1. Know Your RAM Type and Size
First off, you gotta figure out what kind of RAM your computer or laptop can handle. This means checking the form factor and type of memory your motherboard supports.
- Form Factor: This is just the size and shape of the RAM module. For home setups, you’ll usually see DIMM for desktops and SO-DIMM for laptops or mini-PCs. There are other types like LRDIMM and RDIMM, but those are mostly for servers. If you’re just upgrading your home PC or laptop for gaming or work, stick with SO-DIMM or DIMM.
- Memory Type: Your motherboard will only support one type of memory. Right now, DDR3, DDR4, and DDR5 are the main players. The higher the number, the better the performance. DDR3 is kinda old-school, DDR4 is solid for most uses, and DDR5 is for those high-end builds.
2. How Much RAM Do You Need?
Here’s a quick rundown:
- For everyday use: 8-12 GB is usually enough.
- For gaming and multimedia: Aim for at least 16 GB.
- For heavy-duty tasks like video editing or 3D modeling: You’ll want 32 GB or more.
You can get that amount in different ways—like one 32 GB stick, two 16 GB sticks, or four 8 GB sticks.
3. Check Your Motherboard Slots and Max Capacity
Before you buy, see how many RAM slots your motherboard has and what the max capacity is. Desktops usually have two or four slots, while laptops often have just one or two. Some laptops even have soldered RAM, meaning you can’t upgrade it at all.
If you have two slots and need 16 GB, you can go with either one 16 GB stick or two 8 GB sticks. Each option has its pros and cons.
4. Upgrade Convenience and Dual-Channel Mode
RAM needs are always growing. If you have one free slot, you can easily add another stick later. If both slots are full, you’ll have to swap out the old ones to upgrade.
Using both slots lets you take advantage of dual-channel mode, which can speed things up by allowing the processor to access two memory modules at once. For the best performance, it’s ideal to use identical memory sticks.
If you have four slots, go for two sticks in the first and third or second and fourth slots. This way, you can use dual-channel mode and still have room for future upgrades.
5. Speed Matters
RAM speed is influenced by a few factors:
- Memory Frequency: Higher frequencies mean faster performance. For everyday tasks, look for 2666–3200 MHz. For gaming or heavy loads, aim for 3600 MHz or higher. DDR5 can go up to 8200 MHz!
- Timings: These are the delays when accessing data. Lower timings mean better performance, but remember to consider them alongside frequency.
6. Extra Features to Think About
These won’t drastically change your system’s speed, but they can make things easier:
- RGB Lighting: Cool for looks, but it can slightly impact performance due to extra heat. Not really needed for laptops since no one sees it anyway.
- Heat Spreaders: RAM doesn’t usually get super hot, but if you’re overclocking, having a heat spreader can help.
- Intel XMP Support: This lets you easily overclock your RAM if your motherboard and CPU support it.
- Number of Ranks: More ranks can mean a slight speed boost, but single-rank modules often overclock better.
Choosing the Right RAM for Your Needs
- For Office Work: 8 GB is fine for basic tasks. Don’t overspend—just grab something affordable, preferably a single stick.
- For Work and Casual Gaming: 16 GB is the sweet spot. Go for a 2 x 8 GB kit to enable dual-channel mode and pick the fastest RAM your motherboard can handle.
- For Gaming PCs: Aim for 32 GB, ideally DDR5. The faster, the better, but keep an eye on your budget.
Microsoft to Stop Supporting Office Apps on Windows 10
Heads up! Microsoft is cutting off updates for Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 starting October 14, which is also when support for Windows 10 itself ends.
To keep using these apps without a hitch, you’ll need to upgrade to Windows 11.
Don’t worry, though—your apps won’t just stop working. They’ll keep running, but over time, you might run into performance issues and won’t get any new features or security updates.
Microsoft is pushing users to ditch Windows 10 by 2025, but a lot of folks still love it. Many can’t switch to Windows 11 because their computers don’t meet the new requirements.
Windows 10 support ends this year, but for the first time, Microsoft is offering extended security updates for $30, giving you an extra year of support.
