the strips were installed at the factory.
Often users ask questions like: "The user manual is lost, how to see what RAM I have?" In this case, you should arm yourself with a screwdriver.
Disconnect the laptop completely: unplug it and unplug the battery. Look at the back of the case. It should have several small covers. Usually RAM is hidden behind one of them. Others are used to quickly replace a hard drive and other devices. It's pretty hard to guess what kind of equipment is hidden behind, so unscrew each one in turn until you find the right one.
To remove the RAM, click the latches and easily pull the bar out of the slot. When the free run ends, the side of the board farthest from the contacts should be raised. What kind of RAM in a laptop, as in the case of a desktop computer, will help to find out the sticker. Pulling out RAM from a laptop is not always required. If there is only one module, you can read all the data from it by simply removing the cover.
Be very careful and careful when working with hardware. Even a slight scratch or damage often leads to unstable PC operation. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is best to contact professionals. This will save time and money.