Test Your Computer's Ram
Random-access memory, also known as RAM, is a data storage tool in computers. Data stored on RAM circuits can be retrieved in any order at any time. The speed of your system depends heavily on the amount of RAM installed and the operability of that RAM. If your computer is lagging or if applications are running slowly, you might have faulty RAM or not enough RAM for the amount of data you're storing. Use these steps for testing your RAM on a PC.
Steps
- View your total RAM and the amount in use. Click the "My Computer" on your PC desktop. Choose "Properties," and then "General."
- You will be provided with numerical data as well as a pie chart of your memory usage. The number shown as total RAM should be between 256MB and 64GB. This number could be more or less depending on the power of your system. Ideally you should be using less than half of your total amount of RAM. If you have 512MB of total RAM, utilizing 256MB or less enables optimal system operability.
- Enter Crtl + Alt + Delete on your keyboard simultaneously to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on the performance tab to examine how much RAM each program you're running is using.
- If it appears one program is using much more RAM than others, it could be that program that is causing system problems. Try closing or deleting that program to eliminate that factor.
- Turn off your computer. Unplug it and open your computer tower.
- There may be a side panel to unscrew or the construction might be that of a clamshell.
- Locate the RAM circuits.
- RAM is situated on the motherboard, which is the large, intricate-looking board inside the tower. RAM is usually 1 to 4 sticks about 8 inches (20.32 cm) long each plugged into that board.
- Make sure they are tightly secured onto the motherboard.
- If one or more of them is loose, this might account for your computer issues, if you are having them.
- Remove one RAM stick by gently pulling outward.
- Plug your computer back in and boot up.
- Determine if removing that single stick of RAM altered you computer's functionality.
- If it did, that stick of RAM was probably faulty and should be replaced. If it did not change anything, replace that stick and repeat the previous steps with a different stick.
- Download MemTest86 or MemTest86+ from the Internet.
- This free program will run RAM diagnostics on your system.
- Burn the MemTest program onto a CD-ROM.
- Restart your computer with the burnt MemTest CD inside your drive.
- Boot the CD from your system's boot menu during startup.
- Allow MemTest to test your RAM.
- This process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on how much RAM you have installed and how corrupt the RAM is.
Tips
- Upgrade your RAM if you add more applications to your computer or if it's been more than a year since your last upgrade.
- If any of your RAM sticks are faulty, purchase a new one instead of simply removing the faulty stick. It's important to have a surplus of RAM on your system in order for it to run optimally.
