How Do I Find Compatible RAM For A Motherboard?

Are you searching for compatible RAM sticks for the motherboard? Not certain what RAM type you require? Here are a few things you will have to contemplate.

How Do I Find Compatible RAM For A Motherboard?

So much of the entertainment, gaming, and work-life depend on PCs that regular computer upgrades have become quite a requirement.

However, purchasing a completely new PC when the old one is seamlessly up and running can really be a waste, particularly since you can frequently upgrade RAM to offer enough performance boost for tackling heavier workloads.

When upgrading the older system, storage and RAM are two of the most understandable components you can change. Since RAM frequently offers a more obvious performance boost, let’s concentrate on locating the right RAM for the motherboard.

Desktop (DIMM) And Laptop (SODIMM) RAM:

When locating compatible RAM for the PC, one of the main things to contemplate is whether it is a desktop computer or a laptop. Both types do come with the same vital components: a GPU, CPU, and RAM.

But you ought to remember that such components will have diverse form factors relying on the machine. Laptops will come with mobile editions of the desktop’s full-size PC components. Such mobile versions are smaller and utilize less power.

They offer longer battery life and better movability at the performance expense. Laptop-compatible RAM is recognized as Small Outline Dual Input Memory Module (SODIMM). It’ll have considerably lower pin counts than the regular Dual Input Memory Module (DIMM).

So if you want to change the laptop’s RAM, you ought to purchase SODIMM RAM because the regular desktop RAM will not fit the device’s RAM slot. Simply by glancing at the size or the part, you will simply be capable of identifying the desktop RAM and laptop RAM. If you are installing RAM on your desktop PC, then you should choose the regular DIMM RAM.

DDR Generations:

After contemplating what RAM form factor to acquire, you’ll then have to contemplate what RAM generation the RAM slot of your motherboard will accept. DDR is the common kind of RAM utilized today and is a standard that motherboard and RAM manufacturers have to follow.

Over time, the more advanced DDR gens have arrived, the newest being DDR5. PCs today make use of gens DDR5, DDR4, and DDR3, with DDR4 being the most common one and DDR5 as the future one.

Such diverse RAM gens aren’t backward compatible, so make certain you purchase the type that the motherboard can actually support. Fortunately, Windows provides a simple way of knowing what DDR gen your PC is currently utilizing. Fire up the device and hold Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

Once the Windows Task Manager opens, click on Performance and choose Memory to learn the PC’s DDR gen. You can make use of a similar procedure for finding out this info on mac OS and Linux systems.

RAM Speed:

Another thing to contemplate when purchasing RAM for the PC is the speed. RAM speed is a significant measurement of how fast the memory will perform throughout tasks. It’s a frequency frequently measured in Megahertz (MHz). As a rule of thumb, the higher this frequency, the faster your RAM will be, denoting better performance.

Today’s common RAM speeds actually range from 2400-4400 MHz. But simply because you’ve got the budget for the 4400 MHz RAM stick does not denote the motherboard will support it. If you know what DDR gen the motherboard can support, you can check the following table for finding out what RAM frequency it can actually accept.

RAM Capacity:

At this point, you already know what RAM type is compatible with your motherboard. But before going to the nearest shop and purchasing RAM, you might also desire to contemplate how much you will require for everyday use.

After all, a few tasks need less RAM, and others might require considerably more. If you are a teacher, student, writer, or individual who makes use of a PC for consuming media, then 4 GB to 8GB of RAM might be enough. However, you ought to still go for more for future-proofing the machine. Software inevitably gets more complex and gains from more RAM in the future. If you are a gamer, eight GB of RAM is frequently adequate for older triple-A titles and the majority of eSports games.

But if you like playing new games, sixteen GB of RAM is usually agreed upon as a sweet spot for triple-A gaming. A lot of individuals contemplate sixteen GB of RAM as the base or budget choice for designers, engineers, and editors.

It provides just enough performance for an easy working experience. Usually, the more RAM you can get for CAD and video editing, the better. A few would even go as high as sixty-four GB of RAM for complex CAD designs and serious 4K resolution video edits.

Additional Things You May Desire To Remember:

Now that you’ve got working RAM compatible with the motherboard, there are still some small additional details you may desire to contemplate. The RAM may be compatible with the motherboard.

Still, once you assemble the computer, you may see that the gigantic CPU cooler is blocking the RAM slots. It’s significant also to consider clearance when choosing RAM. Remember, a few RAM sticks are taller or thicker than others, particularly if they come fitted with heat sinks and LED.

Speaking of LEDs, having the RGB is another small consideration. Although it does not aid with the performance, a lot of individuals appreciate the more stimulating aesthetic. So if you like having complete RGB on the system, it is your call, but keep in mind that a few motherboards may not support RGB control on the RAM sticks.

You may desire to confirm that by glancing at the motherboard’s specification sheet or manual. Lastly, a few motherboards will have 2 or 4 RAM slots. Consider dual-channel RAM sticks for squeezing every bit of performance out of the RAM.

That denotes that having 2 smaller-capacity RAM sticks is better than getting one large-capacity RAM stick. So, if you’re planning to install sixteen GB of RAM on the system, having two eight GB sticks of RAM would be greater than the single stick of sixteen GB RAM.

RAM Upgrades: Effective, Cheap, & Simple:

When you locate the correct RAM, it ought to be the cost-effective upgrade that offers tangible advantages. Especially, working with PDFs, images, or other big files ought to be easier with more RAM. Once you have got the SODIMM or DIMM that is ideal for your requirements, it is time to install it. Do not be anxious; it’s a simple procedure, but make certain you comprehend it before you start.