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How To Check Your RAM Size, Speed, and Type On Windows 10 and mac OS

When purchasing a computer, one crucial factor to consider is the Random-Access Memory (RAM) technical specifications. The RAM determines how well your computer will run and how effectively it can handle the various tasks and programs you use.

As you may be aware, RAM provides faster access to data for computers. This data includes information about the operating system, programs, apps, and so on. It also serves as temporary storage for data, which helps make the processor efficient and quick.

Typically, the bigger RAM your laptop or desktop has, the quicker your system can process information and the better it will run multiple applications simultaneously.

So, we’ll teach you how to check the RAM type, as well as memory speed and model on Windows 10 and Mac systems.

Why You Should Know How to Check Your Computer’s RAM Specifications

The ability to check the technical specifications on your computer may come in handy in various situations. For example, if your machine is lagging, especially when running graphic-intensive programs, low memory is usually to blame. Increasing the RAM capacity should improve performance.

Likewise, if you intend to upgrade your RAM, knowing the specifications will ensure that you buy compatible memory modules designed for your machine’s model. What’s more, knowing how to check RAM speed will help you determine the apps or programs it can and can’t handle.

As such, you won’t waste time attempting to install programs or games that won’t be supported.

How Much RAM Do I Really Need?

It depends on how you intend to use your computer. For instance, if you’re a photo or video editor, you’ll be using graphic-intensive software like GIMP or Adobe Premiere Pro. In that case, you’ll need at least 16GB of RAM to smoothly run the programs.

The same goes if you want to enjoy a speedy, high-performance gaming experience.

If you do basic tasks like creating documents and internet browsing, 4GB of RAM should be sufficient. However, 8GB of RAM is ideal for most applications and lag-free computer operations.

How to Check RAM on Windows 10

Windows provides various quick ways to check RAM specifications:

Method 1: Using the Settings App

To check the total memory running on your Windows 10 PC, follow these steps:

  1. Press the Windows Key and type RAM in the Windows search box.
  2. Click on the option that says View RAM info from the search results.
  3. Alternatively, press the Win + I keyboard shortcuts, select System > About.
  4. In the right sidebar, under Device Specifications, look for Installed RAM, and you should see how much RAM is installed on your PC.

Method 2: Using System Information

  1. Press the Windows Key, type System Information, and hit Enter.
  2. Once the System Information window opens, look for Installed Physical Memory (RAM) in the right sidebar. You’ll see how much memory is installed on your PC, along with total vs. available physical memory.

Method 3: Using Task Manager

Interested to learn how to check RAM model and speed? The Task Manager offers the easiest method:

  1. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys at the same time to launch the Task Manager.
  2. On the Task Manager window, click on Performance and select Memory.

You’ll see details like the total amount of RAM on your computer, the RAM speed, and the form factor. You’ll even see the number of slots used, which might be useful when planning to upgrade.

Method 4: Using Command Prompt

If you want to get more details about your RAM stick, use the following command prompts:

  1. Run command prompt with admin rights. Press the Win + R keyboard shortcuts, type CMDin the Run box, and hit the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys simultaneously.
  2. Select Yes when prompted by the UAC to proceed.
  3. Execute these commands, depending on the information you want to see:
    1. wmic memorychip get devicelocator, manufacturer – to check RAM manufacturer
    2. wmic memorychip get devicelocator, partnumber – to check the part number
    3. wmic memorychip get devicelocator, serialnumber – to check the serial number
    4. wmic memorychip get devicelocator, capacity – to check RAM capacity
    5. systeminfo | findstr /C:”Total Physical Memory” – to check total system memory capacity
    6. wmic memorychip get devicelocator, speed – to determine memory module speed
    7. wmic memorychip get devicelocator, memorytype – to determine memory type
    8. wmic memorychip list full – to determine full memory details

Getting these details about your memory can be useful when troubleshooting hardware and software-related issues and contacting technical support.

How to Check RAM on Mac

Mac users have an easier way to check RAM capacity and type:

  1. Click the Apple icon on your Mac’s top-left corner display.
  2. Choose About This Mac from the dropdown context menu. You’ll get an overview of your Mac’s specifications, including the amount of memory.
  3. To check the RAM type on your Mac, click on the System Report button and select the Memory option in the left sidebar. The total amount of memory and the memory type will be displayed on the right side of the window.

On a Mac, when the system slows down, you can check the Activity Monitor to determine the issue. Press the Command + Space keys, type Activity Monitor, and hit Enter. On the next screen, select the Memory tab. You should see a graph at the bottom displaying real-time memory usage.

Keep in mind that bigger RAM doesn’t always mean it’s better. You may have plenty of free memory, but your computer is still freezing or crashing unexpectedly. In such a case, you may want to consider updating your device drivers. It’s one of the sure ways to speed up your computer’s performance.

Outdated device drivers can cause a myriad of issues, such as programs or the system crashing frequently and apps taking long to respond or failing to respond. You can manually update your device drivers, but prepare to undertake a long process. Not to mention, installing the wrong drivers can worsen the situation.

That’s why we recommend using Auslogics Driver Updater. The software automates the entire process and allows you to update all device drivers at once. You don’t have to know the driver model, type, or manufacturer.

The tool automatically scans your system, identifies the currently installed device drivers, and detects any driver issues. It then gives you the option to update all drivers at once with a single click. On the other hand, you can opt to update only the drivers you want.