How To Know If I Have Free Ram Slots
When a user wants to add or upgrade memory (RAM) in a computer, they need to know how many memory slots are available. The following section helps you to determine the number of memory slots in your computer, and how many are used.
Windows Task Manager
The easiest solution for Windows users is to open the Windows Task Manager.
- Press the Windows key, type Task Manager, and then press Enter.
- In the window that appears, click the Performance tab (A), then select Memory (B).
- In the lower-right corner, the number of slots is displayed in the Slots used: section (C).
Without opening my ThinkPad is there a way to determine if the 2GB of memory are in 1 slot leaving 1 slot available for additional memory? If you want to know whether the factory shipped rams are either occupying two slots or one slots without opening up the computer, you can use the following methods: 1. For example, through the Ctrl + Alt + Del keyboard shortcut, power user menu (Windows key + X keyboard shortcut), and the Ctrl + Shift + ESC keyboard shortcut. Click on the Performance tab. Open the back side of the laptop where RAM is inside. If there is no paper label who indicates which type of module is (DDR2 or DDR3, Mhz speed, Gb), extract a single RAM from the slots, take a photo, zoom and count pins, and look how are distributed in the module (21 pins, space and 52 pins, as example, could be a DDR2 for your computer).
- As you can see, this computer has a total of four memory slots, although only two are currently being utilized.
Use the CPU-Z utility
Another way to get information about memory slots and details about the RAM currently installed on your computer, is to use the free CPU-Z third-party utility.
- Open an Internet browser and visit the CPUID website.
- On the left side of the screen, select your operating system.
- On the next page, select your preferred language.
- On the next screen, click the DOWNLOAD NOW! button.
- Once the download has finished, install it from your browser and open the program.
How To Know If I Have A Free Ram Slot
- Click the SPD tab at the top of the screen, and then click the down arrow in the Memory Slot Selection section.
- As you can see in the image above, all of the memory slots are listed on the drop-down menu.
If you select a different slot from the drop-down menu, CPU-Z will tell you additional information about the RAM that is installed.
How To Know If I Have Free Ram Slots Slot
Examine the motherboard
Sometimes the best way to determine the available memory slots is to open the computer and examine the motherboard. Opening the computer is the best option if were unable to get the Windows Task Manager or CPU-Z to work.
Looking inside the case, the motherboard is the primary large circuit board. On most motherboards, the memory slots are on either side of the CPU, and resemble what is shown below.
Most computer motherboards have two, three, or four memory slots. Some higher-end motherboards have as many as eight. The above motherboard picture above has no memory modules installed in any of its three slots.
NoteIf your computer has no memory slots available and you want to upgrade, you must remove and replace some of the existing memory.
Additional information
- See our memory definition for further information and related links.