Buzz
This article offers a guide on how to check the installed Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer or iPad. RAM is crucial in ensuring that open programs can run smoothly and efficiently.
Steps
On Windows
Start
Click on System (System). This option, symbolized by a laptop icon, appears at the top left corner of the window.
Click on the About (About). You will find this tab located at the bottom left corner of the System window. This action will provide details about your computer.
Check the "Installed RAM" section. This information can be found under "Device specifications" near the middle of the page. The number next to the "Installed RAM" label shows the amount of RAM installed on your computer.
Check your computer's RAM usage. If you'd like to know how much RAM your computer is using (or how much is being consumed at a specific time), check using the Task Manager program.
- Performing this while running a program will show how much RAM that program needs to function.
Spike Baron
Network Engineer & Desktop Support Specialist
Network Engineer & Desktop Support Specialist
How to identify faulty RAM? Network engineer Spike Baron explains: "Two main signs that your RAM might be defective are when your computer fails to start or when it displays a blue screen. These are the two primary issues that occur when RAM is malfunctioning."
On a Mac
Click on About This Mac (Information about your Mac). This option will appear in the drop-down menu. The About This Mac window will appear on your screen.
Click on the Overview tab (Overview). You’ll find this tab at the top-left corner of the About This Mac window.
- The Overview tab is typically displayed by default when you open About This Mac.
Look for the "Memory" section. The number displayed next to the "Memory" label indicates the total amount of RAM installed on your Mac, as well as the type of RAM used in the device.
Check the RAM usage on your Mac. If you want to know the amount of RAM your Mac is using (or how much it consumes at any given time), you can monitor it using the Activity Monitor program.
- This will open a window showing you how much RAM is being used by a specific application to run smoothly.
On an iPad
- Your iPad must be running at least iOS 7 to use the app for this method.
Search for the Smart Memory Lite app. Tap the search bar located at the top right corner of the screen, type smart memory lite, and press the Search button (blue, located at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard).
- If you can’t find the search bar, make sure you’re on the correct tab by tapping Featured at the bottom-left of the screen.
Find the app named "Smart Memory Lite". You’ll usually see the app name appear near the top of your search results.
Tap on GET (Get). This is the option to the right of the Smart Memory Lite app.
Enter Touch ID when prompted. Scan your fingerprint using Touch ID to allow your iPad to download the app.
- If your iPad doesn’t support Touch ID, tap on Install at the bottom of the screen when prompted, and enter your Apple ID password.
Open Smart Memory Lite. Tap on OPEN in the App Store once the app finishes downloading, or tap on the Smart Memory Lite app icon on your home screen.
View the total RAM of your iPad. In the bottom-right corner of the screen, you will see a circle with a number inside — this represents the total RAM installed on your iPad.
- Unlike most computers, you cannot upgrade the RAM on an iPad.
Check the RAM usage on your iPad. The colored bars in blue, red, green, and gray near the bottom of the screen indicate the RAM usage distribution on your iPad, including the fixed RAM usage, free RAM, and the RAM used by the system.
- You can also view the percentage of actual RAM usage on the right side of the screen.
Advice
- The Smart Memory Lite app is available on both iPad and iPhone.
- RAM, also known as "temporary memory", is different from a hard drive; a hard drive is typically understood as a "data storage" device.
- You can also check your computer’s hard drive capacity.
Warning
- A 32-bit computer can only utilize a maximum of 4GB of RAM; therefore, installing more RAM would be a waste of money.
